The sea is not a barrel

 https://os-sradica-metkovic.skole.hr/more-nije-bacva-za-otpad/

Activities of the ERASMUS + project Artistic Journey to Green Future 

As part of the ERASMUS + project Artistic Journey to a Green Future,  the Stjepan Radić Elementary School in Metković was hosted by LTT Croatia from April 27 to May 1, 2026. The 6th grade students, together with the nature teacher Vesna Pavlović, presented their activities related to the topic The Sea is Not a Waste Bin to the participants of the lesson from partner schools and institutions.

In the introductory part of the lesson, a brainstorming session was held on the topic: The Sea, where students presented concepts and thoughts related to the importance and beauty of the sea, biodiversity and the benefits of the sea. After that, a presentation was shown: The Sea is not a waste bin. This introductory part encouraged all participants to actively participate and was an excellent introduction, after which the students were divided into 4 groups, solving thematic worksheets related to marine protection, microplastics, recycling and preserving the sea from pollution.

The educational panel with a presentation of the decomposition time of waste in the sea attracted the special attention of all participants. It displayed data on the decomposition time of glass, plastic, aluminum cans, plastic bags, wood, Styrofoam and other materials. By comparing the time required for the decomposition of individual types of waste, the students became aware of the long-term consequences of irresponsibly discarded waste on the marine environment, and how important sorting and recycling are.   

Special emphasis was placed on the harmful effects of waste on marine organisms. Plastic waste and microplastics endanger fish, sea turtles, dolphins, birds and other animals that often mistake waste for food or get entangled in it. By solving the worksheet, the students became aware of the consequences that can be injuries, suffocation, starvation and death of animals. They noticed how small plastic particles enter the food chain, which not only endangers marine life but also human health, which is an increasingly important problem today.

The workshop enabled students to learn through exploration, collaboration, and creative expression. The students worked together to create an educational display with photographs, drawings, ecological messages, and illustrations of the marine world, developing artistic expression and aesthetic sensitivity.  

The students' work was followed with great interest by Erasmus + project participants from Turkey, Spain, Malta and North Macedonia, and the joint discussion encouraged the exchange of ideas and examples of good practice in environmental protection. 

The students' creative work was presented with unique bookmarks made from pressed flowers with motifs of the natural beauties of Croatia. The bookmarks were presented by the students to the participants of the Erasmus + project, which they enthusiastically accepted as a symbol of friendship, cooperation and shared concern for environmental preservation.

This workshop showed that international cooperation, exchange of ideas and joint activities can encourage young people to behave responsibly towards the environment. Students gained new knowledge, developed teamwork and in this way successfully connected ecology, art, cultural heritage and international cooperation.

Written by: nature and biology teacher Vesna Pavlović

LTT CROATIA

 https://os-sradica-metkovic.skole.hr/erasmus-learning-teaching-and-training-ltt/

We planted an olive in the school garden

The Erasmus + Learning, Teaching, Training (LTT) project Artistic Journey to Green Future took place at the Stjepan Radić Elementary School in Metković from April 27th to May 1st, 2026. We welcomed teachers and educators in a cheerful, joyful atmosphere, which was contributed to by our student-members of the mandolin orchestra, students who danced traditional dances and performed games, and other students and teachers. 

In the school hall, we started our LTT program by presenting the agenda, followed by a brief introduction of the participants through the activity “One Sound – One Green Habit”. Each teacher introduced themselves by name and school and shared one sound of nature that they particularly like, with a brief explanation of why that sound is important to them. After that, the participants also listed one sustainable habit that they practice in their daily lives. The activity contributed to a pleasant atmosphere, encouraged mutual acquaintance, and immediately focused the participants on the main themes of the project – the connection between nature, personal experience of the environment, and a sustainable lifestyle.

Teachers together in the staffroom- „One Sound – One Green Habit“

We analyzed the work and dissemination of activities on the project website so far. We also went for a walk around our school and took a peek into the classrooms.

After these activities, the teachers listened to lessons prepared by librarian Ivana Čarapina and pedagogue Nikolina Vugdelija, who delighted the visitors with their creativity.       

Coordinators of the project and the principal, Tomislav Tomić, planted an olive tree in the school garden for world peace and as a symbolic memory of our first Erasmus+ project. Prayers and blessings were offered by Fr. Denis Šimunović. The teachers really enjoyed this activity.

Under the guidance of Professor Suzana Antonini, the teachers listened to the city of Metković and its history. They visited the Metković Natural History Museum – presented using information panels, three-dimensional displays of habitats, stuffed animals in drawers and display cases, and multimedia audiovisual displays.

The working day ended with a reception at the Metković City Hall. On behalf of the Mayor of Metković, and by his authority, the reception was held by the Director of the Metković Tourist Board, Magdalena Medar Ujdur, to whom we would like to express our sincere gratitude for the warm welcome, hospitality, and support 

The second day of the LTT program began with bird watching through telescopes and binoculars, listening to the sounds of nature. Ecologist Iva Rajković Alendar taught us about the birds that live in the protected nature area at the Neretva estuary, their appearance and vocalizations, for international cooperation.

After that, also at the mouth of the Neretva River, there was a Green Classroom lesson with students of the 2nd grade, held by teacher Marijana Curić. The students were divided into five teams - they explored the nature around them according to the tasks, in cooperation with their parents, after which they presented their work to their teachers and parents. They happily explored and collaborated on the sandy beach.

Green Classroom at the mouth of Neretva

Upon returning to the school hall, professors from Selcuk University in Konya, Turkey, in collaboration with a team from the Spanish primary school CEIP Mata Linares, taught us about the possibilities of using podcasts in teaching. The Spanish team linked the sounds of music and other sounds with the impact on emotions and their expression. The presentation of the teams' results showed that the same sounds do not affect everyone in the same way and have different effects.

After the educational part in the assembly hall, the teachers attended classes with teachers: Kate Jelačić, Tatjana Juračić Hazirović and Vesna Pavlović, who prepared teaching units for them in accordance with the project theme.

The day ended successfully in a positive atmosphere at a joint lunch.

The third day of mobility began with a presentation on working with a digital album, given by a university professor from Selçuk University, Salih Saglam, Konya, Turkey, after which teachers from North Macedonia representing the “Nikola Kljusev” Foundation presented the possibilities of promoting the digital album in order to increase its visibility as much as possible. After that, visits were organized to the classes of English teacher Martina Tomić, educator of the Special Department for Students with Disabilities Jelena Šalinović, and art teacher Ante Leko.
The teachers followed the students’ work with interest and were particularly impressed by the children with disabilities in the Special Group.

The mobility program continued at the Archaeological Museum of Narona, where the museum's senior curator Konstanta Bukovac held a workshop on Latin epigraphy, through which the teachers were introduced to the ancient way of writing using papyrus and ink. The aim of this workshop was to introduce the participants to the basics of Latin epigraphy, inscriptions on various solid materials and their significance for researching the Roman period. In the practical part of the workshop, the participants, using a Roman stylus and ink, copied onto papyrus an inscription found in Vid near Metković, ancient Narona, in Roman capitals and cursive script.

The day ended with a boat ride along the Norin River from Vid to Momić, accompanied by singing, the sounds of the accordion, and a shared lunch at the Lopoč restaurant.

The fourth day, Thursday 30.4.2026, began with a presentation of the Nature Littles Festival by the Turkish team from Konya Primary School. Presenter Sabrye Kaya presented the ways, possibilities and places of activities where, when, and how the festival could be organized. The teachers agreed that it would be held in June at different times and that the other participants, together with the students, would be observers in the online-organized sections.

After a short break, the teachers took organized transportation to Dubrovnik, where they had an arranged workshop on plastic recycling and sunglasses making – they were able to see the entire production process in a small factory called Maritimo Recycling. The workshop was fully in line with the theme and was very interesting to all participants.

At the end of the program in the Old Town, after a joint lunch at the restaurant "Bura", the teachers attended a reception at the County Center in Dubrovnik. There, they were welcomed by the Head of the Administrative Department for County Prefect and County Assembly Affairs, Žaklina Marević, to whom we would like to express our sincere gratitude for the warm welcome, hospitality, and support for international cooperation.

The Society of Friends of the Antiquities of the City of Dubrovnik gifted teachers and educators of this Erasmus+ project a free visit to the Dubrovnik city walls, which allowed them to truly experience the beauty of this city.

In the evening, the teachers returned to Metković and spent another beautiful day together and learning.

On the 5th day, Friday, May 1, 2026, although it is Labor Day, with a slightly shorter agenda than the other days, the teachers met to get acquainted with the evaluation of all activities, listen to the sounds of nature that they collected during those days during their stay in Metković and during the organized activities at the Neretva estuary and the boat ride on the Norin River to the town of Momići. It was interesting to listen to the relaxing sounds that the teachers and educators were able to experience in their Neretva homeland.

At the end of the gathering, certificates of participation were awarded, beautiful photos, memories, and friendships were shared, and the teachers thanked each other for the gift of togetherness.

We shared a festive cake with the project logo and the Stjepan Radić Elementary School logo, which also marked the end of the Learning Teaching Training activities program in Croatia.

It was an unforgettable first experience of an organization of this kind, organized and coordinated by teacher Marijana Curić for the Stjepan Radić Elementary School.