CLIMATE HEROES - LET`S SAVE THE PLANET!

This meeting was due to be the first of the project but had to be postponed because of the outbreak of the war in Ukraine and the large number of refugees and support workers in the town of Przemysl at that time. It became the 3rd meeting and the programme was edited to reflect this. Many of the original activities had happened online and in our schools before the project could begin. This meeting’s superhero was Climateer and the pupils found out about climate change and its effects through visits, workshops and focused activities. Before arriving, the pupils had prepared some songs poems and dances about climate change, in their own schools. These were to appear in a climate change concert at the end of our meeting. The first day was spent rehearsing together as well as presenting their countries to the host school pupils via our regular stalls, prepared by each school, to show some leaflets, photos, traditional treats, little souvenirs made by pupils, teachers and parents where guests will explain about places they come from. The closeness of Przemysl to the Bieszczady mountains, an area of outstanding natural beauty, gives many opportunities for environmental work. On the second day, after celebrating the arrival of St. Nicholas, our meeting moved to an agritouristic centre in Dwerniczek and on the way there, we visited the Museum of the Bieszczady National park to study the eco-system found there. At Dwerniczek the pupils visited the foothills to explore the environment and to visit the Bison reserve, where these once numerous animals are now being reintroduced as part of the rewilding programme. In the evening there were art workshops and some singing rehearsals. After the second night we returned to Przemysl and on the way we visited a glass factory that is training new glassblowers and reviving this local industry. The second stop was at the Meteorology station in Krosno where we had a talk about the work of the station and saw the equipment used to take the measurements that are shared worldwide to allow meteorologists and climate scientists to follow weather patterns and make predictions or issue warnings. Back in Przemysl, everyone met with the town Mayor to hear about initiatives taking place in the town, much of it focussed on supporting the many refugees who are arriving all the time. On the final afternoon, the concert took place in the theatre at the cultural centre. Parents and local people attended and were impressed by the children’s commitment to helping the planet. All the activities accorded with the curriculum of each school, where there are lessons about the environment and climate. They expanded them and made them more interesting and gave them broader international aspects. Most of the partner schools are interested in CLIL and our activities were perfect tool to use this method. All pupils had many opportunities to work and have fun, cooperating together and speaking in English.