Project Meeting in Spain Short-term exchange of groups of pupils: Bits and Pieces of Food and Festivals

Last week, from 18th to 22^nd February 2019 the 1st Primary School Virgen de Consolación hosted the first Short-term exchange of groups of pupils meeting of the Erasmus + KA2 project "Bits and Pieces of Culture" in Spain. 14 teachers and 30 students from 5 partner countries (Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Italy, and Poland), visited our school. The purpose of the visit was to held the first exchange of students staying with families. An scholarship at Primary Education School Virgen de Consolación, working in international student teams doing different workshops and taking part in cultural trips to Madrid and Cuenca.

Day 1 Madrid

The first day was spent on a one-day trip to Madrid. Our guests from partner countries visited the city and learned about the most important places, later on we had lunch in a typical restaurant in the city centre and afterwards we came back to Montealegre del Castillo where they meet with the host families.

Day 2

The second day of the project meeting started with a warm welcome of the project coordinator Mónica Marín, headmistress Elena Medina and the Student Erasmus + Club. The members of dancing group danced “Manchegas” which is a typical Spanish dance, some students also played a welcome song with instruments.

After this, the students played a City Game in order to get to know the host town better. They played the game in international teams and learn about the history and culture of the host town. They finished the City Game at the Main Square where they visited the mayor's office. Mr Sinforiano Montes, the Mayor of Montealegre del Castillo, welcomed them and commended the initiative of the teachers for the implementation of this and other projects and promised the City's support in carrying them out. He pointed out that European projects are the only option to advance the education system in a short period of time and to increase the current standard in education. Then we returned to school and the students made presentations about Carnival Customs in National Teams. Pupils presented their traditional and modern carnival customs. After the presentations they played a Kahoot quiz with questions about carnival customs of each partner country.

After the lunch and a short break, teachers returned to school and participated in a Mask Workshop in international teams and designed traditional masks from all the partners countries.  

Day 3

For the Cook Workshop, the students made a traditional dish from the different partner countries in international teams in the school dining room. Pupils brought their simple traditional recipes and by working in international teams they cooked the dishes, made photos of them and after that, they made a common e-Cookbook. Finally they presented both their traditional dishes and masks per countries to the rest of their partners and teachers.

Day 4

The fourth day we did a field trip to Cuenca as it is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We did a walking tour around Cuenca visiting the most important places such as the Hanging Houses and the Cathedral, after that, we had lunch in a restaurant where we could try some Spanish traditional dishes and finally, in the afternoon, we visited the Arts and Science Museum.

Day 5

The last day, pupils formed international teams and played traditional and modern playground games. They learned about traditional Spanish games in an interactive and fun way. Later they started to make a common Board Game with questions for the first challenge (Geography and Festivals).

After that all the pupils in national teams but the Spanish ones, played a Kahoot quiz with questions about Spain in order to check their knowledge of the visited country. Finally both teachers and students did an evaluation survey so to ask for their opinion of the meeting.

In the afternoon host families held a farewell party for teachers and pupils and they had a lot of fun. We can say that the exchange has been an incredible experience for the kids. Students´ host families made them feel very at home in their families. In general kids have gained so much knowledge about Spain and they will cherish all the amazing experiences they have had. Satisfied, full of positive impressions and ready to work on the next project activities, they happily returned to their homes, emphasizing that they will remember this meeting forever.