Participanții au fost invitați să facă un schimb simbolic: o țigară în schimbul unui dulce. Acest gest simplu a fost folosit ca pretext pentru a porni o conversație sinceră despre alegeri, tentații, influențe și consecințele pe termen lung ale fumatului. Dulciurile oferite au avut rolul de a reprezenta o alternativă mai blândă și mai plăcută, marcând posibilitatea unui nou început sau a unei schimbări pozitive.
Activitatea nu a avut un caracter moralizator, ci a urmărit crearea unui spațiu de dialog deschis, în care participanții să se simtă ascultați și încurajați.

Discuțiile au fost centrate pe întrebări precum: Ce obiceiuri avem? De ce ne e greu să renunțăm la ele? Ce ne-ar ajuta să facem o schimbare?
Rezultatele activității au fost încurajatoare: majoritatea participanților au fost receptivi, au acceptat schimbul și au împărtășit gânduri personale legate de fumat și sănătate. S-au exprimat motivații diferite – de la dorința de a reduce consumul de tutun, până la curiozitatea de a participa la un gest simbolic cu sens.

Concluzii și feedback
Participanții au apreciat ideea activității pentru simplitatea și impactul ei. Mulți au recunoscut că nu se gândiseră până atunci cât de mult contează micile alegeri zilnice și cât de ușor pot fi înlocuite unele obiceiuri cu alternative mai pozitive. Unii au mărturisit că schimbul i-a făcut să reflecteze mai serios asupra dorinței de a renunța la fumat sau de a-și îmbunătăți stilul de viață. Activitatea a fost percepută ca fiind creativă, non-invazivă și eficientă în a transmite un mesaj important fără presiune sau critică.

Context and Objectives
As part of our ongoing Erasmus+ accredited initiative, Step Up! Learning and Evolving, this workshop aimed to blend literature, creativity, and language learning through a hands-on, collaborative activity focused on nature and multilingualism.

The objectives of the activity were:
• To promote appreciation for Romanian literary heritage, especially poetry inspired by nature.
• To encourage creativity and collaborative learning through a unique puzzle-based approach.
• To support the development of multilingual skills by translating poetry into English, French, or German.
• To foster interclass interaction and peer collaboration in an engaging and meaningful way.

Activity Description
In the first phase of the activity, students were asked to:
• Search for and select Romanian poems related to nature—highlighting themes such as seasons, landscapes, flora, fauna, and human-nature interaction.
• Write the chosen poems by hand on colored sheets of paper, adding a personal, artistic touch to the process.
• Cut the poem pages into puzzle pieces, creating customized jigsaw puzzles.
In the second phase:
• The puzzle pieces will be distributed to other classes, who will first have to reconstruct the poems.
• After completing the puzzles, students will be challenged to translate the Romanian poems into one of three target languages: English, French, or German, depending on their language profile.

Learning Outcomes
Cultural and literary appreciation
Students engaged deeply with Romanian poetry, exploring how nature has been represented by various authors across time. This helped reinforce the connection between language, culture, and environment.
Language development
The translation task allowed students to apply and improve their vocabulary, grammar, and interpretative skills in a foreign language, while also discussing how meaning can shift between languages.
Creative thinking and fine motor skills
The physical task of creating puzzle pieces added a tactile, interactive element to learning, engaging different types of learners.
Collaboration and communication
By designing puzzles for peers and anticipating how others would interpret and solve them, students developed a sense of audience awareness, responsibility, and empathy.

Conclusion
"Nature in Pieces: Poetry, Puzzles, and Languages" was a rich, multifaceted workshop that showcased the power of combining creativity, literature, and language learning. The task encouraged students to become cultural mediators, transforming poetic expressions from one language to another while engaging in thoughtful, meaningful collaboration. This activity exemplifies the goals of Erasmus+: nurturing European values, interdisciplinary learning, and student agency in a creative, hands-on format.

Context and Objectives
This workshop was organized as a follow-up activity to a recent Erasmus+ job shadowing experience under our ongoing Erasmus+ Accreditation – Step Up! Learning and Evolving. It aimed to apply the principles of collaborative learning, language development, and environmental awareness, by bringing together students from different age groups in a joint educational experience.
The specific objectives of the workshop were:
• To encourage intergenerational collaboration between younger and older students.
• To promote multilingual competence by connecting German vocabulary to English language knowledge.

• To foster discussion around environmental themes through visual interpretation and communication.
Activity Description
During the session, 9th-grade students worked in pairs or small groups with 3rd-grade students to create pictionaries—visual dictionaries using images and keywords. The focus was on German vocabulary, particularly words connected to nature and the environment.
Students explored German terms by:
• Drawing or selecting representative images.
• Identifying English equivalents or related words.
• Discussing the meaning of the images, with an emphasis on how humans interact with the natural world—both positively and negatively.
The discussions went beyond vocabulary learning, as students reflected on how actions such as deforestation, pollution, or conservation affect natural elements like forests, water, and air.

Learning Outcomes
The workshop resulted in a dynamic, inclusive, and creative learning environment. The following outcomes were observed:
Language development:
Students improved their understanding of German vocabulary and reinforced their English knowledge through comparison and translation.
Collaboration and peer learning:
Older students took on mentoring roles, while younger students actively contributed with ideas, drawings, and questions—creating a space of shared discovery.
Environmental awareness:
Through image interpretation, students connected language learning to real-world issues such as pollution, climate change, and sustainability.
Creativity and visual learning:

The use of drawings and pictionaries allowed all students, regardless of age or skill level, to express themselves and engage meaningfully.
Conclusion
The workshop successfully met its goals by combining language learning, creative expression, and environmental education in an inclusive, student-centered format. It also reinforced key values promoted through our Erasmus+ projects: collaboration, lifelong learning, and European cultural awareness. The positive interaction between the two age groups created an atmosphere of mutual respect and enthusiasm, reminding us that learning is most impactful when it brings people together, regardless of age or level.

Location: Almada, Portugal
School: Agrupamento de Escolas Anselmo de Andrade
Host: Isabel Marques
eTwinning Ambassador: Militaru Nicoleta Marilena
Participants: Students and teachers from Portugal and Romania

Context
The eTwinning workshop took place in Almada, Portugal, at Agrupamento de Escolas Anselmo de Andrade. This event brought together students from Portugal and Romania, aiming to explore the integration of digital tools in the development of collaborative eTwinning projects. The workshop was hosted by Isabel Marques, who created a warm and collaborative environment for all participants, emphasizing the importance of digital learning, cross-cultural communication, and the creative use of digital tools in education.

Workshop Objectives
• To explore and practice using digital tools in collaborative eTwinning projects.
• To strengthen teamwork and collaboration through virtual interactions between students from different countries.
• To promote the development of digital competencies and communication skills.
• To create innovative digital products focusing on eTwinning themes like sustainability, cultural exchange, and digital citizenship.

Skills Developed
Participants not only gained knowledge about specific digital tools but also developed key skills, including:
• Digital literacy – Using a variety of tools for creating content and collaboration.
• Communication – Strengthening English language skills as the primary medium for international interaction.
• Collaboration – Working effectively in multicultural teams, often across different time zones.
• Critical thinking – Problem-solving and brainstorming creative solutions through digital means.
• Creativity – Designing engaging and informative content through digital platforms.

Reflections and Feedback
The workshop was very well-received by students and teachers alike. Participants appreciated the hands-on experience with the digital tools and the opportunity to work with international peers. Many commented on the interactive and fun nature of the activities, which made learning about digital tools both enjoyable and meaningful. "This was a great way to practice our digital skills while collaborating with new friends from another country," said one of the Romanian participants.

Even better, teachers get the chance to develop their own skills. We’ve explored new digital tools, tried creative teaching strategies, and found exciting ways to engage our students beyond the usual classroom routine. One of the best things about eTwinning is how it brings collaboration to life. In our recent projects, students worked side by side (virtually!) with their peers in other countries to research, create, and present their ideas.
They’ve shared videos, made posters, written stories, and even created joint presentations. Along the way, they’ve learned to listen, compromise, and communicate with others who have different perspectives and backgrounds. It’s not just about the project—it’s about learning how to work with others and grow together.

We’ve always aimed to keep our lessons fresh and relevant, but eTwinning has taken that to the next level. It’s encouraged our teachers to try new approaches and experiment with innovation in their classrooms. From digital storytelling to collaborative science experiments, eTwinning has inspired lessons that are fun, interactive, and meaningful.
For our students, eTwinning is more than just a school project—it’s an experience. They gain confidence, digital literacy, language practice, and a deeper understanding of the world around them. Most importantly, they develop a sense of ownership over their learning. They see how their voice matters and how their ideas can make a difference—not just in the classroom, but in the world.
And this is just the beginning!