Authors: ΛΑΜΠΡΙΝΗ ΟΙΚΟΝΟΜΟΥ, ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ ΣΠΑΘΗΣ

Title: Let fry become a parent

Abstract

The current assignment deals with the problem of fish spawns’ overfishing and the methods development for their protection. It constitutes an object-oriented programming and materialization of teaching-applied assignment lasting 5 weeks in the framework of the available time during the flexible zone program written by students in grades 2, 5, and 6 in two-classes primary school in Asproklisia in Trikala. Its purpose was to sensitize students and develop a proper conscience in issues of fishing, trading and consumerism regarding small fish which do not reach breeding maturity in order to be reproduced. That is why, a cross-curricular and experiential program was materialized and subunits concerning fish spawns and overfishing, European legislation about fishing, endangered marine species as well as the ways of fish spawns protection were studied with the aid of the implementation of new methods. Through an attempt to be given European dimension to education, the students were sensitized about problems related to the Mediterranean Sea. Moreover, their ecological conscience was reinforced and as a result they were mobilized for finding common solutions to these problems. During this program, there was connection to the school subjects of Modern Greek Language, Mathematics, Social and Political studies as well as Art. The teaching aids and the materials which were utilized were the computer connected to the internet, the book entitled ‘The Mediterranean is me and I am not here anymore’ written by Iliopulos (2008), the school library, paperboard and corrugated paper. What constituted the inspiration to be elaborated this assignment was the increased interest of former European Union Maritime Commissioner Maria Damanaki who is Greek in fostering European citizens’ conscience with regard to fishing protection. Thus, there was collaboration, scientific guidance and support from the representation of the European Commission in Greece in the framework of the program-umbrella called ‘Teachers 4 Europe’.