European Dimension
Ceara School recognises the range of opportunities hat exist within the curriculum for pupils to gain insights into Europe and its significance in our lives. The European context exists within some of the objectives of the educational cross-curricular themes such Cultural Heritage, EMU etc.
Teaching and learning about Europe is mainly achieved through planned opportunities created for contact with Europe such as:
- at local level with people who live or work here or have connections with other countries
- through extra curricular activities, school trips, sports/special events
- through partnerships, links and exchanges, involvement in exchanging information, use of I.C.T etc.
- through simple language activities such as songs, greetings etc.
At present Ceara School is involved in a Comenius 1 project with partner schools in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Republic of Ireland and Newry.
The project “Let’s Go European – A cultural journey through Europe” is now in its third and final year. Five classes (age 8 –16) are taking part and have learnt about Europe through exchange of worksheets, booklets, pictures, posters, CD's etc.
Topic work was done on traditions, festivals, food, fairy tales, music and geography of partner countries. Personal letters have been exchanged between pupils.
At present we are finding out about famous people and basic history of our own and of all partner countries. The project has been very enjoyable and helpful in the development of language, communication, I.C.T and other skills.
A number of post-primary age pupils also take part in the European Studies Programme, which is taught through cross-curricular topics such as ‘Our community’, ‘European and non-European food’, ‘Local crafts’ or ‘Our water’. We have links to schools in Kent, Coleraine, Kesh, Limerick and Sligo. Pupils involved complete and exchange work on three tasks every year. Tasks are agreed on by the co-ordinators who meet at a yearly conference. Extra-curricular activities and educational visits have been very beneficial and successful, including meeting up with a group from Kesh to have games, a boat trip and BBQ at the Share Centre in Lisnaskea and a pottery class in St. Joseph’s High School, Coleraine. |