During the week of April 19th – 25th, JUMP welcomed two teachers from Germany who participated in the training course “Teaching Europe: The EU, its Function, and New Priorities Towards 2030.” This three-day course has provided the participants with indoor training sessions offering a solid theoretical framework on the European Union and its functioning alongside practical, school-based activities. Indeed, the teachers had the opportunity to observe and actively engage in a series of non-formal activities and interactive workshops led by JUMP within a local technical school hosting students from Slovakia, Italy and Spain, focusing on key topics related to the European Union and its core values.
On the first day, the teachers could learn how non-formal education is the key to fostering active participation among students, fostering dialogue, critical thinking, and intercultural exchange in a dynamic and inclusive learning environment. The activity proposed asked students to work in groups in order to identify, for each assigned European Member State, institutional and geographical elements, cultural symbols and heritage sites, as well as stereotypes and curiosities. This collaborative exercise encouraged students to explore Europe in a more engaging and personal way, moving beyond traditional textbook learning. By combining research, discussion, and creativity, participants were able to deepen their understanding of the diversity and richness of the European Union while also reflecting on shared values and common identity.
On the second day, the participants were guided in reflecting on where Europe is already present in their schools, classrooms, and curricula. By exploring European values, rights, and privileges, as well as raising awareness of cultural identity, language diversity and common EU heritage, they discovered how deeply the European Union shapes our everyday lives. The next step focused on how to effectively integrate these elements into their lesson plans, encouraging a more conscious and structured approach to teaching European topics. We explored a wide range of tools and resources, including official EU websites and human rights manuals, which provided both reliable information and practical guidance for classroom use. In addition, participants were introduced to a series of engaging activities developed by JUMP, focusing on topics such as media literacy and fake news, basic knowledge of the European Union, and cultural diversity.
In the afternoon of the same day, the teachers take part with other participants in nature based activities and in the official UN board game “Go-goals”, experiencing first-hand intercultural communication and cooperation.
On the third day, participants had the opportunity to observe and take part in two different non-formal activities. The first focused on active listening in the context of the European Union, encouraging reflection on the people who contributed to its development and on how historical figures can be connected to present-day identities and roles. The second activity involved a board game developed around the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU, which allowed participants to explore its key principles in an interactive and engaging way.
Overall, the training course offered a valuable opportunity to combine theoretical knowledge with practical, hands-on experiences, allowing participants to gain new insights and methodologies for teaching European topics in an engaging and inclusive way.
Author: Giusy Froio – JUMP Trainer
