Students in Neukirchen-Vluyn construct self-made fruiting arbors for primary education.
Neukirchen-Vluyn, Germany - An exceptional project is currently underway at the Pestalozzi School: Elementary and comprehensive school students are collaboratively constructing benches. The unique aspect of this project is the intergenerational collaboration between the students.
Typically, school playgrounds are buzzing with the sounds of laughter and play. However, at the Pestalozzi School in Vluyn, the distinctive sounds of hammering, sanding, sawing, and measuring can be heard. These are not professional craftsmen at work but students themselves, diligently engaged in a project to build benches that will encircle two fruit trees on the school lawn.
Simultaneously, students from Niederberg Comprehensive School are providing guidance and assistance to the younger students. These students are part of a workshop course led by cultural agent Andreas Baschek, who is actively involved in various artistic projects at the comprehensive school. Baschek commented, "It is truly beautiful seeing these students exchanging knowledge. Everyone has a specific task they are working on here, which keeps them focused."
The students are building a total of six benches from repurposed pallets. They are meticulously screwing on the seat surfaces, sanding them down, and applying a white glaze. Not all students had prior experience using these tools, but they have been encouraged to try them all. Math lessons are also integrated into the project, as students calculate the lengths of the board for the seat surfaces. The students seem delighted by this unexpected, hands-on learning experience, with one boy exclaiming, "Look, the screw is coming out!" and a girl remarking, "It’s really cool to see how a bench is created."
The project is generously funded by the city as part of the "Education for Sustainable Development in Neukirchen-Vluyn" initiative. The remaining costs are covered by the Pestalozzi School's support association. Art teacher Sofia Schippers expressed her satisfaction, stating, "The children were eagerly looking forward to this work, and today I can truly see how much they are immersed in it."
This project serves multiple purposes, including promoting social integration, hands-on learning, school improvements, character development, and sustainability education. It is designed to bridge the gap between students of different age groups, foster mutual respect, and demonstrate the importance of collaborative effort. The finished benches will provide functional and aesthetic value to the school environment, while the memories and friendships formed during the project are likely to endure for a long time.
Engaging in a unique intergenerational collaboration, students from both the Pestalozzi School and Niederberg Comprehensive School are transforming their home-and-garden, as they meticulously build outdoor-living structures, specifically six benches from repurposed pallets. These benches will not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of the school lawn but also serve as a testament to the skills they have developed through this hands-on learning experience, fostering a lifestyle that values collaboration and sustainability.
