Implementation of “WebQuest: Every Carnival Has a Story” (SoI-IT-450)
My name is Anna Minichini, and I am a primary school teacher at IC Castel Volturno Centro, a school in the Caserta District (Campania) in Southern Italy. Currently, I am engaged in an eTwinning project with my fifth-grade students (9-10 years old), collaborating with three European schools from Turkey, the Czech Republic, and Romania. The focus of our project is on the pollution caused by clothing and waste, aiming to highlight the significance of appearance in modern society, particularly among young people.
I discovered the LS ‘WebQuest: Every Carnival Has a Story (EN-CUR-768)’ and believed it would be a perfect activity for our eTwinning project, especially since the implementation occurred during the carnival period. The Europeana learning scenario served as an inspiration to initiate a conversation with my students. Beginning with a humorous image related to the carnival, we explored topics such as emotions, empathy, and civic education. Together, we reflected on why each of us wears masks at times.
As my students, along with those involved in the eTwinning project, are younger than the audience for whom the scenario was originally designed, I chose to utilize only the activity from the first part of the scenario. During Carnival week, I facilitated a discussion among the students by thoroughly analyzing all the details of the images included in the Europeana collection ‘Carnival Celebrations‘. Students initially described the explicit messages conveyed by the images, delving into the colors, clothing, and masquerade party elements. Subsequently, we explored the emotional aspects portrayed in each image. It was enlightening to witness the diverse responses from the students. We delved into the history of the carnival through various period masks and brainstormed ideas for creating posters, wherein students designed costumes using recycled fabric from their outfits.
Students at work on their posters
The outcomes of our discussion were shared with our European partners during an online meeting. The Europeana images proved instrumental in fostering critical reasoning, art appreciation, and mutual comparison among the students.
Students showing their work during Etwinning online meeting
Addressing certain topics in a primary school setting can be challenging. However, thanks to the Learning Scenario “WebQuest: Every Carnival Has a Story (EN-CUR-768)” and the Europeana materials, navigating these discussions became much simpler. The activities and materials provided were instrumental in initiating dialogues with my students and fostering reflection.
The use of Europeana material proved beneficial for my students as it helped them to:
- Capture every aspect depicted in the images;
- Grasp both the surface and introspective meanings;
- Analyze their emotions in response to the visuals;
- Understand the distinction between appearance and reality;
- Engage in the creative process of making masks through art, utilizing recycled clothes.
As an educator, I highly recommend primary school teachers explore the possibilities of using Europeana material. It not only enhances the effectiveness of lessons but also facilitates a more engaging and enriching learning experience for students.
Link to the learning scenario implemented: WebQuest: Every Carnival Has a Story (EN-CUR-768) – Teaching With Europeana (eun.org)
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CC0 1.0: the featured image used to illustrate this article has been found on Europeana and has been provided by the Eesti Kunstimuuseum.