Crimson Letters to Our War Heroines - the collaborative digital book for the project "Bookfest 2025"

The activities of the eTwinning project "Bookfest 2025" fostered learning, personal growth, and key-competence development through transborder collaboration, pedagogical innovation and creative use of technology. 

The students' initiative to create a digital book dedicated to Romanian war heroines enhanced historical awareness, helping the project participants to understand the impact of courageous women in wartime. By researching and co-authoring, they developed critical thinking, creativity, and digital literacy while refining their writing and communication skills.

The online collaboration with peers from the Republic of Moldova improved intercultural competence, teamwork, and adaptability, which are essential 21st-century skills. This project activity also strengthened the English language proficiency of the project team members as the students drafted, revised, and discussed content in the project target language.

AI played a crucial role in content enhancement, offering historical insights, suggestions, and translation support. It also streamlined research, helping the students to analyze sources efficiently while encouraging ethical AI use in education.

By co-creating this book, the Romanian and Moldovan students, coordinated by their teachers of English, gained a deeper appreciation of history, refined essential skills, and embraced digital tools, becoming both involved and more motivated in their own preparation for future academic and professional success.

Journée internationale de la Francophonie 2025

 

Celebrating the International Day of the Forests 2025 within the eTwinning project ''All Together for a Global Celebration''

In March 2025, the participants in the eTwinning project "All Together for a Global Celebration", coordinated by their teacher of English, Mrs. Emilia Frînculeasă, engaged in a dynamic and enriching transdisciplinary lesson dedicated to the International Day of the Forests. This special learning session provided them with a deeper understanding of the vital role that forests play in maintaining the ecological balance, supporting biodiversity, and combating climate change.

As part of their collaborative efforts, the 7th grade students brought their contributions to a meaningful collective poem, a visually striking WordArt, and an inspiring video, all created to highlight the importance of forest conservation. Through this lesson, the learners had the opportunity to express their creativity and also strengthen their teamwork and digital literacy skills.

By participating in this project activity, the members of the younger generation improved their knowledge of environmental sustainability while gaining a sense of global responsibility. The educational initiative encouraged critical thinking, cultural exchange, and the use of innovative tools to promote environmental awareness. 

The event, celebrated in the three partner schools from Greece and Romania, showcased the power of collaboration in raising awareness of the urgent need to protect the forests of our planet for the sake of the future generations.

Bookfest 2025 - Pedagogical innovation and exchange of experience and good practices

This lesson plan, designed within the eTwinning project "Bookfest 2025", offers a comprehensive framework that enriches both the teaching process and the learning experience. 

Firstly, it fosters interdisciplinary learning by integrating literature, digital tools, and intercultural dialogue, encouraging the students to explore literary themes through various lenses. By combining traditional literary analysis with modern digital platforms, the participants develop a multifaceted understanding of the material, enhancing their analytical and creative skills.​

A second benefit is the enhanced digital competence. By incorporating digital tools into the learning process, some of the lesson activities help the students to develop essential digital literacy skills. As we all know, engaging with technology in an educational context prepares them for the digital demands of the modern world, fostering adaptability and proficiency in various digital platforms.​

This project activity promoted cultural awareness and expression, a key-competence more difficult to improve inside the traditional classroom. Through the exploration of a literary product and the participation in a cultural exchange, the students gain a deeper appreciation for different cultures and perspectives. This exposure cultivates empathy and broadens their worldview, which are essential components in today's interconnected society.​

Moreover, this lesson plan encourages collaborative learning, emphasizing the role of collaborative projects and discussions in promoting teamwork and communication among students. Working together on shared goals enhances interpersonal skills and creates a supportive learning environment where students can learn from each other's insights and experiences.​

Last, but not least, this lesson supports the personal and social development of the students. By engaging in activities that require critical thinking, creativity, and reflection, the learners develop a stronger sense of self and social responsibility. These experiences contribute to their overall personal growth and prepare them to be thoughtful, active participants in their communities.​

In summary, the "Bookfest 2025" lesson plan offers a dynamic and holistic approach to education, aligning with contemporary pedagogical goals and equipping students with the skills necessary for academic and personal success.

Bookfest 2025 - Collaborative posters created by transnational teams to promote peace and collaboration

In February 2025, the Romanian and Moldovan participants in the eTwinning project Bookfest 2025 held a digital creativity workshop focused on motivational/inspirational posters promoting peace, the study of history and collaboration.

By working together to achieve this task, both the students and the teachers gained exposure to diverse perspectives on peace, history and cooperation, which fostered mutual respect and a deeper appreciation of cultural diversity.

The project participants engaged in brainstorming, design, and storytelling to create compelling posters, which strengthened their ability to think creatively and critically about global issues. Moreover, by using online tools and platforms, the students improved their digital literacy and artistic expression, which are two essential skills in today's visual and tech-driven world.

The teachers observed how the interactive and hands-on nature of the workshop made learning more engaging, increasing the students' enthusiasm for both artistic expression and global collaboration. As it can be seen, the final posters serve as powerful advocacy tools, spreading messages of peace and unity across the two partner schools and learning communities, inspiring others to embrace non-formal education and international collaboration.

Writers for Eternity - a transdisciplinary collaborative workshop held within the homonymous educational project 4/03/2025

"Dor de Eminescu/Missing Our National Poet" - Student Portfolio Presentation

In March 2025, the participants in the educational project "Dor de Eminescu/Missing Our National Poet" presented their portfolios in front of the class. 

The student portfolio presentation dedicated to Romania's National Poet, Mihai Eminescu, and his poems about love, nature, and time proved to be a highly effective and engaging project activity.

Throughout the presentation, the students demonstrated a deep understanding of Eminescu’s work, exploring the poet’s themes and literary style with remarkable insight. By analyzing his reflections on love, nature, and time, they gained a greater appreciation of his cultural and philosophical significance.

This project activity encouraged the development of critical thinking and analytical skills as the students carefully selected and interpreted Eminescu’s poems, identifying symbolism and connecting his ideas to broader contexts and their work reflected thoughtful analysis and a nuanced understanding of the poet’s messages.

The portfolio format of the evaluation activity allowed our students to express their creativity and personal interpretations. Through commentaries, associations, illustrations, and reflective questions, they presented their perspectives on Eminescu’s poetry in unique and imaginative ways.

Moreover, this activity organised within the 2025 edition of the project "Dor de Eminescu/Missing Our National Poet", fostered essential research and organizational skills as the students gathered information from various sources, structured their portfolios coherently, and presented their findings in a well-organized manner. This process enhanced their ability to synthesize knowledge and convey it effectively.

The final presentations provided an opportunity for the students to refine their public speaking and communication skills. They articulated their interpretations clearly and confidently, engaging their audience with well-supported arguments and thoughtful reflections.

Additionally, the activity strengthened the young readers' emotional and cultural connection to the material, and it is worth mentioning that Eminescu’s exploration of love, nature, and time resonated with their own experiences, prompting meaningful personal reflections.

Finally, the collaborative aspect of the activity encouraged constructive feedback and diverse perspectives. Through pair work, class discussions and peer reviews, the students exchanged ideas and gained new insights, further enriching their understanding of Eminescu’s work.

Overall, the student portfolio presentation activity proved to be a valuable educational experience, promoting intellectual growth, creativity, and a deeper appreciation of Mihai Eminescu’s poetry.

"Dor de Eminescu/Missing Our National Poet" - the transdisciplinary, integrated workshop (Literature, Music, Visual Arts) dedicated to Eminescian nature, love, and time

Mihai Eminescu has been and will remain the poet of all Romanians. Every year, students and teachers all over the country organize various cultural events in honour of the one who was called the "Morning Star of Romanian Poetry," Mihai Eminescu, so that he will never be forgotten. The educational project “Dor de Eminescu/Missing Our National Poet” and the homonymous poetry writing competition to be held on 16 May 2025 celebrate the genius and legacy of our national poet.

The 4th edition of the county project “Dor de Eminescu/Missing Our National Poet” aims at removing communication barriers between teachers, students, and their parents, encouraging positive changes in the learning environment by improving the relationships between the actors of the educational process and promoting the active roles of teachers, students and parents in education.

The main objectives of the project are:

•  to know the the main biographical data of the national poet;
•  to become familiar with Mihai Eminescu’s literary work;
•  to reflect on the most representative Romanian poet’s creations;
•  to listen to and perform song lyrics based on Eminescu’s poetry;
•  to create poetry inspired by Mihai Eminescu’s themes of nature, love, and time;
•  to develop key competences for lifelong learning: communication in Romanian and English, digital competence, learning-to-learn skills, social and civic competences, a spirit of initiative, and cultural awareness and expression.

On 14 February 2024, more than 100 students enrolled in 4 classes at Liceul Teoretic "Radu Vlădescu" - 10A, 10B, 10U and 11B - participated in a transdisciplinary, integrated workshop (Literature, Music, Visual Arts) in both Romanian and English, dedicated to Eminescian nature, love, and time.

Guided by the coordinators of the county project "Dor de Eminescu/Missing Our National Poet", Mrs. Adelaida Loredana Iorga (teacher of Romanian) and Mrs. Claudia Emilia Frînculeasă (teacher of English), the students read their favourite poems written by Mihai Eminescu as well as their English versions translated by Corneliu M. Popescu.

The Eminescian poems on love were:

•  "Floare albastră" (Blue Flower) - a delicate, melancholic poem about idealized love and longing;
•  "Dorința" (Desire) - a romantic and idyllic portrayal of love in nature;
•  "Sara pe deal" (Eve' on the Hill) - a musical and atmospheric poem about love and nostalgia at sunset;
•  "Pe lângă plopii fără soț" (Down, Where the Lonely Poplars Grow) - a poem of unfulfilled love and deep yearning;
•  "Atât de fragedă" (So Delicate) - a tender and emotional tribute to a pure, almost ethereal love.

The Eminescian poems on nature were:

•  "Revedere" (Reunion) - a lyrical dialogue between the poet and the eternal forces of nature;
•  "Codrule, codruțule" (Little Forest, My Forest) - a nostalgic and melancholic poem about the deep connection between man and nature;
•  "Ce te legeni" (Why Do You Wail, O Forest Trees) - a symbolic poem where nature reflects human emotions;
•  "La mijloc de codru des" (In the Heart of the Dense Forest) - a serene and picturesque description of the beauty of the forest.

The Eminescian poems on time were:

•  "O, rămâi" (Oh, Stay) - a meditation on the passage of time and the desire to hold onto fleeting moments;
•  "Glossa" (Gloss) - a philosophical poem about the cyclical nature of time and life’s transience;
•  "Mai am un singur dor" (I Have But One More Longing) - a melancholic reflection on the end of life and the desire for a peaceful passing;
•  "Trecut-au anii" (The Years Have Passed) - a nostalgic poem about the passage of youth and lost time.

The second part of the workshop combined creative writing, collaboration, music, and visual arts, encouraging the students to create original poems inspired by some of Mihai Eminescu's main themes: love, nature and time.

The main benefits of this innovative pedagogical approach were:

• literary analysis and comprehension: the students became familiar with key themes in Mihai Eminescu’s poetry through guided reading and discussions.
• creative expression: the students engaged in writing activities inspired by Eminescu’s motifs, expressing their interpretations in both Romanian and English.
• artistic interpretation: the integrated workshop allowed the students to visually represent poetic imagery.
• musical integration: listening to and analyzing musical adaptations of Eminescu’s poetry enhanced their understanding of the emotional and aesthetic depth of his work.

The collaborative poetic creations highlighting the students' interpretations of Eminescu’s themes were shared with their peers, improving their cultural awareness, artistic appreciation and creative expression.

The project participants had previously watched the film "Un Bulgăre de Humă" (A Clod of Clay), a 1989 Romanian biographical film directed by Nicolae Mărgineanu, depicting the friendship between two of Romania’s greatest writers, Mihai Eminescu and Ion Creangă. Exploring two contrasting personalities (Eminescu - the melancholic poet, and Creangă - the jovial storyteller) while highlighting their shared passion for literature and deep intellectual bond, the film is set against the backdrop of 19th-century Romania, capturing their struggles, artistic aspirations, and the cultural atmosphere of the time, offering a poignant reflection on friendship, creativity and destiny.