Monday, December 28, 2009

The Bulgarian Inter-cool-ture team presented the Christmas and Bayram traditions in the six partner countries











Each class (1b, 1g, 3b, 3v and 4v) told about the traditional celebration, decorations and meals in each country. The audience was interested to hear and see the Portuguese consoada, the Italian Befana, the Catalan Caganer, the Slovenian four-candle wreath and the Turkish kurban.

Christmas and Bayram traditions- from Bulgaria



The participants had dressed up with "traditional" costumes and had made lots of preparations. The event finished with presentation of the book "Christmas and Bayram with Inter-cool-ture" which included all the facts sent by the partner schools and collected by the Bulgarian team.

Christmas and Bayram traditions- from Bulgaria


The book has the form of a Christmas bell and will be shown to all the partners at the next meeting in Girona in March.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Christmas in Italy- primary- class IIIA








Last week we drew some Christmas cards and we sent you by ordinary mail. They are a picture of our most important monument in San Lorenzo. They are coming!!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

class IIIA

For Christmas our teachers, Alessandra and Fiorenza, wrap some presents for every child in the class.

class IIIA

At Christmas we decorate all the windows of the primary school of San Lorenzo...

class IIIA

with white angels.

class IIIA

We decorate the doors of our classrooms.

class IIIA

We decorate a small Christmas tree in the hall of the school.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Christmas in Italy-from San Lorenzo- sec.school


The mistletoe and the holly are evergreen, symbol of fertility and life: we kiss under the mistletoe to wish a happy wedding.
We also decorate the Christmas tree with coloured balls, flashing lights and a star at the top. Under the tree we put the presents that we will open on Christmas day.
We give our friends a nice plant as a present: it is called poinsettia, it has got exotic origins but it has become very common in Italy. Its leaves turn bright red at Christmastime.

Tombola is the Italian Bingo. We play it on Christmas Day at home after the big meal with all the family. The winner receives some prizes such as money and sweets.
Cards are a tipical Italian game. We play cards on Christmas Day with our relatives.
Midnight Mass is longer and more intense than usually. After the traditional Eve dinner every catholic family goes to church to take part in Midnight Mass and to share with the community of believers the big event of the descent of Jesus Christ on Earth. Midnight Mass closes the period of Advent and opens the great ceremony of Christmas songs, lights, greeting cards, gifts, which witness the deep joy of the presence of Jesus.
Befana is often described as an old woman who flies on a broom. She is usually smiling and carries a big bag full of sweets and gifts for the deserving children, and also with coal for the children who haven’t been so good throughout the year.
According to the tradition, Befana arrives in the night between the 5th and the 6th January and fills the stockings that the children have hang beside the fireplace.
On Christmas Eve in 1223, in Greccio, a little village in central Italy, Saint Francis recalled Jesus’s birth with a live nativity scene.
During Mass a baby in the flesh appeared in the crib, picked up by Saint Francis.
From this episode the tradition of the crib originated.

I don’t celebrate Christmas. I am a Jehovah’s Witness. I consider December 25th a day like all the other ones, I do my normal activities. Why don’t I celebrate Christmas? Because knowing what its origins are in my opinion it is a pagan feast. In fact December 25th was the holiday for the winter solstice and the Catholic church has adopted this date as the birth of Christ.Are there in your school any children who don’t celebrate Christmas? Are there any Jehovah’s Witnesses?


Tuesday, December 08, 2009

Christmas in Bulgaria- from Vratsa



In the past in Bulgaria the newly married woman in the family had to get the whole dinner ready. She had to get up early, before daybreak. The preparation of the dishes (all vegetarian) took almost a whole day. The woman used to begin with preparing the ritual round loaf of bread, being decorated with different elements made of dough symbolizing all the living creatures in that house. So each one could get to know something about himself. The traditional leek pastry was prepared with cornel buds as fortunes indicating health, wealth and fertility. It was known in advance what each one of the fortunes was intended for. A white beans meal with many seasonings, sauerkraut leaves and peppers stuffed with rice were prepared too, all cooked with oil as people fasted until Christmas Day. The custom required the preparation of stewed dried fruits. Some juice of them was mixed with a little ground garlic. Everyone in the family tasted a teaspoon of it with the wish for good health throughout the year coming. The other members of the family had to clean the house thoroughly, the yard and all buildings used by them. After all was put in order and ready, everyone prepared himself for the Christmas Eve itself putting on their new clothes, while the young people trimmed the Christmas tree. The eldest one in the family brought some straw into the house and on the tablecloth, there were placed the dishes, this symbolizing the Nativity. On this day the whole family gathers, eat on straw and get off the table in the same time. The dishes are left on the table for the night. It is believed that the dead relatives will come to dine too.
In the past there were boys and non-married young men who were visiting the houses, singing carols for wealth and health for the hosts. They were rewarded with money, food and so on. They were bringing long sticks to put kravai (round bread with holes in it). The boys were called koledaris. Nowadays Bulgarians decorate a Christmas tree as all the other Europeans do.

Monday, December 07, 2009

Christmas in Portugal- from Samora Correia

Christmas is undoubtedly one of the biggest celebrations of the Portuguese calendar. Currently, due to globalization, the Portuguese Christmas begins to be influenced by other cultures, especially by American films, one of the facts is the replacement of the Child Jesus by Father Christmas to deliver gifts. However, this does not mean that the Portuguese Christmas traditions have disappeared! On December 24, Christmas Eve, at night in certain parts of the country (especially in the north) takes place a Christmas dinner (called consoada), we serve cod, turkey or octopus, it depends on the region. Also at the end of supper, there is the midnight mass at midnight, although this mass is now falling into disuse. On the 25th, a banquet with meat several improved in some areas of the country in 25 days lunch is served the traditional “Roupa Velha” (old clothes), made from the remains of the supper of the day before. In some areas we burn the “Madeiro” (stump) of Christmas, particularly in churchyards, around which we sing traditional Portuguese songs.

Christmas in Catalonia 1











Christmas in Catalonia is a fun event, in particular for the curious traditions unique to the Catalan region.
Most regions don't even get one poo-related traditional figure, but the Catalans get two (some of you might find the following a little distasteful): Caganer
A little porcelain gnome-like figure with his trousers down, defecating somewhere in the nativity scene. Children enjoy looking for the little guy, who is often hidden among the more traditional items. Caganer has been offering his unique presents to the nativity scene since at least the middle of the 18th or 19th century, depending on whom you believe, although in recent years the Catalan government has banned him from official displays. You can find the most popular people from nowadays politicians, sportsmen or actors disguised as Caganers.

Christmas in Catalonia 2


Christmas Markets
The fair runs from early December until Christmas Eve and can be found in some streets and squares. Here you will find all sorts of hand made gifts, intricate nativity scenes and the Caga Tió log.
Christmas Eve
Midnight mass as Christmas Eve becomes Christmas Day is very important in Spain (presumably as the Catholics rush to confess to their
Christmas gluttony!)
The biggest 'misa del gallo' is at the Benedictine monastery at
Montserrat near Barcelona
Tió de Nadal or Caga Tió
A log painted with a smiley face and cared for from after El Dia de Inmaculada, which is December 8. Then, either on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve (it varies), the children beat the log (and throw him into the fire, if they have one) and sing songs enticing it to 'shit some presents', 'tió' is Catalan for 'log'.

Christmas in Catalonia 3


Three Kings Procession
On December 5, as is the case throughout Spain, the Three Kings lead their procession through the city. The procession starts shortly after five o’clock.
On the night of December 5, children leave a shoe out for the Three Kings to fill (stockings clearly aren't so common in this Mediterranean climate!)

Nativity Scenes
The Catalan word for 'nativity' is 'pessebre' while in Spanish it is 'belén'.

Bayram and the beginning of the new year in Turkey


Our religious bayram (festival) is about helping eachother and sharing. its name is Kurban Bayramı in Turkish. the people who have enough money make the animals (like cow , sheep) cut and they share the meat to the people who haven't got money.and in most of the houses the meats are cooked and are eaten.and also the people meet eachother (relatives, neighbours and friends), the younger people visit the older people ,they give presents eachother , they give candy and money to the children , the children kisses hands of their older relatives,and the people eat sweets especially baklava and şekerpare all together.
In Turkey , we celebrate 31th of December as a beginning of new year. we meet with our relatives or friends in houses or somewhere in outside,if we meet in houses we listen to music or watch tv programmes which are prepared for celebration new year , and we play tombola ( drawing the numbers and making all table with the numbers ),some of us drink alchol and we sleep that night very late...if we meet in outside we dances, make several animations which are prepared ...etc.Some of us decorate the pine trees, give presents eachother.

Friday, December 04, 2009

Penfriends!!

Marta and Alessandra, the teachers, and their students of the classes III A of the primary school of San Lorenzo in Campo -Italy and the 4th class of the primary school in Girona, have started to exchange postcards, letters and messages.
This is the first e-mail message from Spain to Italy....
Hello boys and girls, the students of the 4th class of Bambini school in Girona sent you a letter yesterday by ordinary mail. We were very happy with your postcards..they were lovely!We have another surprise for you!!!!...as Christmas is coming very soon we send you this handcraft to do with Alessandra...we hope you like it and enjoy it...let's show us the results!!!! Hugs and kisses!

Marta and the 4th. class students.

Christmas in Slovenia- from Slovenj Gradec




There are so many customs, beliefs, superstitions, traditions and magic related to Christmas in Slovenia that they would barely fit into a thick book. Christmas is the most popular religious and family holiday, its celebration having a long tradition. Slovenians are still keen makers of Christmas decorations. Archaic decorations include the marking of "god's corner" and the hanging of green wreaths (made of evergreens, box tree, ivy and mistletoe), branches or paper wreaths from ceilings or walls. Crafted doves hang from the ceiling to represent the Holy Ghost, as well as crowns and "chandeliers" made of paper and straw. Later, the hugely popular nativity scenes appeared. In Ljubljana and elsewhere, exhibitions of the most beautiful nativity scenes are staged each year. In the Postojna Caves, one of the most famous karst caves in the world, we have a live nativity scene accompanied by baroque music.Not only are Christmas decorations - and naturally the Christmas tree -characteristic of Christmas in Slovenia, food is very important too. Pigs are typically slaughtered before Christmas, so pork dishes are often on the table. There are also special Christmas breads and pies, with many different fillings, forms and names. One cannot but mention the most typical of Slovenian dishes, the potica. This nut roll can be sweet or salty, round with a hole in the middle like in the old days, or a single long roll. There are over 50 different types of classical potica, but people's imagination has increased their number so there are currently about 110 kinds of potica. The Christmas and New Year’s holiday season is a time that everyone awaits with special joy: children, because of the presents they expect to receive, and because they know they will not have to go to school for at least a week; adults, because they know they will bring people joy with their gifts, for giving is indeed a rewarding experience.

Christmas in Italy- from Pergola


CHRISTMAS IN PERGOLA (ITALY)

Christmas time is a wonderful here!
At home we make Christmas trees decorated with balls, angels, bells...
Under the trees we usually put our Christmas presents and we open them at Christmas.
By the fireplace there are some Christmas stockings in which the “BEFANA”will put lots of small presents for the children on the 6th January.


On Christmas Eve we usually have a “great” seafood dinner.
At the end we eat lots of typical Christmas sweets: panettone, pandoro and torrone.
After dinner we sometimes play cards or other board games with our family.
On Christmas Day we have lunch at home with our relatives. We usually eat “cappelletti”(pasta filled with meat) with broth, meat, vegetables and sweets with “spumante”(sweet and fizzy wine).

Monday, November 23, 2009

OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF AZUR AND ASMAR IN ITALIAN


This is the official website of the film "Azur and Asmar" in Italian:

http://www.luckyred.it/azureasmar

and another interesting website about it in English

http://palais.wikidot.com/azur-et-asmar

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

ANOTHER SHORT FILM ABOUT INTERCULTURE

La fune, The Rope - الحبل
Metaphoric tale, centred about a rope which connected two balconies overlooked the same road. The rope is used by two women, one Arab and the other one Italian, to hang out the washing. Sharing is not easy however. Entering the rope turns into a challenge and the relationship between the two becomes stormy and grotesque at time. In the meantime their respective children, an eight years boy and a seven years girl, learn to know each other just through the rope exchanging their drawings.

The film is at this address (the website in in Italian, English and French):

http://www.euromedcafe.org/ then click on "another look"- "winner 2004"- The Rope

The message can be understood in any language !


Wednesday, November 11, 2009

ITALIAN SHORT FILM ABOUT INTERCULTURE

On the web there's a short film, about intercolture, that could be interesting. Everybody could use it in a very easy way because it's without any text!
The title is "The suitcase"
http://current.com/items/90330419_la-valigia.htm

Thursday, November 05, 2009

the Bulgarian team has got an interesting idea...

Dear partners, the Bulgarian team has got an interesting idea. We would like to invite you to bring to the work meeting in Girona some items which are typical for your country. They could be for example small souvenirs, embroidery, the country flag, a copy of a famous children's song or anything else you find suitable for the children to view and in this way to get acquainted with our countries. The items should be stored in boxes so that each guest team could be able to take it home and then use the materials for the International Market Place which will be held at the end of the school year - May 9, the Europe Day. We hope all of you will enjoy the idea and start collecting the most appropriate items.
We - pupils and teachers from Bulgaria look forward to exchanging the stuff!

Monday, October 26, 2009

ACTIVITY PLAN SECOND YEAR

Project activities carried out in the course of the school year 2008/2009:
HOW WE INTRODUCED THE TOPIC:
Brainstorming about the topic;
Questionnaires for students (exchange of results)
Logo Competition: Invention of the LOGO of the project
Second step:
MUTUAL KNOWLEDGE:
§ Reciprocal knowledge activities: the students of every partner school introduced themselves, their own town and school and knew their partners through some detailed interviews/questionnaires;
§ Creation and exchange of multimedia products (Power Point) to introduce the partners’ schools/countries/classes/typical days…
§ Start pen friends: correspondence by e-mail and ordinary mail (creation of the classes’ mail boxes)
Third step:
PROJECT ACTIVITIES:
§ Projects meetings: (Italy, Bulgaria and Portugal) to plan/evaluate activities and methodologies, share practices, know the different cultures, compare school systems, monitor the project during all its phases;
§ Elaboration of cross-curricular teaching units in order to involve the teachers of the different areas in the development of the project activities;
§ Articles published on newspapers to spread news about the project
§ Creation of the project weblog to display the results, report on the work, its most important events, its progress….
§ Creation of a notice board about the project inside each school.
§ Collect and exchange: legends/tales (about each country)
§ Carry out some different activities about the legends/tales chosen: drawings, dramas, masks…
§ Exchange of the products obtained
§ Creation of the book: “Old Legends for a New Europe”
§ Final questionnaire for students
Project activities we intend to carry out in the first part of the school year 2009/2010:
§ Prosecution of the school correspondence
§ Involvement of the school staff: monitoring the number of immigrant students in our schools and their origin, and/or the number of emigrant students and their destinations; list and compare the “instruments” each institution has already created to make the integration of the foreign students easier
§ Use of the data collected by the school office staff to share ideas and suggestions about the first layout of a "School protocol". It will give criteria about foreign students’ enrolment and integration, define roles and tasks of all the school staff, the different phases of the students’ welcome at school and propose useful activities about the local language learning;
§ Start planning a language course (by computer) in order to reach two important aims: improve the knowledge of our cultures/languages and lay the foundations of a useful instrument to be used with our foreign students;
§ Plan “listening time activities”: parents/grandparents and/or people coming from other countries tell stories belonging to their own culture; compare, without discriminating, the different values found in the texts/stories read and listened;
§ Plan some teaching units about cinema: significant movies can let our children know each country’s way of living in a more real way and can let them better understand the relationships with others;
§ Study and compare toys and games of the different cultures, find differences and similarities (younger children);
§ Collect and exchange: traditional stories, lullabies, chants and so on (younger children).

ACTIVITIES ABOUT "AZUR AND ASMAR"

AZUR AND ASMAR
Suggestions about activities to carry out with students:
PRIMARY SCHOOL
LANGUAGE ACTIVITIES
- ask children to tell the story of Azur and Asmar using their own words, expressing their feelings about the two kids’ adventures.
- divide the story into sequences and make a synthesis of it in order to emphasize the meaning of the film.
LIVE TOGETHER
- analyse why Asmar refuses Azur and why Rospu’ criticizes the country that welcomed him. Let children say their opinions about it.
- Underline the values of welcome and of the respect of differences. Link them to the school life : listening to others, mutual respect, non-violence, understanding of difficulties…
DISCOVER THE WORLD
- find the Magreb on the map. Use the film and some pictures to discover its characteristics and its inhabitants’ lifestyle: climate, territory, food, traditions, clothes…
- think about the historical period in which the story takes place
ART
- make drawings of the sequences of the story.
- describe the scenery of the film: monuments, colours…
- make drawings referring to some aspects of the Islamic art, analysing pictures that show clothes, objects…

SECONDARY SCHOOL
FIRST LANGUAGE
- Analysis of the story of Azur and Asmar: description of places and characters.
- Activities on the topic of fantasy: fantastic characters, magic objects and powers, the heroes’ challenges, etc.
- Reading of other tales taken from the Arabian literature, such as the “The Thousand and One Nights”.
- Invent and write down the continuation of the story.
EDUCATION TO CITIZENSHIP
- Talk about the values of welcome and respect, found in the film.
- Analysis of daily situations of comparison/quarrel/exchange among people of different cultures, referring particularly to the teenagers’ experiences. Are there any values or behaviours through which it’s possible to conciliate the differences? Is it possible to let difference become a value and not a space of misunderstanding and prejudice?
- Analysis, in the Declaration of Human Rights and in the Italian Constitution, of the articles about liberty and equality without any distinction of race, sex, language, colour or religion and discussion about the topic.
HISTORY
- Locate Mohammed’s and Islam’s birth and the Arabian- Muslims’ conquests in the correct space and time. Compare these events with the history of our country from the 6th to the 10th century.
- Compare two maps of Europe, Northern Africa and Middle East before and after the Arabian expansion in the Middle Age.
- Talk about quarrels and exchanges between Christians and Muslims.
- Point out the scientific, artistic and cultural conquests carried out by the Arab people over the centuries.

GEOGRAPHY
- Look for the geographic characteristics of the countries on the South of the Mediterranean (climate, vegetation, cultures..).
- Study their inhabitants’ lifestyles (houses, food, clothes, traditions..)
SCIENCE
- Point out the Arabian-Muslim’s world contribution to mathematics (introduction of numerals and of zero in the Western world, invention of algebra), to astronomy or to medicine.
ART
- Look closely at the representations of the Islamic art in the film (architecture, decorations, handicrafts). Do some researches on the topic, studying the typical monuments of that architecture (mosques with arches, minarets, palaces..) and the decorations of buildings.
- Carry out activities such as paintings, drawings, collage, trying inspiration by the Islamic art.
- Find out the steps and the techniques of the film making

Sunday, October 25, 2009

4TH PROJECT MEETING- ISTANBUL- TURKEY

19th of October –Monday
08:30 = meeting in front of the hotel
09:00 = arrival at the school – greeting newcomers the Headmaster( Gazi Primary School )
10:00 = visiting the classes in the school
11:00 = show time in the school garden ( Turkish Folk Dance- Songs- variety dances )

12:00-13:30 = lunch in the school
13:30-14:00 = going to Eğitim Gönüllüleri Vakfı (the Charitable Foundation of Education Volunteer)
14:00 = visiting the classes in the Education Centre
15:30-17:30 = Project meeting in the conferefence hall
17:30-18:00 = going to the hotel
18:00 -19:00= having a rest
19:30 = meeting in front of the hotel ( we will take the Bulgarian Group)
20:00 = dinner in the Galata Kulesi (Galata Tower) ( it will be Folk Dance Groups, Belly Dancer , Harem Show )
20th of October – Tuesday
08:30 = meeting in front of the hotel
09:00-12:30 = arrival Sultanahmet Region ( it is called historical peninsula)- visiting Sultanahmet Mosque ( Blue Mosque ) , Ayasofya Müzesi ( Hagia Sophia Museum ) (20 euro) , Arkeoloji Müzesi ( Archaeology Museum ), Yerebatan Sarnıcı ( Cistern Basilica ) 12:30-13:30 = lunch in Sultanahmet Köftecisi ( a restaurant in Sultanahmet ) ( 8 euro )
13:30-14:30 = going to Dolmabahçe Sarayı (Dolmabahçe Palace)
15:00-17:00 = visiting the Dolmabahçe Sarayı ( Dolmabahçe Palace ) 17:00-18:30= free time
19:00 : meeting in front of the hotel
20:00 = dinner in Sabancı Öğretmenevi ( Sabancı Teachers’ House) in Beykoz ( it is in the Asia Continent)
21st of October - Wednesday
08:30 = meeting in front of the hotel
09:00= arrival to Topkapı Sarayı ( Topkapı Palace ) ( this palace is the centre of administration during Rome Empire, Byzantine Empire and Ottomon Empire )
09:00-12:00 = visiting the Topkapı Palace
12:00-16:00 = sailing on Bosphorus with the boat and visiting Kız Kulesi ( Maiden’s Tower )
Note : Lunch in the boat ( fish )

16:00-19:00 = having a rest or free time , if you want ,you can to Kapalı Çarşı ( the Grand Bazaar ), (we can take you there).
19:30 = meeting in front of the hotel
20:00 = dinner in the restaurant of Point Hotel in Taksim ( it is near Taksim Square , one of the centre of İstanbul)
23:00 = saying farewell to each other

First year final product



The book "Old stories for a new Europe" is finally ready!! The book, edited by the Italian schools of San Lorenzo and Pergola (PU), collects all the stories written by teachers and children of the classes involved in the LLP project. This is the cover,...




...this is the cover's back...








...and the index.




Monday, June 08, 2009

Final products' website


Bulgarian teachers uploaded a website that collects all the stories written and illustrated by the children involved.
Have a look at...

http://www.inter-cool-stories.hit.bg/

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Message from Bulgarian children

Dear Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Slovenian and Turkish partners,

we are your friends from Bulgaria. We are from classes 2b, 3v, 4g and 4d. We want to tell you about our life in March. On March 1 we the 2-nd graders visited an elderly house and gifted the old people martenitsi. They were so happy!
March is full of holidays for us.
1 – March – we pin “Martenitsi” on our lapels. They are a symbol of health (the red) and purity (the white). We sent you some martenitsi with your teachers.
3 March – the national holiday of our country-our liberation. On that day we commemorate and pay honour to our heroes.
8 March – the international day of women. It’s calebrated in Eastern Europe. On that day we give presents and flowers to our mothers, grandmothers and women teachers. The streets are full of women carrying bunches of flowers.
11 March – The holiday of our school. We celebrate the 270th anniversary of our patron saint – Sofronii Bishop of Vratsa. He was a religious figure, a poet, writer, translator and a revolution figure.
We had a big concert. Our school was 100.
Your teachers and 12 children from Slovenia came to our holiday. The Slovenian children performed interesting dances and games.
22 March – spring came … but with a lot of snow. This year March has been snowy. It only melted when the foreign guests came. Lucky them’
Last week 4g and 4d class went to the village of Chelopek. We visited the house- museum of an old woman who lived in the 1870s and rescued a revolutionary. We took lots of photos.
We also have pen pals from Texas US on another project
The American children are friend to our 4-graders.
The 2-graders love books. Yesterday we met a contemporary Bulgarian author. She told us how she had written her books. We asked her questions. It was very interesting.
For the school holiday there were a lot of contests. We received diplomas in music, art and poetry.
So, we are the children from classes 2 b, 3 v, 4g and 4d. We told you about ourselves in March. We will write you again to tell you what happened in April and May.
We are looking forward to receiving your emails.
When is your Easter? Are there any festivals in Turkey soon?
Bye
Greetings from Vratsa, Bulgaria

Saturday, May 09, 2009

SAMORA CORREIA PORTUGAL MAY 2009
MEETING May 4th
BOOK
Legend in flip album each country and in Publisher (all legends), landscape A4, comic sans, 12, space 1,5. 5 pages each legend (10 faces), all in English, title, name of school, country and class in the cover.
Main cover – logo of the project, names of schools, logo of schools, name of the project, class, on the cover’s back all the names of the teachers,
Mixed stories in alphabetical order
WORK SECOND YEAR
Intercultural films adapted to children is much more difficult, films we have are not made for children,
Intercultural film
- When he presents a different culture from ours, it is important to have the films of the different countries at school for the children who arrive at our schools.
- In the film we find the meeting of union or not (intercultural meeting) of two different cultures, dramatic, tragic, happy ending with a cultural side.
The vision of these films can help to overcome the pupils’ problems.

MEETING May 6th
Bulgaria needs all the names of all the teacher, the coordinator of the project will make the introduction to the book. Send all the stories to Bulgaria till the end of may, all school have to send their logos to Bulgaria.
Title of the book
OLD STORIES FOR A NEW EUROPE
Start to find the films. Azur and Asmar (cartoon translated in all the languages). Italy will send an e-mail with the title and all the information.
Final report in the end of the 1st year. Wait for the questionnaire and then we will exchange the information we need.
Questionnaire for students, the coordinator will write the questions, all schools will use the same.
Next meeting in Turkey – 19th to 22nd of October. Turkey choose a hotel near school then we directly can make the booking.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

3RD PROJECT MEETING- SAMORA CORREIA- PORTUGAL

2 May 2009 - Arrival of the guests from Bulgaria
3 May 2009 - Arrival of the guests from Slovenia and Turkey; check-in at Albergaria S. Lourenço, Porto Alto.
4 May 2009
9.00 – Arrival of the guests from Italy and Spain; check-in at Albergaria S. Lourenço, Porto Alto.
10.00 – Arrival at the school – greeting newcomers with the Mayor and the Headmistress (with some surprises…).
11.00 – Meeting and visit to Kinder garden and primary school. ¹
12.30 – Lunch of the whole group in Restaurante “Caçador” (price person – 7,5€)14.30 – Work meeting ¹ with pupils from different classes (7º C, 8º A, 9º B, 9º E) participating the project.
18.00 – Free time. If you want we can walk around Samora Correia, visit to Fonte dos Escudeiros, Palácio do Infantado, Igreja Matriz.
20.00 – Dinner of the work team with the foreign guests in the Restaurante “Os Grelhados” (price person – 12€).
5 May 2009
09.00 – Visit to Arts class, Teacher Ana Solange (8ºA, room 3)
09.30 – Visit to Chemistry class, Teacher Vanda Candeias (7ºA, room 1)
10.00 – Visit to Mathematics class, Teacher Teresa Pinto (5ºE, room 14)
10.30 – Visit to Project class, Teacher José Lima (6ºD, room 6)
11.00 – Visit to Music class, Teacher Vanda Gonçalves (7ºE, room 10)
11.30 – Visit to Gymnastic class, Teacher Filipe Dias (7ºB)
11.30 – Visit to Gymnastic class, Teacher Alberto Correia (9ºD)
12.30 - Lunch of the whole group in Restaurante “Nova Era” (price person – 6,5€)
14.30/17.00 – Visit by bus to “Companhia das Lezírias”², www.cl.pt
17.00 – Free time
20.00 - Dinner of the work team with the foreign guests in the Restaurante “Chico do Porto”. (price person - 13 €)
6 May 2009
7.30 – Bus to Lisbon.
9.00 – Visit to Palácio Nacional de Queluz ², (www.ippar.pt/monumentos/palacio_queluz.html)
11.00 – Escola Portuguesa de Arte Equestre, (http://cavalonet.com/epae/)
12.30 – Lunch (there are restaurants around so each one chooses where to eat) – Praça do Império.
14.00 – Museu do Oriente ²(price person - 2 €), (http://www.museudooriente.pt/)
18.00 – Arrival to Porto Alto – free time
20.00 - Dinner of the work team with the foreign guests in the Restaurante “Coudelaria”, Companhia das Lezírias. This dinner is on the Portuguese
team. ³ (
http://www.acoudelaria.com/)
7 May 2009
Final meeting and leaving of the guests.


Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Inter-cool-tural stories- Turkey

NASRETTİN HOCA
He was born in the village of Hortu of Sivrihisar and died in 1284 in Aksehir, a province of Konya, where his tomb is. His father was the imam(religious leader) of the village. Nasr-ed-Din, or "Victory of the Faith", was the name given by his parents to the author of the tales, and Hodja, meaning "Master" or "Teacher" is the honorific title which he subsequently acquired. It is obvious that Hodja was a witty man with sense of humor and he was a good conversationalist. Yet, based on most of the stories it is wrong to assume that everything he said was humorous. Over the years, the number of Nasreddin Hodja stories increased significantly since he was used as the main character in the new stories about other people. Among these, there are some that are easily recognized as not authentic Nasreddin Hodja stories. We can, therefore, say that Hodja and his stories were created by the natives of Anatolia in the 13th century, and the creation has lasted for centuries. Today, these stories belong to all Turkish people. Every year, Nasreddin Hodja Festivals are organized both in Sivrihisar; which is his birthplace; and in Aksehir where his tomb is. After reading some of the stories of Hodja, we think that you, too, will believe that Hodja will be living for generations to come...Just as Hodja did, may be you, too, will answer when asked "What do they do with the old full moons?", "They cut them up into small pieces and make the stars!.."


EAT MY FUR COAT EAT
The Hodja was invited out to dinner. He went in his old clothes and nobody was interested in him. When he found a few minutes to spare, he rushed home and collected his fur coat. When he came back, he was treated with great respect. Everybody wanted to speak to him. When they sat down for dinner he said: “Eat, fur coat, eat!” And he explained to the curious people: “If this regard is for my coat, it must eat also.”


WHAT IF IT BECOMES LEAVENED!
Nasreddin Hodja puts some food in his saddle – bag and sets out. At noon, he sits under a tree by Lake Akşehir. He eats some bread, olives and a bowl of yogurt merrily in the shadow. While he is shaking the bowl of yogurt, someone sees him and asks:What are you doing, Hodja? I’m leavening the lake. My God! Can the lake be leavened? Is that possible? I also know that it can’t, but what if it becomes leavened!

THEN, WHERE IS THE CAT?
A few times Hodja brought home some meat but never got a chance to eat it. His wife either ate it herself or gave it to her friends, and each time Hodja asked for some meat she said,"The cat stole it. I ran after it but I couldn't catch it."One day when his wife again told him that the cat had eaten the 2 kilos of meat he had brought, Hodja grabbed the cat and weighed it. It weighed 2 kilos. Hodja then turned to his wife and said,"If this is the cat then where is the meat? But if this is the meat, then where is the cat?"

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR INTERESTWE HOPE YOU ENJOYED

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Inter- cool- tural stories Italy3


THE LAST CACANIZZOLO

Nicetta, a ten years old girl, usually brought some pigs near the river so that they could “strufolare”(rub their snout against the grass) looking for something to eat, in this way she helped her family, a farmers family of the thirties. She was doing this even during that hot August afternoon. She was not alone because Peppe, her cousin, was in the field looking after some sheep and uncle Gioanne was cutting down some trees in order to have some poles for the vines and some wood to burn during the winter.
It was a big herd of swine, there was the sow, all her “cioncarini”(the youngest pigs), the “salvatorelli”(pigs who are about one month old) and the “salvatori” (pigs who are about three months old), from more than a brood and finally there was the last one of the “cacanizzoli”, that is the last born, the smallest, not for age but for size, the one who was the smallest either because the “matrana”( the sow who feeds all the little pigs) didn’t have enough teats or because his brothers, who were born before him and who were more expert than him, left for him the teat with less milk. He could survive the first difficult days and now, even if very small, he was part of the herd of swine. They were ugly, nearly disgusting, of a strange breed with dark skin, but if you could peer into their eyes, they were flashing and gentle.
During that afternoon there was a storm on the mountain but there it didn’t rain at all , even if the sky became dark and the swallows flew down in sight of a possible storm that could drive all the insects out. The pigs were scratching about and “sgaucciavano”(were searching something moving the earth) along the large shingle of the river near the dike where the water was diverted towards the miller and it let the millstones turn. There the river made a waterfall of ten metres, impressive and beautiful to see, so beautiful that some people used to come from the town to see it, when there was a lot of water.
A pouring noise was getting closer and suddenly the flood appears in front of Nicetta.
Water took some time to fill the bed of the river because first it filled the holes made by farmers coming by carts to take some gravel at the river: the little girl could step back but the pigs, more placid than her, were carried away one after the other by the strong current, they arrived at the waterfall and flew disorderly in a spectacular way on the water, they fell down again in the whirling whirlpool and were carried away again. Peppe and Gioanne had immediately rushed but in vain.
Everybody ran along the banks to follow the animals’ destiny, Nicetta, with a frightened look, saw the “cacanizzolo” disappearing among the cloudy waters. At last the weave weakened and the feverish rescue operations started . Slowly the pigs got up to the bank of the river, pushed by some poles and attracted by the cries and by the noise of the rattling iron “caldarole” (buckets). All of them except one: the “cacanizzolo”.
They went as far as more than half a kilometre from the waterfall towards San Lorenzo, but there was no trace of the “cacanizzolo” and, as it was getting dark, they reluctantly interrupted their search and went back home drenched to the skin, tired and sad.
The pigsty had remained opened: who was there crouched in a corner, half-covered by some straw? The “cacanizzolo”!
Pigs can’t talk or, if they can, humans don’t understand them, so no one will ever know how he could save himself and how he could found his way home by himself.
Nicetta felt her hearth ached by the excitement and happiness.
In the evening, at dinner, all of them were very happy.
The pigsty was crowded by dreams of flying and of finned animals and probably someone even thought about shooting a short film.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Inter- cool- tural stories Spain



We have choosen three legends, each legend has been studied by different classes:
• The witch of the cathedral
. The lioness
• Saint Narcissus and the flies
THE LIONESS
There is a popular legend: If you go to Girona you have to kiss the lioness' bottom. It is an easy way to express a wish to come back to the town, or stay there forever or to become a citizen. It goes without saying that someone is not considered a good Girona inhabitant if they haven't completed the ritual. The final argument: this is the only place in the world where you can kiss a lioness' bottom without getting into trouble.
THE WITCH OF THE CATHEDRAL
A witch threw stones at people who attended the numerous processions which took place in Girona. On the day of Corpus Christi when she was about to throw a stone a voice thundered out across the town saying: “Throw stones, throw stones and stone you will become!”. And to this very day she can be seen as a gargoyle on the Cathedral.
SAINT NARCISSUS AND THE FLIES
During the siege of 1285, a group of French soldiers managed to penetrate the church of Sant Feliu. A swarm of big flies came from the tomb of the Patron Saint of Girona causing death to the French troops and their horses. Faced by this unexpected miraculous situation the French troops started to retreat. Since then, every time Girona was involved in a new conflict, the intervention of Saint Narcissus and his flies was assured.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR VISIT TO GIRONA… YOU’LL BE ABLE TO LIVE THESE LEGENDS “in situ”!!!

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Inter- cool- tural stories Slovenia2


WATER SPRITE
At first he lived in a stinky pond in a village. From an unknown reason he moved to mount Uršlja Gora. How he succeeded we unfortunately don't know…
His pond was exactly there where there is a church today, consecrated to St. Ursula. When St. Ursula came to Mount Uršlja Gora she really liked it there, so she called Water Sprite and asked him to move his lake. Water Sprite was bored on Mount Uršlja Gora because he didn't meet anyone but shepherds all year long, and they always sang the same songs which he already knew by heart. He liked St. Ursula's idea. When he promised her to move the lake and himself to another hill, he, as a typical man, didn't think of how easy it is to promise something to a woman and how hard to fulfil it. He didn't want to carry the water on his head as a woman. Not at all! At last he was the ruler of all the waters. He kept thinking and he got an idea. At a nearby farmer, who didn't like the idea at first, he borrowed two oxen, Suri and Muri, which helped him carry the water night after night to the other hill until the pond was empty. When he finished and moved away himself, he well repaid the farmer. The oxen had a bag full of gold on each of their horns. Don't ever say that it's not worth helping Water Sprite.
And now back to the first residence of Water Sprite, the stinky pond.
A shepherd tended his flock by that pond every day. He didn't know what to do, so he sat down by the pond, threw pebbles and tried to make them leap to the other shore. When he grew weary of this, he started throwing bigger stones into the middle of the pond. He admired the circles that occured on the water. Once he threw a very big stone. Big circles occured and they didn't disappear. They got bigger and bigger as if bigger and bigger stones were falling into the water.The shepherd thought there was a storm on the bottom of the pond. A huge storm! Water Sprite!!!Water Sprite raged: »Who has knocked the spoon out of my son's hands?« The shepherd ready-wittedly pointed to a poor animal: “It was this sheep.”
Water Sprite grabbed the sheep and dragged it into the pond.
That’s how we know Water Sprite really exists.

Inter- cool- tural stories Slovenia




THE STORY ABOUT SLOVENJ GRADEC
It`s not about the real rising of the town but it stirs people`s imagination.
Once upon a time, when poeople lived together in concord and harmony, there was a big lake between Plešivec and the hill-side of western Pohorje. On one side of the wide water there was a castle and in the castle “Grad” lived a count, who had a very beautiful daughter. On the other side of the bank in a manor-house on Gradišče lived another count and his young and handsome son. By boat they often visited each other, the youngsters also in secret. One day when the contess was travelling again by boat across the water to embrance her sweet-heart, suddenly in the middle of the lake a strong north-east wind caught her, which raised high waves and turned over her boat. The young daughter drowned. The count wanted to find his daughter’s dead body at any price. They were searching for her day and night continuously for 14 days, however without success. At one point between Rahtel and the hill-side of Kremžarica the count ordered to dig through the hill and the water flew away. On the bottom of the dry lake in the middle of the arising valley he found in the mud the body of the young girl. In endless grief he ordered to build the church on the place where she drowned. Later, the town Slovenj Gradec arose around the church .