Learning Beyond the Classroom: Our Erasmus+ Experience in Heraklion, Greece
Erasmus+ KA210-SCH Project: “Learn Outside, Smile and Shine”
Project No.: 2025-1-RO01-KA210-SCH-000354299
Heraklion, Crete, Greece | 27–30 April 2026
Heraklion, Crete, Greece | 27–30 April 2026
From 27 to 30 April 2026, teachers from Greece, Romania, Lithuania, Italy, and North Macedonia came together in Heraklion, Crete, for the second Transnational Project Meeting of the Erasmus+ project “Learn Outside, Smile and Shine.” Hosted by the 45th Primary School of Heraklion, the mobility offered four inspiring days dedicated to outdoor and experiential learning, critical thinking, creativity, wellbeing, cultural discovery, and European cooperation.
Day 1 – Learning, Creativity and Connection
The first day began with a warm welcome from our Greek partners at the 45th Primary School of Heraklion. Traditional Cretan music and dances created a joyful atmosphere, while a creative dramatic presentation of the Minoan civilization brought history to life and offered an inspiring example of experiential learning.
Throughout the day, participants took part in activities designed to foster critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity. “The Boat is Shrinking” encouraged problem-solving and teamwork, while the energizer “The Rain Dance” brought movement, enthusiasm, and positive energy to the group.
During a StoryJumper workshop, participants worked together to create digital stories, combining creativity, teamwork, storytelling, and digital skills. A creative workshop dedicated to May 1st decorations and drama activities focused on emotional expression demonstrated how arts-based methods can support communication, self-expression, and students’ emotional wellbeing.
An important part of the program was the meeting with the school’s multidisciplinary team – psychologist, special education teacher, and social worker. The discussion highlighted the value of collaboration between different professionals in creating an inclusive educational environment and supporting students’ wellbeing.
The day ended with beautiful moments of interaction in the school yard, where enthusiastic students were eager to discover more about the cultures and countries represented by the Erasmus+ partners.
Day 2 – Outdoor Learning and Sharing Best Practices
The second day focused on one of the central themes of our project: learning beyond the classroom.
The program started with an energizing outdoor music lesson, where rhythm, movement, and positive energy created the perfect setting for connection and creative expression.
Each partner team then had the opportunity to implement an outdoor lesson, sharing methods and good practices from their own educational contexts. The activities demonstrated how outdoor environments can become meaningful learning spaces and support the development of key competences such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, collaboration, and creativity.
The day offered participants the opportunity not only to experience different teaching approaches but also to reflect on how these methods could be adapted and transferred to their own schools.
Learning together and sharing practical experiences strengthened both our professional development and the cooperation between the partner institutions.
Day 3 – Cultural Exploration in Rethymno
On the third day, learning moved beyond the school environment and into the rich cultural landscape of Crete.
Our visit to Rethymno and its beautiful Venetian Harbor provided an authentic context for exploring history, architecture, local traditions, and cultural heritage. Walking through the old streets and along the picturesque harbor demonstrated once again that meaningful educational experiences can take place far beyond the traditional classroom.
The visit encouraged curiosity, observation, cultural awareness, and reflection, while also providing valuable opportunities for informal interaction and strengthening the relationships between the international partner teams.
It was a memorable example of how culture and real-life environments can become powerful educational resources.
Day 4 – Discovering the Minoan Heritage
The fourth day brought participants closer to the fascinating history and cultural heritage of Crete through visits to two of its most representative cultural sites.
At the Palace of Knossos, participants explored one of the most important archaeological sites associated with the ancient Minoan civilization. The experience encouraged reflection on how history, mythology, architecture, and cultural heritage can be integrated into experiential and outdoor educational activities.
The cultural journey continued at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, where remarkable artifacts provided further insight into the Minoan world. The visit generated new ideas for connecting education with cultural heritage while encouraging curiosity, creativity, observation, and critical thinking.
These experiences highlighted the educational value of direct interaction with historical and cultural environments and reinforced one of the key messages of our project: learning can happen everywhere.
Educational Visit to CretAquarium
Another valuable experience during the mobility was the educational visit to CretAquarium, where participants explored the fascinating underwater world of the Mediterranean.
The visit offered opportunities to learn about marine biodiversity, environmental protection, and sustainability. Through observation, discussion, and direct experience, participants reflected on ways of integrating environmental education into experiential learning activities.
The experience connected naturally with the project’s principles of learning outside the classroom, stimulating curiosity and critical thinking, and using authentic environments to make learning more engaging and meaningful.
Certification and European Cooperation
At the end of the mobility, certificates were awarded to the participating teachers, recognizing their active involvement and contribution to the program.
Teachers from Greece, Romania, Lithuania, Italy, and North Macedonia worked together throughout the meeting, sharing educational practices, exploring innovative outdoor learning methods, and developing new ideas that can be transferred into their schools.
Beyond the individual activities, the Heraklion mobility strengthened cooperation among partner institutions and created valuable opportunities for intercultural dialogue and professional exchange. Participants particularly valued outdoor learning, cultural experiences, collaboration, and the exchange of good practices, seeing these experiences as an inspiration for more engaging and student-centered educational approaches.
The post-mobility reflections also showed that the experience encouraged teachers to integrate more outdoor, experiential, collaborative, inclusive, and wellbeing-focused approaches into their future educational practice.
The Heraklion meeting was therefore much more than a transnational mobility. It was an opportunity to learn from one another, experience education beyond the classroom, discover European cultural heritage, and strengthen the partnerships that connect our schools.
Learning beyond the classroom, sharing experiences, building bridges – and continuing to learn, smile and shine together!
The experience of the activities carried out in Heraklion were also presented in the online press:
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
Project: Learn Outside, Smile and Shine
Erasmus+ KA210-SCH – Small-scale Partnerships in School Education
Project No.: 2025-1-RO01-KA210-SCH-000354299
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