Embedded Files
The team
The team
A team of 19 students and 2 teachers left Montbui on Sunday, and after some hours arrived in Ezcaray. The girls outnumber the boys - 15 to 4 - but alltogether they create a lively team. The bond already strong, it's growing stronger by the minute here in Ezcaray, smiles and laughter filling their days. The students are aged 12-13 years old, and are currently coursing 2nd of ESO.
A team of 19 students and 2 teachers left Montbui on Sunday, and after some hours arrived in Ezcaray. The girls outnumber the boys - 15 to 4 - but alltogether they create a lively team. The bond already strong, it's growing stronger by the minute here in Ezcaray, smiles and laughter filling their days. The students are aged 12-13 years old, and are currently coursing 2nd of ESO.
The place
The place
We will be staying at Albergue el Molino Viejo, a nice, new youth hostel located in Ezcaray. Ezcaray is a village of La Rioja, an area in north-west Spain famous for its vineyards and greenery.
We will be staying at Albergue el Molino Viejo, a nice, new youth hostel located in Ezcaray. Ezcaray is a village of La Rioja, an area in north-west Spain famous for its vineyards and greenery.
If you wish to get more information on the town you can read the Spanish version of the Wikipedia. If you are lost in Ezcaray streets you can locate yourself by consulting this plan of the town.
If you wish to get more information on the town you can read the Spanish version of the Wikipedia. If you are lost in Ezcaray streets you can locate yourself by consulting this plan of the town.
Memories
Memories
The agency organising this camp, Play&Say, has kindly created a blog where they will post pictures. You can find them here: Play & Say website. You will need a username (ministerioezcaray) and password (ezcaray20) to access the website.
The agency organising this camp, Play&Say, has kindly created a blog where they will post pictures. You can find them here: Play & Say website. You will need a username (ministerioezcaray) and password (ezcaray20) to access the website.
Throughout the week will post daily updates (with pictures!) on the activities we carry out.
Throughout the week will post daily updates (with pictures!) on the activities we carry out.
Arrival (Sunday 18th October)
Arrival (Sunday 18th October)
The first day was spent on team bonding. After a long bus ride the participants played some getting-to-know-each-other games in english, strengthening their bonds while developing english fluency. After the first few hours they felt much more comfortable speaking this foreign language, and we all slept long and sound after an exciting yet thrilling day
The first day was spent on team bonding. After a long bus ride the participants played some getting-to-know-each-other games in english, strengthening their bonds while developing english fluency. After the first few hours they felt much more comfortable speaking this foreign language, and we all slept long and sound after an exciting yet thrilling day
Monday 19th October
Monday 19th October
Morning came, and we all were full of energy and ready to start the day. Throughout the morning we explored the scientific method and the lab, discovering many new vocabs as we started warming up to speaking English. Amongst others, we watched 10 amazing scientific experiments and carried out a small experiment. The most curious facts were learnt when we talked about the experiment and discoveries of Ignaz Semmelweis that lead him to discover the importance of washing hands, and allowed him to save lots of lifes.
Morning came, and we all were full of energy and ready to start the day. Throughout the morning we explored the scientific method and the lab, discovering many new vocabs as we started warming up to speaking English. Amongst others, we watched 10 amazing scientific experiments and carried out a small experiment. The most curious facts were learnt when we talked about the experiment and discoveries of Ignaz Semmelweis that lead him to discover the importance of washing hands, and allowed him to save lots of lifes.
These activities were followed by an intense project session in the afternoon - designing an experiment isn't easy! Not only they had to pick the variable they would study, but also make a prediction and think how the experiment could be carried out. All the groups worked hard, and in the end knew what they wanted to do and, most importantly, how.
These activities were followed by an intense project session in the afternoon - designing an experiment isn't easy! Not only they had to pick the variable they would study, but also make a prediction and think how the experiment could be carried out. All the groups worked hard, and in the end knew what they wanted to do and, most importantly, how.
After such brain workouts we relaxed, hanging out with friends on the beautiful garden. After supper, what will surely be the favourite night came: dancing time! For over half an hour we sang and danced, our cheeks red with warmth despite the cold air. First day is over, and we couldn't have enjoyed it more
After such brain workouts we relaxed, hanging out with friends on the beautiful garden. After supper, what will surely be the favourite night came: dancing time! For over half an hour we sang and danced, our cheeks red with warmth despite the cold air. First day is over, and we couldn't have enjoyed it more
Tuesday 20th October
Tuesday 20th October
Already warming up to english, we started the morning with a talk on women in science. We learnt some new names -and concepts. The lesson started talking about Marie Curie, a Polish-born scientist who discovered radioactive elements like radium. These elements are used in nuclear bombs but also in X-ray diagnosis and to produce energy in nuclear power plants. Teachers introduced some concepts related to radioactivity like wavelength, half-life and C-14 tests.
Already warming up to english, we started the morning with a talk on women in science. We learnt some new names -and concepts. The lesson started talking about Marie Curie, a Polish-born scientist who discovered radioactive elements like radium. These elements are used in nuclear bombs but also in X-ray diagnosis and to produce energy in nuclear power plants. Teachers introduced some concepts related to radioactivity like wavelength, half-life and C-14 tests.
In the activity "A woman must have invented/ discovered/designed this!" students worked in teams guessing some discoveries/inventions /designs made by women. After discussing students proposals, we discovered the work of Margaret Hamilton (she developed flight software for NASA's Apollo program), Katie Bouman (the woman who took the first picture of a black hole), Jane Goodall (she has devoted her life to the study of chimpanzees), Rosalind Franklin (her X-ray studies of DNA helped to understand the struture of this molecule) and Hypatia of Alexandria (one of the first astronomers that suggested the movement of planet Earth).
In the activity "A woman must have invented/ discovered/designed this!" students worked in teams guessing some discoveries/inventions /designs made by women. After discussing students proposals, we discovered the work of Margaret Hamilton (she developed flight software for NASA's Apollo program), Katie Bouman (the woman who took the first picture of a black hole), Jane Goodall (she has devoted her life to the study of chimpanzees), Rosalind Franklin (her X-ray studies of DNA helped to understand the struture of this molecule) and Hypatia of Alexandria (one of the first astronomers that suggested the movement of planet Earth).
After comparing the number of men and women awarded the Nobel Prize, the class finished proposing some actions that could be done to stand against gender inequality in science.
After comparing the number of men and women awarded the Nobel Prize, the class finished proposing some actions that could be done to stand against gender inequality in science.
After a delicious lunch, we carried out the experiment we had planned the day before. One of the many repetitions was filmed, so that it could be used in the future. Though intense, it was very satisfying, and it yield some very surprising results. We already felt like researchers! The rest of the afternoon was spent preparing a theatre play - in groups of 10 students - that we'll show on Friday.
After a delicious lunch, we carried out the experiment we had planned the day before. One of the many repetitions was filmed, so that it could be used in the future. Though intense, it was very satisfying, and it yield some very surprising results. We already felt like researchers! The rest of the afternoon was spent preparing a theatre play - in groups of 10 students - that we'll show on Friday.
The sky was grey all day long, and it drizzled most of the time, but that did not stop us from having fun. We invented a "live" version of "Amongst us", a team-bonding, guessing game and played throughout the whole building. We had tones of fun!
The sky was grey all day long, and it drizzled most of the time, but that did not stop us from having fun. We invented a "live" version of "Amongst us", a team-bonding, guessing game and played throughout the whole building. We had tones of fun!
Wednesday 21st October
Wednesday 21st October
Our morning activities were even more thrilling than usual - first of all, we learnt about density through an experiment. After that, we got creative: mini-plays spun from our minds, with only a few minutes to prepare each of them, as we learnt new vocabs and practised our english. We ended the morning with some memory games, which were lots of fun. Afternoon came, and in our "lab" we analyzed the results we had gotten. It wasn't as easy as we had pictured it, but in the end we all managed. Beautiful reports are taking shape already.
Our morning activities were even more thrilling than usual - first of all, we learnt about density through an experiment. After that, we got creative: mini-plays spun from our minds, with only a few minutes to prepare each of them, as we learnt new vocabs and practised our english. We ended the morning with some memory games, which were lots of fun. Afternoon came, and in our "lab" we analyzed the results we had gotten. It wasn't as easy as we had pictured it, but in the end we all managed. Beautiful reports are taking shape already.
After a quick snack, we left the "Albergue" and went up a mountain. The hike was intense, but fun, and we were rewarded with beautiful views and a wonderful chapel. The way down was spectacular, a thin path wandering through green meadows. The auttumn colours dotted the scenery, the final bit a tree-surrounded, leave-covered wonder of a path. It was definetely the highlight of the day.
After a quick snack, we left the "Albergue" and went up a mountain. The hike was intense, but fun, and we were rewarded with beautiful views and a wonderful chapel. The way down was spectacular, a thin path wandering through green meadows. The auttumn colours dotted the scenery, the final bit a tree-surrounded, leave-covered wonder of a path. It was definetely the highlight of the day.
Thursday 22nd October
Thursday 22nd October
Nearly our last morning, we start being tired - not so awake during breakfast anymore. But when class came, it found us excited for it. It was tough, with lots of learning about energy - what it is, how it can be produced, etc. During the last hours of the morning we put our newly gained knowledge to test, team UK vs. team USA. Furthermore, they carried out an "egg drop" experiment: how can an egg be let fall from a second story without it breaking? It took a lot of brainstorming, but they worked it out.
Nearly our last morning, we start being tired - not so awake during breakfast anymore. But when class came, it found us excited for it. It was tough, with lots of learning about energy - what it is, how it can be produced, etc. During the last hours of the morning we put our newly gained knowledge to test, team UK vs. team USA. Furthermore, they carried out an "egg drop" experiment: how can an egg be let fall from a second story without it breaking? It took a lot of brainstorming, but they worked it out.
In the afternoon the teams prepared the video's script, and some even filmed. Tomorrow is the last day, and they will have only 90min to polish their videos before showing them to everyone.
In the afternoon the teams prepared the video's script, and some even filmed. Tomorrow is the last day, and they will have only 90min to polish their videos before showing them to everyone.
Friday 23rd October
Friday 23rd October
Friday begins with a special breakfast - it's Dani's birthday and a poster was prepared for him. We also had some sweets on the side, and sang him a "Happy birthday" song. After that, classes started. Our last topic, Forces and motion, has us thinking hard, with many new vocabs and concepts. The newly gained knowledge let each group design -and construct- a simple machine. The last mid-morning snack time was spent playing games, running and laughing.
Friday begins with a special breakfast - it's Dani's birthday and a poster was prepared for him. We also had some sweets on the side, and sang him a "Happy birthday" song. After that, classes started. Our last topic, Forces and motion, has us thinking hard, with many new vocabs and concepts. The newly gained knowledge let each group design -and construct- a simple machine. The last mid-morning snack time was spent playing games, running and laughing.
In the afternoon we finished editing the videos, before showing them to the rest of the participants. They also performed the small theatre plays they had prepared throughout the week with Max and Mason.
In the afternoon we finished editing the videos, before showing them to the rest of the participants. They also performed the small theatre plays they had prepared throughout the week with Max and Mason.
Saturday 24th october
Saturday 24th october
Saturday was our last day. The lessons and activities were over, all we had left to do was finish packing. After a breakfast we said goodbye - none of the students wanted to leave! It was tough, but we left happy: it had been a wonderful week. The market blocked the way for our bus, so it awaited us at the end of the village. We crossed it, glad for the chance to do some very quick sightseeing, and got into the bus. Five hours later, we arrived at Santa Margarida de Montbui, where the families were waiting for us.
Saturday was our last day. The lessons and activities were over, all we had left to do was finish packing. After a breakfast we said goodbye - none of the students wanted to leave! It was tough, but we left happy: it had been a wonderful week. The market blocked the way for our bus, so it awaited us at the end of the village. We crossed it, glad for the chance to do some very quick sightseeing, and got into the bus. Five hours later, we arrived at Santa Margarida de Montbui, where the families were waiting for us.
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