Danube Activities for Pupils
Many activities happened in schools and kindergartens. There were special calls for teachers, who were invited to join the projects with their classes. All types of schools participated. The activities were tailored depending on the age of the students. There were activities for different school subjects, e.g.:
– German lessons: Storytelling; Storytelling cafés combined with crocheting activities
– Geography lessons: Research on the neighbouring countries
– Art lessons: Building on Danube sculptures
– Math lessons: Calculating competitions with the aim of figuring out, which students crocheted the longest part of the Danube
There were also crocheting activities with mother and grandmothers that helped fostering the intergenerational and intercultural contact in the classes. There were also many classes held for disabled students. It was important to everybody to be part of the big picture that means to help creating a wanted Danube landscape. This spirit was prompted via the website on which pictures of all activities in the participating countries were uploaded on a daily basis. The website also had the latest information on the newest crocheting results.
Pedagogical Information
Many options and applications are possible, but it is necessary to tailor them to the needs and abilities of the students. These methods are interesting, because they give pupils the opportunity to be part of something bigger and to better understand cultural and/or historical links.European Dimension
The feeling of being part of something bigger, forms the European dimension in this case.Applied in projects
The Wanted Danube
As many people as possible from all Danube countries were invited to crochet a woolen carpet that symbolizes the river Danube. The challenge: To make the so called “river carpet” as long as possible and to integrate people regardless of their age, social background, education and language skills. The aim was to demonstrate the solidarity amongst the Danube countries. The big finale was a cultural performance in which all the small parts of the big carpet were exhibited on the Cathedral square in front of the Ulm Cathedral during the international Danube Festival in 2014.
Once the project was finished, the so called “Danube-Rivercarpet” was divided into small pieces. These pieces were given away for donation.
