“Coding the Future – Small Programmers for a Big Change”

Founder: Anna Teresa Fiori - ICS La Giustiniana - Roma, Italy

Co-founder: Nikoleta Gkouliava - 1ο Δ.Σ. Ελευθερούπολης/1st Primary School of Eleftheroupoli, Greece

PROJECT PARTNERS

ITALY:

• Maria Macera - IC G. Carducci - Gaeta
• Elisa Ceccarelli - ICS "P. Ruffini" di Valentano (Vt)
• Lucia Cozzo - ICS La Giustiniana - Roma

GREECE:

• Evi Zarkada - Ολοήμερο Δημοτικό Σχολείο Νέας Χηλής, Alexandroupoli
• Ioanna Chrysanthakopoulou - Ολοήμερο Νηπιαγωγείο Αφιδνών Αφίδνες
• Ιωάννα Παπαγεωργίου - Δημοτικό Σχολείο Ριζωμάτων - Δασκιού - Σφηκιάς

TURKEY:

• Aslı Bayrakcı - 15 Temmuz İstiklal İlkokulu - Armutlu, Yalova
• Leyla Durakci - Payas Yunus Emre Ortaokulu, Hatay
• ilknur Araç - Yunus Emre Ortaokulu Merkez, Çankırı
• Ayşegül Büyükkökten - Tobb Malazgirt İlkokulu, Çumra-Konya
• Özgü Albayrak - Fikret Yüzatlı İlkokulu, Bahçelievler

LITHUANIA:

• Jovita Litinskiene - Klaipėdos „Gilijos“ pradinė mokykla Klaipėda

PORTUGAL:

• Maria Francisca Pessoa - Agrupamento de Escolas Rainha Santa Isabel . Coimbra
• Sonia Varelas - Agrupamento de Escolas Rainha Santa Isabel . Coimbra
• Paula Simões - Agrupamento de Escolas Rainha Santa Isabel . Coimbra

FRANCE:

• Marilyne Champoux - ecole Jean Rostand - Riom, Auvergne

PROJECT PRESENTATION

This project, running from October to February, will engage students in creative coding activities focused on building a better future. Through collaborative tasks with European partners, pupils will explore how programming, robotics, and interactive digital tools can be used to address important global topics such as sustainability, inclusion, peace, and well-being. Activities will include coding games, digital storytelling, and simple robotics, combining creativity, civic awareness, and digital skills.

AIMS  AND PURPOSES

The project aims to introduce students to basic coding skills and computational thinking through playful, creative, and inclusive activities. It also promotes digital literacy and online safety, raising awareness about responsible digital citizenship in the context of key European events: Europe Code Week (October) and Safer Internet Day (February).

Specific objectives:

• Develop logical thinking and problem-solving skills through unplugged and digital coding activities
• Encourage collaboration and communication in an international context
• Raise awareness on digital rights, responsibilities, and online safety
• Foster creativity and curiosity about technology and its uses for good
• Promote inclusive and active digital citizenship

Running from October to February, this project will involve various activities, including cultural presentations, virtual meetups, collaborative art projects, etc. By engaging in these activities, students will not only broaden their horizons but also develop a more inclusive and harmonious worldview.

Our ultimate goal is to create an enriching educational experience that prepares students to thrive in a multicultural world.

CURRICULUM AND CROSS-CURRICULAR INTEGRATION

This project is designed to be integrated into several curriculum areas and to promote interdisciplinary learning. Coding will not be taught as an isolated skill, but as a tool to support learning across subjects:

• ICT / Computer Science: Students will develop basic coding skills using visual programming languages (e.g. Scratch, MakeCode), engage in unplugged activities, and use various digital tools to create interactive content.

• Citizenship / Civic Education: The project focuses on important values such as inclusion, peace, cooperation, sustainability, and online safety, encouraging students to reflect on their role in society.

• Mathematics: Pupils will apply logical reasoning, sequencing, and problem-solving strategies typical of coding and robotics, reinforcing numeracy and algorithmic thinking.

• English as a Foreign Language: All communication, content creation, and exchanges between partner schools will be done in English, helping students improve their vocabulary, comprehension, and writing through meaningful use of the language.

• Art and Design: Students will express their creativity through the design of avatars, characters, pixel art, storyboards, and visual content for games and digital stories.
• Science / Environmental Education (optional depending on chosen topics): Some tasks may focus on sustainability, climate change, or well-being, connecting with science learning.

The project encourages collaboration between teachers of different subjects and supports the development of transversal competences such as communication, cooperation, and digital literacy.

PROJECT WORKFLOW

PROJECT DURATION: October 2025 – February 2026

✅ OCTOBER – Introduce basic coding concepts and partners

WEEK 1 – Teacher Planning & Launch

🎯 Objective: Define structure and tasks

• Teachers’ meeting or coordination on TwinSpace Forum
• Create TwinSpace pages and shared calendar
• Launch the logo and poster competition

WEEK 2 – Ice-breakers & Initial Questionnaires

🎯 Objectives: Get to know each other + Collect baseline data

• Pupils create avatars or short intro videos (Pixton, ChatterPix, Voki)
• Collaborative activity: post avatars/videos on TwinSpace Forum – “Meet our team!”
• Distribute initial questionnaires to teachers, students and families

WEEK 3 – Digital Citizenship & Netiquette. Europe Code Week certificate activities (upload on TwinSpace)

🎯 Objective: Build awareness of safe and respectful behaviour online

• Discuss: “What does it mean to be a responsible digital citizen?”
• Students create classroom rules or digital posters
• Collaborative activity: Share posters on TwinSpace Bacheca

WEEK 4 – Logo and Poster Voting

🎯 Objective: Choose the project’s visual identity

• Upload logos and posters
• Collaborative voting (Google Form)
• Announce results on TwinSpace

✅ NOVEMBER – Coding for Change

WEEK 1 – Global Goals & Game Planning

🎯 Objective: Develop computational thinking and storytelling with code

• Create short coded stories using Scratch Junior or Scratch
• Storyboard a digital story/game idea

WEEK 2 – Share and comment stories on TwinSpace forum (first collaborative activity)

🎯 Objective: Co-create a game or story

• Introduction to basic robotics (BeeBot / Lego Spike / Ozobot / virtual tools)
• Distribute tasks (intro, challenges, ending, etc.)

WEEK 3 – Code and Build

🎯 Objective: Program the game/story

• Create scenes, insert backgrounds, movements and simple dialogues

WEEK 4 – Test and Review Games

🎯 Objective: Give and receive feedback

• Upload results and reflections to TwinSpace pages

✅ DECEMBER – Use coding for civic messages and holiday creativity

WEEK 1 – Design e-cards with a coded message (e.g., simple loops or commands)

🎯 Objective: Practice creating interactive content

• Design e-cards with simple code (loops, directions) with festive themes

WEEK 2 – Collaborative Activity: Digital Citizens’ Calendar: each class adds one rule or idea

🎯 Objective: Collaborate to build a Digital Citizens’ Code

• Each class contributes to the creation of a shared calendar. Every month features one rule or suggestion for safe and respectful online behavior, written and illustrated by students.

WEEK 3 – International virtual meeting with students (via BigBlueButton)

🎯 Objective: Develop confidence in using English for real communication

• Students from all partner schools meet online to present and discuss their work and ideas. The meeting strengthens the sense of community and gives learners the opportunity to communicate in English in a real context.

WEEK 4 – Share Digital Citizens' Code and feedback on forum

🎯 Objective: Raise awareness of responsible digital behavior and promote shared values of online citizenship

• Each class publishes its contribution to the "Digital Citizens’ Code" (one rule or principle).
• All contributions are collected in a visual calendar or digital poster (optional).
• Students read the rules shared by partner classes and leave comments, reflections, or reactions (e.g., emojis) in the TwinSpace forum.
• A short poll or vote can be organized to highlight the most important rule according to the students.

✅ JANUARY – Celebrate, Share, Reflect

WEEK 1 – Digital Portfolio Preparation

🎯 Objective: Document the project journey

• Each class creates a 2–3 page summary using tools like Book Creator or Canva
• Include: avatars, pixel art, coding games, posters, comics, and students’ reflections
• Upload on TwinSpace and share with partners

WEEK 2 – Final Collaborative eBook

🎯 Objective: Showcase teamwork and creativity

• Each school contributes 1–2 pages to a shared eBook (Digital Citizens’ Code, best works, images, or short texts)
• A coordinating teacher combines the pages
• Publish the final eBook on TwinSpace and present it to students

WEEK 3 – Project Reflections and Evaluation

🎯 Objective: Reflect on what students have learned

• Students complete a simple reflection activity (e.g., "3 things I learned", "My favorite part", etc.)
• Teachers fill out an evaluation form (Google Form or TwinSpace page)
• Upload feedback and class reflections to TwinSpace

WEEK 4 – Prepare for Safer Internet Day

🎯 Objective: Plan and coordinate final presentations

• Each class selects the best works (e.g., posters, comics, pledges) to present during the February online event
• Rehearse short presentations or messages to share
• Upload materials in the shared folder and inform partners of your plans

✅ FEBRUARY – Safer Internet & Responsible Coding

WEEK 1 – Safer Internet Day Preparation

🎯 Objective: Learn about online risks and safe behaviour

• Watch Safer Internet Day videos
• Class discussions: “Smart or risky online?”
• Forum thread: “Safe or Unsafe?” – students share their ideas

WEEK 2 – Collaborative SID Activity

🎯 Objective: Co-create awareness products

• Each class creates a digital comic, poster, slogan or short story
• Upload and comment via TwinSpace page

WEEK 3 – Final Online Event & Questionnaires

🎯 Objective: Celebrate and evaluate

• Live event: Coding Show, Kahoot or escape room challenge
• Distribute final questionnaires to students, teachers, and families

WEEK 4 – Goodbye & Certificates

🎯 Objective: Close the project

• Forum thread: “Our favourite memory”
• Share certificates of participation

Optional: final video or slideshow of highlights

🌍 Common Activities to Propose

🧩 1. Icebreakers & Presentation Activities

• Create an avatar or animated self-introduction (Pixton, Voki, ChatterPix)
• Post on TwinSpace Forum – “Who we are”, replying to others
• Collaborative World Map: each class pins their school with a short video or message
• Design the project logo or poster, vote together via Google Form)

💡 2. Coding & Computational Thinking

• Pixel Art Challenge (design a symbol of peace, sustainability, friendship)
• Unplugged coding: program your friend across a maze using directional commands
• Create a Scratch animation to introduce your school or classroom
• Collaborative Scratch Story/Game: each country codes one chapter or level
• Code a Bee-Bot route to visit project values (e.g. peace, respect, safety)

🌐 3. Digital Citizenship & Safer Internet

• Class posters or comics: “Smart Rules for Responsible Coders”
• TwinSpace Forum – Safe or Unsafe?: students respond to common digital dilemmas
• Create a short video or slogan for Safer Internet Day (February)
• Collaborative Escape Room: each class builds one digital puzzle (Wordwall, Genially, etc.)
• Internet Safety Quiz: use Kahoot or create one together with shared questions

🌱 4. Sharing, Reflection & Celebration

• Collaborative eBook: each class contributes 2–3 pages with their best work (Book Creator, Canva)
• TwinSpace Forum Thread – “What we learned” or “Our proudest moment”
• Online Coding Show: students present their games, animations or robots live
• “Digital Time Capsule”: write a message or code something for students of the future
• Create thank-you badges or certificates for your partners using Canva

COMMUNICATION  AND  COLLABORATION

Communication and collaboration are at the heart of this project. Pupils and teachers from different countries will work together regularly through the TwinSpace to share ideas, give feedback, and co-create digital products. The project will foster mutual respect, digital responsibility, and teamwork across borders.

Main communication tools:

• TwinSpace Forum and Chat: for informal exchanges, topic discussions, and peer interaction
• TwinSpace Pages and Bacheca: to publish work, launch collaborative tasks, and make announcements
• BigBlueButton (TwinSpace video-conferencing tool): to hold live meetings between partner classes and teachers, especially for key moments such as the final event, game presentations or coding shows

Collaborative elements:

• At least two collaborative activities per month involving shared content or interaction
• Joint creations (e.g. Scratch stories, Escape Room puzzles, shared eBook pages)
• Forum-based discussions to exchange reflections and give feedback
• Voting activities (e.g. for logo, best poster, or quiz results)
• Live coding presentations and international quizzes via BigBlueButton
• Peer-to-peer testing of digital games or stories with follow-up comments

Students will be encouraged not only to present their own contributions, but also to interact with and learn from their European peers, in a safe, age-appropriate, and meaningful way, always guided by their teachers.

SCHOOL AND LOCAL COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

The project will actively involve not only pupils and teachers, but also the whole school community and, when possible, families and local stakeholders.

Within the school:

• Teachers from different subjects (e.g. ICT, English, Art, Citizenship) may collaborate in the planning and implementation of the activities.
• Other classes may be invited to attend presentations or play the games created by the participants.
• Posters and Scratch animations will be displayed on school bulletin boards or during open days.

Family involvement:

• Families will be invited to participate in key moments, such as:
  • Watching student presentations
  • Playing the escape room or games created
  • Completing a short initial and final questionnaire to give feedback on the project’s impact
• Pupils may share short videos explaining the project at home, promoting digital awareness and responsibility.

Local community:

• If possible, local experts (e.g. coding clubs, environmental associations, or digital educators) may be invited to talk to the students or provide support during some activities.
• The school website and/or social media accounts may be used to share updates, photos and outcomes, in line with eTwinning guidelines and privacy regulations.
• The project may be presented during school events (e.g. Safer Internet Day, Earth Day, or the school’s end-of-year exhibition) as an example of innovation, collaboration and digital citizenship.

This involvement strengthens the connection between classroom learning and real life, helping students see themselves as active members of their community and responsible digital citizens.

EXPECTED  RESULTS,  EVALUATION,  DOCUMENTATION  AND  DISSEMINATION

Expected Results:
By the end of the project, students will:

• Improve their computational thinking and basic coding skills through creative, playful and meaningful tasks.
• Understand how coding and digital tools can be used to promote positive civic values (e.g. inclusion, peace, sustainability).
• Strengthen their digital, linguistic, social and collaborative competences.
• Produce a variety of digital outcomes, including:
  • Scratch games and stories
  • Pixel art and unplugged activities
  • Digital posters and awareness materials
  • Collaborative Escape Room
  • Final eBook and digital portfolio

Evaluation:

• Initial and final questionnaires will be completed by students, teachers and families to assess learning outcomes, engagement, and perceived impact.
• Ongoing formative evaluation will include:
  • Teacher observation
  • Peer-to-peer feedback through the TwinSpace
  • Forum reflections and reactions to shared content
• A final internal teacher reflection will be conducted to review the project process and outcomes.

Documentation:

• All activities and outputs will be documented on the TwinSpace, including:
  • Class contributions, photos, screenshots, and videos
  • Student reflections and forum discussions
  • Planning and collaborative materials
• A shared archive (e.g. Google Drive, Wakelet) may be used by teachers for internal coordination.

Dissemination:

• The results of the project will be shared with the wider school community through:
  • School website articles, blog posts, and newsletters
  • Posters and visual exhibitions within the school
  • Presentations during events (e.g. Safer Internet Day, Earth Day)
  • Social media posts, where permitted, on school’s official accounts following eTwinning privacy rules

The TwinSpace pages will be made public at the end of the project to showcase the collaborative work and to allow external stakeholders (families, school communities, other educators) to access the outcomes

The collaborative eBook and students’ games will also be shared digitally with families.

The project may be submitted for National and European Quality Labels and possibly shared in teacher training or educational events.

USE  OF  ICT  TOOLS

Throughout the project, a wide range of ICT tools will be used to support creativity, collaboration, coding, documentation and communication. Digital tools will be selected according to the pupils’ age, accessibility, and the specific goals of each activity.

Coding tools:

• Scratch / Scratch Jr – for animations, interactive stories and games
• MakeCode – for simple coding with micro:bit or arcade-style games
• Blockly / Tynker / Code.org – for introductory block-based programming
• Bee-Bot app / Blue-Bot / LEGO Spike – for basic robotics (virtual or real)
• CodyRoby suite – for unplugged and semi-unplugged coding activities, including CodyCards, CodyWay, CodyFeet, and CodyColor (developed by CodeMOOC / Alessandro Bogliolo)
• Pixel Art tools (e.g. Piskel, digital grids) – for coordinate-based coding

Collaboration tools:

• TwinSpace Forum and Bacheca – for discussions, interaction, and sharing of work
• BigBlueButton – for live video meetings between classes and partners
• Google Docs/Slides – for co-writing and planning shared tasks (if allowed by schools)
• Book Creator / Canva / Genially – for collaborative books, presentations, and escape rooms

Communication and presentation tools:

• ChatterPix / Voki / Pixton – for avatars and voice introductions
• Flip / Animoto / Adobe Express – for student videos and reflections
• Kahoot / Wordwall / LearningApps – for interactive quizzes and review games

Documentation and dissemination tools:

• TwinSpace Pages – to document and present work in a structured way
• School websites, newsletters or blogs – to share progress with the local community
• Social media (school-managed, respecting eTwinning rules) – for broader dissemination
• Google Forms / Liveworksheets – for feedback, peer evaluation and final surveys

Authorization from parents, teachers and the Headmaster will be requested (on a dedicated form provided by the school) for the sharing of any material (e.g., work, photos, videos). All student-produced content intended for dissemination will be uploaded to the “Materials” section of the TwinSpace, ensuring full compliance with eTwinning safety, GDPR, and copyright policies.

All ICT tools will be used to promote not only technical skills, but also creativity, responsibility, cooperation and critical thinking.