The document discusses the Connecting Classrooms Project, which partners schools in the UK with schools around the world. It focuses on the partnership between Carlos Amarante High School in Braga, Portugal and schools in other countries. The project aims to promote cultural exchange, mutual respect, and prepare students for life as global citizens. It encourages students to collaborate online and work on projects together using ICT tools. Some of the top activities undertaken by Carlos Amarante High School through the project included creating a school logo and anthem, debates on cultural topics, exhibitions, workshops, and celebrations to mark project milestones and cultural events.

1. Connecting Classrooms Project Adelina Moura and Conceição Ribas Carlos Amarante High School - Braga, Portugal 17 th November 2011

2. Partnerships between clusters of schools in the UK and other schools around the world Learning collaboratively across borders in a cultural exchange opportunity Building mutual respect since you improve your knowledge and understanding of other cultures Preparing youngsters for life and work as global citizens. What is Connecting Classrooms? Working with peers from other cultures and communities, and learn.!

3. Who is in Connecting Classrooms?

4. Gather round a global online teacher community Use ICT tools to develop and sustain the partnerships Encourage students to work with their peers from other cultures and communities, enabling them to network with one another in a range of forums and to learn on collaborative curriculum projects using ICT tools, such as: WHAT DO SCHOOLS IN CONNECTING CLASSROOMS DO?

6. A co-ordinating body (e.g.: the Ministry of Education ) invitation A partnership coordinator helps the schools in the country cluster to develop and manage their international partnership. A school coordinator in the school finds a motivated working team, willing to embrace the challenges of the project Use the Internet platform e-Twinning and ICT tools – Web 2.0 tools. How to get involved?

7. June 2010 – Ministry of Education addressed our school Sponsorship from the British Council. Identification of one teacher coordinator in the school by the school Director Connecting Classrooms tentative steps at Carlos Amarante High school

8. September 2010 - The school Coordinator, e-mailed the invitation to other teachers and we got started. 9 other schools engaged in the project. . A cluster of five schools in the North and another cluster in the South – 10 schools per country involved . (In this second year of the project implementation four more schools have joined in) Connecting Classrooms tentative steps at Carlos Amarante High school

9. Firstly , it was created a webpage to post all the works – regardless the working language . Then, the interesting works were made public across borders in the “Twinspace”. http://new-twinspace.etwinning.net/c/portal/layout?p_l_id=5221834 Also a social network was created aiming at providing participants with opportunities for debating, reflecting and questioning Connecting Classrooms tentative steps at Carlos Amarante High school

10. Connecting Classrooms at Carlos Amarante High school – 1st Year In 2011/2012 – the first year of implementation of this project in our school – 16 teachers and 270 students developed several cultural, educational and social activities both at school and in the local community.

11. Connecting Classrooms at Carlos Amarante High school- TOP ACTIVITIES Logo Contest

12. Chorus Think of things you want to do Think of things that make you smile And forget your troubles for a while Here there’s so much to do But you can have fun, too Here you can take a break and chill out Actually, we know this is what life is all about (Chorus) Here you can visit places Try new things and see new faces Working out mobility to restyle again society Curbing down all prejudice refusing bullying and cowardice (Chorus) Dive into diversity Think of solidarity The world is out there, so bright and so new The world is waiting for me and for you Connecting Classrooms at Carlos Amarante High school -TOP ACTIVIES Creating a school CC anthem

13. Connecting Classrooms at Carlos Amarante High school-TOP ACTIVIES Debate on the right to be different Typical local food & traditional cuisine Exhibition on cultural diversity Students with special education needs School Open Day Workshops on Braille, mobility and orientation

14. Reviving traditional Portuguese leisure moments Connecting Classrooms at Carlos Amarante High school-TOP ACTIVIES

15. Raising awareness against social discrimination Connecting Classrooms at Carlos Amarante High school-TOP ACTIVIES

16. Connecting Classrooms at Carlos Amarante High school-TOP ACTIVIES Participating in the Food Raising Campaign

17. Connecting Classrooms at Carlos Amarante High school-TOP ACTIVIES Training for leadership

18. Connecting Classrooms at Carlos Amarante High school-TOP ACTIVIES Celebrating the latest advances in ICT … with the oldest successful human-carrying flight technology

19. Each balloon envelope carried a message to each country that make part of our cluster : Czech Republic, Geece and England.

20. Connecting Classrooms at Carlos Amarante High school-TOP ACTIVIES Celebrating Connecting Classrooms 1st Birthday

21. Activities at Póvoa de Lanhoso High School

25. I nclusion and diversity