The project team comprises of both teachers and students from Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland, Romania and Turkey. Our common denominator is our mutual concern about the drastic changes in the natural environment, the challenges the world is currently facing, the unimaginable scope of degradation and deprivation of the environment and its extended effects on human welfare and all other life on Earth. Worried about the current state of nature and having carried out a comprehensive analysis, we have identified our target group needs and have decided to collaborate on a European level towards teaching students to explore their ecological and nature knowledge and striving to find effective solution to combat the unsettling legacy. The project „What’s up Mr Bug?- Insects As the Wonder of Ecosystem” is a cross-curricular project which aims at developing students’ key competences, STEAM and ICT skills and motivating students to take sustainable ecological actions for the future generations and themselves. This project promotes the development of skills and key competences through innovative practices based on collaboration and holistic approaches to teaching and learning, such as learning by doing, peer-learning, out-door activities and team cooperation. The active learning in STEAM subjects leads to a substantial boost in creativity, innovation and imagination. Moreover, by participating in STEAM activities, students are more prepared for the challenges they may face in their future jobs and careers. Engagement in the cross-curricular and interdisciplinary projects enables the students to think outside the box and to make connections between different disciplines. Another objectives include developing in-depth knowledge and understanding for other European cultures, improving communicative skills in a foreign language. An integral part of the project is constituted by promoting the integration of students with disabilities ,special needs and different cultural background (gender, religion, ethnic origins). The project also aims at taking advantage of an eTwinning portal optimally by means of conducting more online projects, participating in numerous seminars, conferences and webinars. It is worth pointing out that most of our schools are already experienced to a varying degree in the field of environmental issues and both wish to share their know-how and experience with others and aim at fostering them in their curriculum. We intend to implement innovative approaches to meet the educational purposes outlined in the project’s goals. They include venturing to out-of-school (eg. forest ecosystems) and out-of-class (eg. school horticulture) environments to teach basic concepts about environment and ecology. These areas can be thought of as open-air laboratories to show students the relationship between the natural cycles. We plan to hold workshops and organize field trips in natural areas in order to ensure that students develop both cognitive, affective and psychomotor skills. The education processes taking place out in the open enrich the students with an interdisciplinary perspective by bringing together different disciplines (biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, geography, history) and enabling to use different sensory organs in relation to a particular discipline. The project is about to promote the non-school natural areas considered as a part of teaching curriculum ,and both teachers and students will be encouraged to participate in such activities. Furthermore, the project assumes that students will prepare plentiful educational materials including songs, films, presentation and stories pertaining to the topics. They will also make use of numerous ICT tools including eTwinning portal tools,Kahoot, Ouizziz quizzes,models of living creatures,padlets, e-posters, e-books ,presentations for the local community. All the materials produced in the project will be made available to other partners thus enabling them to compare the cultures, the countries and understand better what the European identity is. The final results of the project will comprise a project’s logo, an e-book "Wonders of Nature”,a photo competition,an e-exhibition "The World of Insect",a teachers/students' kit including a set of educational materials,the film "Nature-ecosystems” and numerous leaflets pertinent to the project’s aims and content.The final products will be offered in many languages (national ones and English). All in all, participating in a project pertaining to the environment with a strong emphasis on the insect-related issues, a topic very important to the future of mankind, will significantly raise the students’ awareness of the ecological issues,impinge on their everyday actions and routines, eliminate negative and detrimental habits and help transform the mindset not only of the project’s participants but also of the local communities, which will also to a larger extent be affected by the project and its planned events.
The project team consisted of teachers and students from Croatia, Poland, Romania, and Turkey. Our shared concern revolved around the significant changes occurring in the natural environment and the global challenges it posed, including extensive degradation and its impact on human welfare and biodiversity. Following a comprehensive analysis, we identified the needs of our target group and resolved to collaborate at a European level to educate students about ecological knowledge and nature, as well as to find effective solutions to combat these issues. The project, titled "What's up Mr. Bug? - Insects as the Wonders of Ecosystems," aimed to enhance students' key competences, STEAM and ICT skills, and motivate them to take sustainable ecological actions for both future generations and themselves. The project centered on innovative practices rooted in collaboration and holistic approaches to teaching and learning, such as experiential learning, peer-learning, outdoor activities, and team cooperation. Active learning in STEAM subjects fostered creativity, innovation, and imagination, equipping students with essential skills for their future careers. Engaging in cross-curricular and interdisciplinary projects encouraged students to think critically and make connections across various disciplines. Additional objectives encompassed deepening knowledge and understanding of other European cultures, as well as enhancing communicative skills in a foreign language. Furthermore, the project aimed to promote the integration of students with disabilities, special needs, and diverse cultural backgrounds.Effectively utilizing the eTwinning portal, we conducted online projects and actively participated in seminars, conferences, and webinars.Our schools, possessing expertise in environmental matters, aimed to share their knowledge and experiences with others, integrating them into their curriculum. We planned to implement innovative approaches by venturing into non-classroom environments, such as forest ecosystems and school horticulture, to teach fundamental concepts related to the environment and ecology. These settings served as open-air laboratories, showcasing the intricate relationships within natural cycles. Workshops and field trips to natural areas were organized to develop students' cognitive, affective, and psychomotor skills.The project aimed to promote the inclusion of non-school natural areas as part of the teaching curriculum, encouraging both teachers and students to actively participate in such activities. Students were expected to create educational materials, including songs, films, presentations, and stories related to the project's themes. Various ICT tools such as the eTwinning portal, Kahoot, Quizzes, models of living creatures, padlets, e-posters, e-books, and presentations would be employed to engage the local community. All project materials would be made accessible to partners, facilitating cultural exchange and fostering an understanding of European identity.The final outcomes of the project encompassed a project logo, an e-book titled "Bugs Word," a photo competition, an e-exhibition named "The World of Insects," a teachers/students' kit with educational materials, the film "Nature-Ecosystems".Participation in a project focused on environmental issues, specifically insects, would significantly raise students' awareness of ecological concerns, influence their daily actions and routines, eliminate detrimental habits, and transform the mindset of not only the project participants but also the local communities affected by the project.Throughout the project, notable success was achieved in fostering collaboration among students from different countries. The project provided a platform for meaningful exchanges between pupils, enabling them to learn from each other's experiences and perspectives. Students collaborated in teams, sharing their knowledge, skills, and ideas to achieve common objectives. The cooperation among students was exceptional as they actively engaged in discussions, debates, and group projects, promoting a sense of teamwork and camaraderie. Interactions among students from diverse cultural backgrounds fostered mutual understanding, tolerance, and respect for diversity.The involvement of teachers and the entire local community played a crucial role in the project's success. The dedicated teachers invested their time and expertise in developing engaging and innovative learning materials and activities. Their enthusiasm and passion for the project inspired students and fostered a positive learning environment.In summary, the success of the project was greatly enhanced by the active engagement of teachers and the wider local community. Through their collective efforts, contributions, and support, they created a collaborative and empowering environment for students, reinforcing the project's goals and promoting a culture of environmental awareness and action.