power up! newsletter 3

Comenius: Power up! Renewable energy in the primary school

Ce projet a été financé avec le soutien de la Commission européenne. Cette publication (communication) n'engage que son auteur et la Commission n'est pas responsable de l'usage qui pourrait être fait des informations qui y sont contenues. 1

Newsletter:

Visit in Belgium, 25-29/03/2013

On Monday, we welcomed our partners with the whole school

together.

Here we could present our school to our visitors and introduce

our partners to the children. For them, the project is becoming

touchable.

Every class had created a unique welcome by a small dance or

presentation. There was also a basket with local specialties

offered.

Afterwards, the classes were visited. Here could every teacher

observe how we work in Belgium and on what way the project is

implemented in each classroom. A great range of pedagogique

diversity is shown and exchange of information is the main

theme.

The children can also come in direct contact with our invitees:

In the higher grades, questions are asked. In French to our guests from Guadeloupe and in Dutch to

our German colleagues. For them, trying to make themselves understood in a foreign language is

new. But with bits and pieces,

everyone finds the pleasure of

communicating.

The youngest ones are happy to

show their creations of the project

during the last period: windmills,

mills working with the radiator,

etc…

A video log “canalzoom” can be found on the blog.



After this day, we went for pleasure by visiting a local “chocolatier”:

<< During our visit of Belgium, a visit of a chocolatier is inevitable. I would like to thank the

organization to insert this visit in the already full program.

This 25-03, we went to « Chez Lio », were we arrived after some sightseeing. The establishment

isn’t very special for its size, neither for its commercial strategy, but for its homemade character and

finesse. The ideal mix for a visit of a chocolate manufactory made by hand. We

could profit of an personal explication by the creator, enjoying the unfold of the

process to make chocolate and afterwards having the pleasure of tasting some

special tasting chocolates. Before leaving, we had to answer some questions about

the fabrication process and conservation of high quality chocolate. Special thanks

to Pepijn for this spiritual escapade. >

Hervé Davison

On Tuesday, some specific energy lessons

were prepared.

First, an tutor of the Walloon government came to explain in

the 5the grade the need to be concerned about the energy.

Together, they examined draft in a classroom, the temperature

in different places,... By these experiments, conclusions could

be made by the children. Windows and doors are energy

losers, but also that warmth doesn’t come for granted.

A view on how energy is created in Belgium is given, and

better propositions are asked to the children. Renewable

energy is the future! So a quick peak in what the possibilities

are and how these machines work is given.

Afterwards, the children of the 4the grade presented their

creations of a solar oven. Some weeks before the visit, the

question was asked how they see their oven.

The children had the chance to do some searching and they

created in small groups a working strategy with construction

plans of, what they believe, is the best working solar oven.

Then they could build 1 example each. Today is ‘testing day’. Due to a lack of sun, lamps are used

instead of the sun. The test is successful if after 100’ the egg is cooked. During this testing moment,

questions are posed and answered to our visiting colleagues.



Some ovens worked fine, others need to be improved or

another decision should be made. This evaluation will be

done in the next weeks. When the most functional oven

is found, this will created on a larger scale to see the full

impact of this system.

A newsreport can be found on the blog. “vers l’avenir”

Report of the meeting in Perwez, on 26-03-2013

Present : Jutta, Sarah of Grundschule Winterspueren

Pepijn coordinator of l’école J. Paul 2

Catherine coordinatrice of l’école S B Jovien

+ Anita coordinateur of R Carrieri via skype

New partner : Each agency should inform his own NA.

Activities realized :

Dictionary of the words in the 4 languages:

- In Jean Paul 2 : they can be found against the wall in the main building.

- Guadeloupe and Italy : to be realized

- Germany : to be confirmed

Italian words should be added.

Weather observation : All schools have participated. Problem in the concentration between the

schools, the activities to be realized are not well defined in October. Each has a different way of

observation. Better was to define a template in advance which each school had to use and put in

practice.

Solar energy : S B Jovien : power-point on the blog, the movement of the sun, the different solar

ovens, and the creation and use to melt chocolate.

Jean Paul II : The activities were performed by 2 students and Monique, teacher of the 4the grade.

Different kinds of ovens are studied. (isolation, material choice, color,…). Laps were used due to a

lack of intensity of sunlight. Eggs are cooked.



Activities in the future :

The experiments about water are on the program for 2013/2014.

School of Winterspueren

The wind/windmills : Jutta presented pictures of the interesting work already done. Investigation of a

traditionally created windmill with parts of a bike. The bike will be terminated later this year.

Word of the headmaster of Winterspueren

…In my memories we also decided to keep the Global Warming short, because our pupils are too

young (6-10) to come to a deeper understanding. EDE had his part in the beginning of Oct 1 in

Winterspueren about Global Warming.

What did we do in Ger?

We found instruments to measure the weather (for different ages of students)

We did weather observation and documentation in a really good structure

We sent animated Christmas cards to our partners

Especially Jutta is working with her class on a great project using wind energy. I think you saw the

documentation about it she brought to Belgium. …

It seems important to make it clear what we will do in our Comenius project, otherwise we will come

in trouble with our report in summer. My understanding is to give children possibilities to find out

how to use renewable energy practically.

Global warming:

SB Jovien , 3the grade: Studying the sources of renewable energy an global warming : Bologne,

factory using the geothermic heath in Guadeloupe-the coral is getting white-these studies will be

presented to the students and visitors during the visit in may.

Jean Paul II : the different sources of renewable energy and global warming : activity on 26-03-by the

tutor of the government in the 5the grade and with the partners.

Blog:

It impossible to create new leaflets on the blog, only the original creator can do this. This polish

colleague, which is not excepted in the project, can do this. After contact, we were answered that this

is not possible anymore. We have 2 choices:

-creating a new blog



-creating power-points to group the presentations and work, in order to have a clear view over our

work.

Partners:

We welcome by skype our new partner: Anita. She presents us her school.

-21 classes in primary and 9 classes in preschool, 750 students in total

-Anita confirms she can host us during a meeting in November 2013 at Taranto

-Anita will join us in Guadeloupe

Meeting in Guadeloupe

Organization:

-Confirmation of the dates, helping with details of car rental and excursions, arranging

accommodation.

-The intermediate report will be completed. Pepijn would like to join for this work.

Meeting in Belgium

The 2 coordinators of the Belgian and French school have joined for a meeting to discuss the details

of the visit by the children of S B Jovien in may 2013.

Check of the authorizations, insurance, transport, program and excursions

The colleagues will be lodged in a studio near the school for a reasonable amount.

Meeting, program 2013/2014

Difficult for the teachers to be replaced by their administration, the importance of the attendance of

all the coordinators, w commonly decided to put all our holidays together to find dates in the holiday

to travel. This makes it easier to all parties.

Proposed traveling:

Italy : 26 October till 31 October 2013

Germany : 4 may till 10 may 2014, with a group of 16 children of Guadeloupe

June : final rapport between 8 and 22 June, to be defined.



On Wednesday, we went for an excursion to Brussels

In Europe’s capital, we first went for a visit of ‘inside the station’ at Tour and taxis. Here is shown

how the Belgian government has created a zero-emission station on Antarctica. The use of renewable

energy is a primary concern in this station to operate at a zero-emission base. Therefore, new

technologies are created, together with scientists all over the world. This visit is an surplus on our

project and can open new ways of enjoying renewable energy in our project and classrooms.

Afterwards, we went for a historical visit of Brussels. The visit ended with an audio tour in the

Museum of Europe.

In the evening, we had to say farewell to our French colleagues who are returning.

<< My day in Namur:

This Thursday, the 3the year A and B, went together by public bus to the city of Namur.

To arrive at the ‘citadel’ a fortified placement of the middle-ages, we had to take the train. There,

Nathalie explained what a citadel is by using a map.

Afterwards, we went for a visit. First, we went underground. It was cold and the stairs were very

slippery.

At noon, we came back to have our lunch. Then we took a small train who put us back at the bus

station. It was an interesting day. >> Louise Wodon, P3A



Visit in Bruges

On the 29th

march we went to Bruges by train. We decided to take the train because this is a very

common used way of transportation, using electricity. We arrived at Bruges about 11 o’clock where

we met a guide. Together we started an historical city tour. We walked through the old city and

looked at the different historical monuments like the Beguinage and Minnewater. We talked about

the Flemish primitives, Bruges in medieval times, Almshouses. In the afternoon, we visited some

shops to show the diversity of the Belgian beers and beerculture. Afterwards we went to a local

brewery where we tasted “Brugse Zot” and “ Straffe Hendrik”, two local brewed beers.

After our visit of Bruges, we went to Cathy’s mention to enjoy the farewell dinner. A menu created

only of typical Belgian products.

This was a fine day to end the mobility in Belgium.

Report by Pepijn Borghs, Coordinator Jean Paul II, Perwez, Belgium

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