A clay statue for our school garden
Students of 3rd Primary School of Zografou carried out a cross-curricular project that brought together nature and art as a scaffold of ESD. Throughout the 15-session project the students learned about the bond between humans and the natural environment and the need for more sustainable ways of living. They were introduced to cultural artifacts, artistic techniques and they studied the way artists observe the natural environment and reproduce artifacts to tell the stories of the earth (sounds, images, legends, people’s past and present). As a final project the students created owls made of clay, which now sit in the school garden.
Trash art - the little mermaid
At another school - Senior High School of Moudros, Lemnos, first grade students took it upon themselves to collect waste from the school meals, utilizing it for creative purposes rather than ending up in a landfill. After the waste was collected, the students categorized and processed it appropriately so that it could be used in their art project. A group of students designed and painted a mermaid where they fashioned her tail and surrounding areas with recycled plastic and metal. The inspiration for the project was based on a painting of a mermaid modeled after the Copenhagen Mermaid by artist Edvard Eriksen, which itself is based on the fairy tale of the same name by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen.
The Mediterranean diet
In the upper intermediate school Ralleio GEL Thileon Peiraia, students learned about the Mediterranean diet and what it means for intangible cultural heritage. The project was carried out across several subjects: English, biology and economics, and involved students learning from their families and the community how traditional cooking methods and knowledge have been passed down from generation to generation. In addition, students were able to visit a farm run by a social-cooperative enterprise, where students and teachers became farmers for a day.
“These inspiring projects highlight how invaluable art, culture and heritage are for sustainable development. These components really are vital learning lessons for students of all ages” says Mark Manns, Programme Specialist at UNESCO’s education for sustainable development programme.
