Migration Matters
The meeting in Cacovec, Croatia
4th - 8th March 2019
The meeting in Cakovec was organized as a "short term exchange of groups of pupils". According to the agenda of our project, it focused on addressing the Migration in Flora and Fauna.
Before the meeting, each partner school studied positive and negative aspects of species' migration. The partners learned about examples of the positive introduction of non-native species such as potatoes from America, tangerines from China, the cultivation of wine spreading from the Mediterranean to Northern and Eastern Europe. We also explored negative ones such as invasive plants and animals which threaten and endanger endemic species.
Before the meeting in Croatia students researched about invasive plants and animals and their consequences in their countries' local environment and worked in an app called "Canva“ to create the online brochure: https://www.canva.com/design/DADPi_qtsrg/view
During the meeting, students created an animated film about plant and animal migrations (available in https://vimeo.com/322195075) as well as prepared and performed a theatrical performance about species migration.
Monday, 4th March 2019
The meeting in Cakovec started with Mr Renato Vinko the headmaster of the Croatian school who gave us a welcome speech. Since the meeting was about invasive species, the first part of the presentation after the speech was about Međimurje County and its biodiversity. The second part of the presentation concerned invasive snails. After presentations, Croatian students organized ice-breaking activities which helped all the students and teachers to get to know each other and to feel more relaxed in the new environment.
On the first day, we went on a sightseeing tour around Čakovec. After some free time for exploring the town, the students were divided into two groups. One group started working on an animated film in The School of Animated Film in Čakovec (ŠAF), while the other group started working on a performance in the theatre for children and youth (Pinklec).
During that time the teachers held a meeting to discuss future activities and next meetings and after they were able to see how the traditional mask "Pikač" is made.
Tuesday, 5th March 2019
All the activities held on the second day of the meeting took place in Zagreb. We visited the Faculty of Agriculture where all the participants took part in two different workshops. Both workshops started with introductory presentations. The first one was about invasive plants. After the presentation, the participants were able to choose an invasive plant and draw it on their cup. Since it was the day of the carnival, each participant decorated a mask using invasive species as well. It was an opportunity for everyone to express their creativity. The second workshop was about invasive bugs. After an interesting presentation about bugs in songs, art and literature, the participants were able to choose a bug and decorate its box for their own bug collection. When the workshops ended we all went on a sightseeing tour of Zagreb.
Wednesday, 6th March 2019
On the third day of the meeting, the teachers spent the morning on a sightseeing tour of Varaždin - the city of baroque. In the afternoon the students continued working on an animated film in the School of Animated Film in Čakovec (ŠAF) and on a performance in the theatre for children and youth (Theatre Company Pinklec).
Thursday, 7th March 2018
All the participants met at Gospodarska škola to hear a presentation about invasive fish. Later we all visited Dubrava Hidro Power Plant and went on a sightseeing tour of Međimurje County. We visited the old mill on the river Mura and were able to enjoy the view of the vineyards and beautiful nature. We were also able to watch the birds and learn about their migration.
Friday, 14th December 2018
The last day of the visit started with the presentation of the meeting's deliverables. During the meeting, students created an animated film about plant and animal migrations as well as a theatrical performance. On the last day, all the students and teachers were able to enjoy the performance and the film.
The last day of the meeting was also an international women's day so our students with disabilities made a special gift for every woman - a paper rose.
All the students and teachers were given certificates and after the official programme, we were able to see how the animated films were made from the start.
In the afternoon the Goodbye party was organised for all the teachers and all the students who participated in the meeting. It was an opportunity for everyone to spend the last hours before leaving in a relaxed environment, dancing, talking, sharing impressions.
