Culture of remembrance - Us and them, before us

Summary

The project was awarded the European Innovative Teaching Award for its innovative approach to fostering responsible citizenship and European identity through the themes of World War II and the culture of remembrance. By bringing together three grammar schools with similar curricula, shared human values, and a common goal of inspiring young people to be active citizens aware of their rights and responsibilities, the partners developed innovative ways to create cross-curricular connections and actively engage students.

“Knowing the past is the key to interpreting the present. History should not be written by  winners. History should  be written by the truth. And we, we should be here - to testify to the truth.”  

Topic(s) addressed

• Democratic values
• Civic engagement
• Responsible citizenship
• Shared history and culture
• Nurturing a culture of remembrance
• Sharing experiences and good practice

Target group(s)  

• Grammar school teachers and students aged 14-19 in partner schools.

Methodologies used

The project employed a wide range of methodologies to address its main topics, including implementing an eTwinning project and organising three Weeks of Remembrance featuring the piloting of 15 lessons.  

Activities included panel sessions on sensitive topics, outdoor learning, museum visits, lectures by external experts, debates, exhibitions with Instagram live streaming, concerts, theatre performances, archaeological site tours, workshops, sightseeing, and art activities. Project-based teaching, peer learning, and teacher training were also incorporated. Through this diverse and engaging approach, the project aimed to make the legacy of World War II accessible and relevant to young people today.

Innovation environment

The partners prioritised involving as many students and colleagues in their schools as possible, engaging them from the very start - in focus groups, identifying project needs, participating in various activities, and ultimately contributing to the dissemination and visibility phase.  

They successfully involved the wider educational community by presenting the project and its results, delivering training sessions and workshops, and publishing outcomes. The project demonstrated that history is not limited to history classes - it can be integrated across subjects and taught in a variety of settings. Finally, sustainability was ensured by incorporating the topics into school plans and calendars.

Teachers’ role

The teachers’ main role in this project was to address the needs identified by the focus group in order to improve both the quality and quantity of teaching about World War II and the culture of remembrance. Their primary task was to create innovative lesson scenarios and pilot them with colleagues and students from partner schools. They faced the challenge of presenting this vast and sensitive 20th-century topic in a way that was modern and accessible to 21st-century students. Teachers from partner schools provided one another with feedback during the piloting phase, fostering rich exchange and cooperation while enhancing their professional competences.

Impact and output

The partners created an open-source manual containing 15 lesson plans, demonstrating that teaching history and remembrance is not limited to history or social studies classes but can also be integrated into subjects such as mathematics, physics, music, art, and psychology. To maximise the project’s impact, they organised numerous workshops, training sessions, and conference presentations.  

These activities strengthened not only teaching competences but also transversal skills such as democracy, civic action, citizenship, language proficiency, digital and media literacy, communication, research, data analysis, and teamwork. Students expressed high satisfaction with the project activities and recommended Erasmus+ participation to their peers, leading to a doubling of interest in future projects.

Learn more about the project 

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