Escola Sant Jordi

COSTAMAR

Ametlla de Mar, Spain

2nd FUNDING CALL

The project aims to engage primary students in exploring and preserving the local coastline. This project emphasizes the interconnectedness of marine ecosystems and the importance of protecting our coastal environment.

COSTAMAR includes various hands-on activities such as sailing, visits to the fishermen’s guild, beach clean-ups, underwater exploration through snorkelling, and environmental workshops. These activities aim to educate students about marine biodiversity, navigation, sustainability, and the impact of pollution on marine ecosystems.

Students from 1st to 6th grade will participate in initiatives to understand the changes that the coast has undergone in recent years. They will learn to identify native species, recognize the effects of pollution, and develop artistic skills by creating art from collected litter. Additionally, students will document their findings through photography, storytelling, and public exhibitions, raising community awareness about marine preservation.

Key activities include:

• Teacher Training: Sessions on marine biodiversity and local ecosystems.
• Sailing Sessions: Observing and photographing the coastline.
• Fishermen’s Guild Tours: Studying local seafood.
• Beach Clean-ups: Art sessions with collected materials.
• Environmental Workshops: Snorkeling sessions for underwater exploration.
• Coastal Excursions: Visits to historical sites and fortifications.
• Posidonia Meadows: Classroom aquariums to study Posidonia oceanica.
• Public Exhibitions: Showcasing photographs and art created by students.
• School Radio Program: Broadcasting project updates and findings.

One of the most important projects carried out in the framework of Probleu is the collaboration with the Polytechnic University of Catalonia – SARTI with its project for the conservation and reforestation of Posidonia meadows on the coast. The school has contacted the researcher of the project, who has given talks to our fourth and fifth year students about his university project and what our mission is for this project: the collection of Posidonia rhizomes and conservation in tanks.

During February, the school has organised everything necessary for the preparation of the space for the collection and conservation of the rhizomes. The pupils prepared the space where the tank would be located; they filled the tank’s surface with sand and collected seawater. The next step was the collection and conservation of Posidonia, measuring the temperature and salinity values in the conservation tank. The SARTI researchers collected the rhizomes and placed them in their tanks to prepare the rhizomes for subsequent replanting in the sea. Fourth- and fifth-year students participated in this activity, and second-year students learned about Posidonia.

The project aims to foster a sense of responsibility among students for protecting aquatic ecosystems and promoting sustainable practices. By the end of the project, Sant Jordi School hopes to demonstrate the potential of their coastline, encouraging the municipality to take action towards its conservation and recognition.