The project arose as a result of identifying a very damaging problem that European society faces nowadays: in the process of globalization, there is a regrettable parallel process of loss of the historical identity of the minorities by losing traditions at the local and national level. Children spend most of their free time in front of the computer, they lose contact with the traditional world. In the school environment, a number of issues related to the development of children have been identified: on the one hand, they lack the willingness to communicate and they lack interest in traditional cultural values. These problems are at the heart of this project, which is intended to be a way of improving this situation, specifically by involving students in the discovery of information, both in the field of ethnography, ethnology and folklore, as well as geography and local history, in a constructive manner, a didactic technique that has a deep impact on the development of pupils' personality. As a result of the "research" undertaken, about 50 students, aged 14-15, for each school partner will have the opportunity to work in a group for the systematization of collected information and the production of PPT materials "Folklore Areas - Short Geographic, Ethnological and Ethnographic Research" and the eTwinning portal. The project also focuses on the children's need to work in the virtual environment to communication with their colleagues from other countries and to exchange information through the project website, "Folk Dances - Mirroring National and Minorities’ Traditions", activities that will also improve oral and written expression in English which is the vehicular language. Through the dance lessons organized by the schools, students will be able to participate in artistic activities, having the opportunity to undertake folk dance performances, while learning popular dances of national minorities of other peoples. The collaboration will be also extended to the fact that they themselves can become teachers for their school mates because they will have the opportunity to record video tutorials of folk dance specific to traditional areas and will be able to select dances from the tutorials of colleagues from other countries, which they will then learn in peculiar lessons. They will learn about the syncretic character of these cultural acts, thus understanding the indestructible connection between folklore and the defining features of each people. They will study the transformations of traditional dances on the axis of time, geography and history, and will understand the role of folk traditions in defining the national being. For the team of teachers (at least 10 for each school) the project is an opportunity to improve the curriculum and use the course support for an optional course for pupils - the Methodological brochure "Educational Valences of Folk Dances - Transfer of Educational Practices in Didactic Activity". At the same time, teachers will participate in the workshop "Educational Valences of Popular Dances", through which they will be able to apply the methodological elements from the curriculum of the "Folk Dance and its Benefits to the Students" training program in the future didactic activity. The teachers will be able to practice communication skills in English interacting with their colleagues as part of project activities in building the kit. The project should be realized transnationally because folk traditions in general and folk dance in particular are part of the cultural patrimony of humanity and should be best known, especially by children, who will be able to preserve and promote in the future these defining cultural elements for the minorities in a world of globalization, often under the sign of the loss of their own identity. Being a reflection of the image of the contemporary world, this framework of intercultural relationship that will take place at the level of the project will be a learning environment in which human values such as tolerance, communication, good understanding, friendship, ethnic minority protection (including children with special educational requirements) will be promoted. The project as its structure suggests has to be carried on by steps. First of all the selection of the students, choosing an intermediate class of students as their acquired knowledge won't go wasted but their "know-how" should act as a stimulus for later activities also next years ahead, it is advisable to choose a class with foreign students, they can give a huge contribution as they can compare their own folk tradition with the host one and they would feel active part of the society. Subsequently the students will attend some practical lessons in specific places, such as ethnographic museums and folk dance schools, with the supervision of a folk expert. The methodology has to be inductive actually progressing from the real example of folk exhibitions to the theory.
The first mobility in Turkey, the students were the main protagonists, performing traditional Turkish songs and dances. The other activities were to teach the partners the basic steps of their most famous dance accompanied by the explanation of the birth and history of these dances that draw from from a rural and agricultural society. In the Portuguese mobility the host school organized a show that compared both modern and traditional dance, where students and professional dancers performed. In Amarante school dance lessons are part of the curriculum, dance is taught for 20 hours a year. In the mobility held in Slovenia, the partner school organized a short show in the school theatre involving all students and teachers, including foreign ones, in their traditional dance and other musical activities. The teachers were dressing their traditional costumes and some students played special instruments. The meeting held in Italy was the culminating moment of all the activities that had been planned in the initial project. The partner schools involved their students above all in traditional dance activities, who were able to perform their own traditional dances as part of the final festival. They also learned the basic steps of the dances of the other countries. The final festival involved not only the partners but also a large number of students from the Italian school, including young musicians who performed with their musical instruments to crown the event; two other classes participated in drama performances that were outside the initial program. Professional musicians and dancers were also invited to join the event in order to compare the results obtained by the students of the school. As regards dissemination, both the local and national press and the local television broadcasting on the regional channel were involved in the event, both part of the event and some interviews with students and teachers. The last day was dedicated to the evaluation of the results through a questionnaire. The verification showed good results as all the people involved expressed the desire to be able to repeat the experience Slovenian Folklorist Ornament SLO: Duration: 1st Sept. 2020 – 24th Dec. 2020 In the beginning of the school year the school windows were decorated by images of the Slovenian folk ornaments. The image was created handwork was led by teacher Nataša Colja. The image shows rich history of the Slovenian folkloristic treasure. It was found in the work of Jože Karlovšek, who is one of the most important researchers in the field of Slovenian folcloristics, ethnography and artist. He believes the Slovenian ornament is the tree, growing from the depth of nation soul and earth.) In autumn children stayed at home due to Corona restriction and when Christmas and New Year was coming, they were instructed to make the ornaments in white colour and decorate their homes. Also the school got the image with new white colour. http://www.osbohinj.si/2020/09/30/slovenski-ornament/ CELEBRATION ON THE OCCASION OF CULTURAL HOLIDAY OF COMMUNITY BOHINJ SLO: Duration: 1st February – 30th March HERITAGE OF THE PAST IS THE DOWRY OF THE FUTURE It shows the importance of the work of the writer dr. Janez Mencinger for the perseverance of cultural heritage and folkloric material. It was virtual event, led by Music teacher, teacher of optional subjects (school journalism, music, school radio, …) Also other partners' schools were included with their creative congratulation contributions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtAxvf5mVm0 Erasmus+ days 2019 SLO: Duration October 2019: Exhibition in the School Hall. It showed the images connected to our project topic. Erasmus+ days 2021 SLO: 15th October – radio show. The activities were presented and music of the partners' countries was recorded. It was prepared by the group of students from the subject School radio. December, 2020 Sharing traditions – virtual meeting: students and teachers: Even though because of the pandemic we couldn’t keep up with the original meetings planned between the groups in each country, through this meeting we still managed to bring the traditional spirit in everyone’s hearts! With each tradition and dance presented it felt like a new adventure began, and by the time the meeting ended, I’m sure everyone could feel like they just took a trip through the history of all the amazing countries which decided to participate in this project! It was a magical experience which created a memorable time for everyone! Each country contributed with a PP presentation. Learning one of children's folk dance SLO : November, December, 2020 – distant learning led by mentors – folklore dancers (Eva Vavroš), preparing presentation – school journalism and school radio groups of students with mentors. eTwinning activities with students SLO: October, November, 2019 – students become members of the project on e-Twinning, they create their avatars and get acquainted with how to work on eTwinning