Portugal posting

Last November (18th – 21st) the Project Partners met for the first time in Fundão, Portugal. It was a very interesting experience as no one knew each other and had no idea what it would be like. At first there were five different partners but as time went by the five partners became one big group, one big partner. Everyone got acquainted to each other, there were smiles and laughs. People exchanges experiences and information about each other’s countries, culture and school systems.

During this pleasant week, meetings were held at Serra da Gardunha School to establish what was necessary to do in order to develop our marvelous project. The highlight of these meetings was the exchange of puppets which was something out of the extraordinary. They were just fabulous!

Teachers were able to mingle among the students in one of the Music classes where everyone had to participant lively but attentively: playing musical instruments, singing and even dancing. By the end of the class students and teachers had a very enjoyable lesson.

At the puppet workshop teachers were able to see and learn with the students how some old typical Portuguese toys were made by using recycled materials, a puppet stage made of wooden boxes that are used to transport our lovely cherries and how puppets are made of old newspapers, magazines and clothes.

There were visits to the town’s Town Hall, Porta Aberta kindergarden, Souta da Casa’s Kindergarten and Primary School where we all had the opportunity to see the village’s typical house museums where the students played very important roles. Where ever the five partners went students were delighted to meet them and welcomed them with songs, music and even with a traditional snack. There was also a cultural visit to one of Portugal’s typical villages – Sortelha – and to a well known castle in Belmonte and home town of Pedro Alves Cabral who discovered Brazil.

It was really nice to have all the partners at our school – Serra da Gardunha School. If it wasn’t for this project we wouldn’t have had the opportunity to meet these wonderful partners, gain more knowledge about the different school systems, cultures and countries within the different countries in European Union including Turkey. It is also an opportunity for our students to develop and gain knowledge in different areas which will make them better citizens within the European Union and in the world.