The document summarizes a Comenius partnership meeting held in Skibniew, Poland from March 2-7, 2014. Students and teachers from 7 European countries participated in educational activities focused on science and language learning. Over the course of the visit, participants attended lessons in Polish schools, toured educational facilities, engaged in experiments, and socialized to develop intercultural understanding and friendships. The meeting aimed to motivate students and achieved its objectives by providing an engaging multinational learning experience.

1. THE SIXTH
COMENIUS
PARTNERSHIP
MEETING
IN SKIBNIEW,
POLAND
02-07.03.2014

2. In Zespó O wiatowy im. M. Fr ckowiak in Skibniew ł ś ą the secrets of
Newton's apple were discovered.
Between 2nd-7th March 2014 in Zespół Oświatowy im. M. Frąckowiak in
Skibniew the sixth meeting within the framework of the international project:
“Secrets of Newton’s apple” under the “Lifelong Learning Programme”-
Comenius was held.
This time our school was visited by students and teachers from six European
Union member countries and Turkey.
We hosted the group of thirty students and teachers from seven countries:
Italy, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Estonia, Slovenia and Turkey.

3. The aim of the project, which started in September 2012, is to increase students'
motivation to learn Science, the promotion of language learning and
developing the skills of communication and cooperation.
Students from Italy, Spain, Slovenia and Estonia lived in the houses
of our students, where they were warmly welcomed. On Monday and Tuesday
students attended lessons conducted by Polish teachers.

4. The official inauguration of the partner visit took place
on Tuesday 4th March 2014.
The foreign visitors, students, teachers and parents were welcomed by the
headmaster of Zespó O wiatowy im. M. Frackowiak ł ś in Skibniew. The
headmaster thanked the guests for their openness, warmth and hospitality our
students and teachers experienced during visits to foreign countries. She expressed
the hope that the experience and the knowledge gained during the visit would
make the guests like the Poles and Poland. On behalf of the Municipality of
Sokołów Podlaski the guests were welcomed by the Secretary – Mr Wiktor Osik.

5. Our students presented their artistic programme. The guests liked the Polish
national dances performed by the children of "0" class and the students from 2nd class
of gymnasium.

6. The interview with Maria Sk odowska-Curie aroused the ł guests’ interest.
The interview was accompanied by a slide show of a notable Polish scientist.
The multimedia presentation expanded the guests’ knowledge about our
country, region and school. The smiles on the visitors’ faces were brought by the
souvenirs prepared by our students, which were given at the end of the
ceremony.

7. After the official part, the project coordinator, Mrs Marzena Nowak guided the foreign
teachers around school, showing them education facilities and classrooms.

8. Visit to the Institute of Biology
at the University of Natural
Sciences and Humanities in
Siedlce.
In the afternoon, on 4th March 2014,
the project group went to Siedlce to the
Institute of Biology at the University
of Natural Sciences and Humanities.
On behalf of a director of the Institute of
Biology, professor dr hab. Barbara Kot,
we were greeted by dr Ryszard Kowalski.
The official part of the meeting was
attended by the secretary
of Siedlce – Mr Sławomir Marchel,
who gave small gifts to pupils. As a part
of the training prof. dr hab. Wiesław
Walankiewicz gave a lecture for teachers
on Białowieża Forest - a window to the
ecological past.
At the same time, the pupils
participated in activities concerning the
field of arachnology and ichthyology
carried out for them by teachers.

9. On Tuesday evening in our school the
guests, students and teachers from the project
group took part in dinner. The families who
hosted the students in their houses
participated in this nice event as well. We
were also visited by the mayor of Sokołów
Podlaski, whom we are grateful for approving
the implementation of our project, the
interest in the rate of its realization
and supporting our initiatives. There was
a nice, friendly atmosphere. Foreign visitors
had an opportunity to taste the specialties
of the local cuisine, which turned out
to be very tasty for them. After dinner
there was a disco as it was the last day of the
carnival. There were plenty of music hits
from Spain, Italy and other countries
participating in the project. Dancing
and singing together helped everyone to
gain new friends and overcome language
barriers.
It was a really great evening!
Shrove Tuesday-the last day of Carnival!

10. In Warsaw – 5th March 2014.
Science cannot be boring –
at the Copernicus Science Centre.
The project group
spent Wednesday in Warsaw.
The stay at the Copernicus
Science Centre turned out
to be very interesting.
Adults
as well as pupils had the
opportunity to extend their
knowledge about science.
We do not need to sit
at the desk continuously, we
should not only listen.
The visit at the
Copernicus Science Centre
was the perfect supplementat-ion
of the traditional school
learning. Due to the specific
design of the space, displaying
the exhibits, using sounds,
colours, textures we could
associate the observation
or natural phenomenon with
a strong combination of the
senses, so that the educational
content enrolled in the mind
more firmly than as if it had
been told.

11. In the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development we got to know good quality
food.
By courtesy of the Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development, Mr Tadeusz Nalewajk, we could benefit from training on: Poznaj Dobrą
Żywność (Get to know good food). Guests and our students listened to a presentation
in English promoting the programme with a great interest. They were acquainted with the
procedure of giving good quality food mark. They also learned that through these activities
the objective of common policy in the field of food, consisting of extension of area of high
quality and variety of food in the Common Market is being realized. Guests have expressed
their interest in buying Polish products distinguished with the brand Poznaj dobrą Żywność
(Get to know good food). They left our country with small gifts - food products with a sign
Poznaj dobrą Żywność (Get to know good food).

12. A little walk through the Old Town.
At the end of
the day we visited
the Old Town with
a guide. The guests
leaving Warsaw were
attracted by its
beauty.
The guide
answered a lot of
questions that were
asked by foreign
visitors.

13. On Thursday, 6th March 2014 - studying , studying , studying !
To high school to gain knowledge!
The last day of the visit was organized in accordance with the main objective
of the project, which is motivating students to learn Science. In the morning the
participants visited Maria Skłodowska -Curie Secondary School in Sokołów
Podlaski. Students and teachers took part in the classes of chemistry and physics,
during which secondary school students with other participants of the meeting –
pupils from eight different countries performed experiments. These experiments
helped a Comenius group to understand difficult laws of physics.
And experimenting in a chemical laboratory was not only an opportunity to gain
knowledge but also a great fun.

14. At the end of the visit in the secondary school the headmaster –Mr Marcin
Celiński invited us for a short programme performed by students. The theatre
group Preteksty presented in English funny scenes inspired by the classics of world
literature, and the music band Prowokacja performed a few hits of contemporary
music in Polish and English. Guests were enchanted with school students: the
vocalist and the percussionist. Congratulations are also due to all the actors for
talent and the perfect knowledge of English.

15. Can the gym turn into a lab?
It turned out that, yes. Students
and teachers from the project group spent the
afternoonin Zespół Oświatowy
im. M. Frąckowiak in Skibniew. Students,
working in groups, under the guidance
of their teachers and teachers from Germany
performed the experiments
in the field of physics. The instructions were
in English so the students had
the opportunity to improve their knowledge
of the language. Students performed, among
others, experience which consisted in fire
suppression using carbon dioxide,
a bottle swallowing a balloon, the trick with
the balloon.
It was a great fun, all adults joined
in as well. Students also had the opportunity
to overcome their shyness
and appear in front of a television camera,
because our actions were recorded by the
regional television TVP Warsaw.

16. Afterwards there was a meeting of teachers from the project group, the tasks
for the following visit in Sweden were discussed.
At the end of the working visit in Poland, the guests received certificates
of participation and CDs with the presentation of our country.
During the farewell dinner guests shared their impressions about their stay
in Poland. They were attracted with warm welcome and hospitality. They liked our
region and Warsaw. We had the last opportunity to exchange experience, learn from
each other. Exceptionally friendly and nice atmosphere of the meeting made that
it was difficult to say goodbye after a few days spent together.
Polish as well as foreign students had similar feelings. At the time of saying
good-bye everyone was touched and all agreed that the time spent together passed
too fast.

17. We can say that the objective of the visit was fully
achieved.
The students participated in interesting activities, they performed
experiments on their own, which no doubt encouraged them to study
science at school and extend their knowledge. They had the opportunity
to improve English language, not only during the academic classes,
but also in conversations with their peers from abroad. They made new
friends, which today in the Internet age have a chance to survive. Time
spent together fostered the exchange of experience, information and
raised the awareness about the culture and this can be used to build
the relationships between the countries participating in the project.