Description
The project "Fashion for Health", stems from concerns regarding children and increasingly unhealthy lifestyles. The project is meant to develop healthy lifestyle habits among children. The goal is to improve upon children attitude towards health and safety concerning themselves as well as others. After participating in the project the child should have increased awareness of a healthy lifestyle, take care of personal hygiene, be familiar with a healthy diet, be more active, and better understand the movement of the body as a contributor to good health. The project seeks to raise educational standards at school along with healthy developments in students. The project will focus on innovative teaching methods characterized by greater efficiency than traditional forms. Through the integration of partner schools, Fellaskóli is responsible for the control of its budget and will be in constant contact with the donor project partner by e-mail, sending reports on the implementation of the project.
Summary of project results
The objective of the project was to foster active attitudes among children towards health and safety (their own and other people’s), to teach them a healthy lifestyle and to develop their overall fitness as an important health factor. The entire school community was involved in various activities (workshops, lectures, competitions and excursions), which focused on, for example, safety, healthy food, physical activity and recreation. The activities involved innovative teaching methods that are more effective than traditional ones. They included a presentation of emergency medical services, and presentations created by students from both schools on safety precautions when playing and on road safety, in addition to relaxation exercises for the nervous system and sense organs. As a result of carrying out the project, children are able to follow the principles of a healthy lifestyle, know what to eat to be healthy and understand that it is necessary to move in order to keep their bodies fit. The project has also expanded the school’s education offer and enriched its teaching aids. “Owing to integration of partner schools, we have been able to observe methods of working with children and ways to implement the programme objectives,” says Krystyna Bochenek, project coordinator. She also adds: “We decided to introduce similar solutions in both schools and continue to promote a healthy lifestyle among pupils.” The most important outcomes and impact: (1) shaping proactive attitudes towards health in children; (2) experience exchange with international partners; (3) introduction of innovative teaching methods used in Icelandic schools, for example WebQest and scrapbooking; (4) improved teacher competences and transfer of good practice. Project website:
https://sites.google.com/site/projektmodanazdrowie/
Summary of bilateral results
The cooperation with the Icelandic school benefited both teachers and students. It was an opportunity for six teachers to observe different methods and techniques for working which are used in another country. Many of them have already been successfully used in Polish school. The trip allowed the teachers to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the Polish education system, the school organization as well as new means of cooperation between student-teacher and teacher-parent. Students had the opportunity to participate in interesting workshops and trainings on a wide variety of topics related to healthy lifestyles. The participation in the project was important due to the overlapping priorities with both school. Both schools would like to continue cooperation which enables to continue project activities. Added value: the effective provision of health education is an opportunity to improve the quality of life for current and former pupils, who will subsequently care not only for their own and other peoples’ health, but also for the environment. It is, therefore, worthwhile for schools to carry out activities concerning health education in cooperation with other countries using their best experiences. The partner schools maintain regular email contact and there are plans to implement further projects to promote healthy lifestyles.