Teachers from the 6th Junior High School of Larissa had the opportunity to experience a highly significant European educational initiative, participating in a teaching assignment mobility within the framework of the Erasmus+ program. The mobility took place from February 24 to March 1, 2026, at the GO! Athena Oostende school in Ostend, Belgium, and is part of the project with code 2025-1-EL01-KA121-SCH-000314386.
The educational mission consisted of Mr. Panagiotis Rebabis (Mathematician) and Mr. Georgios Kakarantzas (Physical Education teacher). They implemented a series of instructional interventions and educational activities with students and teachers of the host school, contributing to the exchange of best practices and the reinforcement of European cooperation in education.
During the week, Mr. Rebabis taught Mathematics through innovative activities that connected theory with the students” everyday experiences. Experiential measurement exercises were carried out on the school grounds, where students calculated areas, perimeters, and distances, applying mathematical concepts to real-world spaces. At the same time, statistics activities were implemented, involving questionnaire design, data collection, and analysis through percentages and graphs.
The mathematics instruction also extended outside the school boundaries through outdoor educational activities in the cities of Bruges, Ghent, and Brussels. There, students studied geometric features of architecture, symmetries, and proportions in historical buildings, while working with maps and spatial representations, effectively transforming the urban environment into a living laboratory of mathematical thought.
Concurrently, the Physical Education teacher, Mr. Kakarantzas, actively participated in teaching PE classes, presenting activities that link physical exercise with health, cooperation, and active student participation. The students engaged in motor skills activities, coordination and fitness exercises, as well as team actions promoting a healthy and active lifestyle.
A particularly memorable highlight was the teaching of traditional Greek dances by Mr. Kakarantzas, in which students from both schools participated with great enthusiasm. Through this activity, the students were introduced to elements of Greek cultural tradition, combining physical activity with music, rhythm, and teamwork.
The week also included visits to European institutions and sites of historical interest, such as the Parlamentarium, the European Commission, and the House of European History. These visits provided the participants with the opportunity to connect learning with history, society, and European values.
The mobility concluded with an exchange of experiences between the teachers of both schools and an evaluation of the instructional practices applied. Participation in the Erasmus+ program substantially contributed to the professional development of the teachers and enhanced the European dimension of education.
The program was implemented within the framework of Erasmus+ and project 2025-1-EL01-KA121-SCH-000314386, promoting international cooperation, the exchange of pedagogical practices, and the dissemination of European educational experiences.
