Sustainable Schools

In our latest lesson on sustainability, Class 7 pupils explored what makes a sustainable school.

As Eco Agents and Eco Avengers, some joined forum discussions exchanging ideas on how schools can become more eco-friendly:

• In schools we can use drainage to collect rain water for plants because that water is better for plants than tap water.
• In schools, students and teachers use paper and a lot of it goes to trash. We can renew old paper and use it many times.
• The teachers can organise the class where students will learn how they can contribute the eco schools and the sustainable future of the schools.
• The technologies will be eco and use electricity. There will be solar panels which collect energy for all electricity in school for better future.
• For every tree cut down, we should plant a new one. We should replace normal trash bins with recycling ones. We should encourage others to recycle and care for plants.
• I think the perfect green school would be if pupils followed a few rules.

Number one: instead of throwing away the paper bags from their lunches they would recycle them.
Number two: pupils would receive a back-to-school kit from recycled bottles, plastic bags etc.
Pupils and Teachers would certainly not be turning on the lights when its daytime, when the sun sets, they can turn on their power-saving LED lights.
In every classroom will be open windows for natural sunlight and a plant for more oxygen.

and how we can set composting stations in our school gardens: 

• We can find a place in the shadow and put some compost bins there. Then, we can put our leftovers and orange and banana peels in the bins. 
• Younger children have lunch at school, so we can ask the woman who works in the kitchen to put stale bread or leftovers in the bins too and help us make compost for our school garden. 

They also shared their ideas of small actions to help the environment:

• First step to help the environment is when we cut trees, for each tree we cut down we plant a new one. Also, every school should add a recycling bin instead of normal bins and encourage students to throw their trash into those bins. These changes could help increase the number of trees and there will be less trash on the ground in school yards. I think politicians should start encouraging ppl to start throwing their trash into recycling bins. These small changes could really help the environment and clean up school yards.
• I personally think that if we stopped cutting trees and instead planted more would help the environment. At home I could turn the lights off when not needed, close the tap water when I'm not using it, so I can save water. A new habit I could start today is to start a charity work, many people would gather up and clean the streets, lakes, rivers, cleaning the whole city and planting plants like trees, flowers etc. I would personally call it the Plantvengers.

Others imagined themselves in a sustainable school, described classrooms and wrote diary entries describing a day in such an eco-friendly environment. They also designed accompanying images using AI.

Sustainable school

Click to read this book, made with Book Creator

read.bookcreator.com

Pupils then brainstormed their ideas and came up with 5 highlights of a green classroom. Finally, they used GravityWrite to write the lyrics, and Suno AI to create a pop, uplifting song.

Hopefully, these activities, inspired by our Sustainable Future: Our Actions, Our Impact eTwinning project, helped pupils think critically about their role in creating a better, greener tomorrow.

Bike Song

 As part of our lesson about comparatives, my Class 4 pupils explored how to describe differences in a fun way. 

They also learned a catchy song that uses comparatives and talks about bikes, friendship, and enjoying spending time outside. 

Tom:
My bike is bigger
And faster than yours,
And more beautiful too.
My bike is lighter
And newer than yours,
And it's more expensive too.

Sue:
It's true that
Your bike is bigger
And faster than mine,
And it's more beautiful too.
Your bike is lighter
And newer than mine,
And it's more expensive too.

But I ride my bike every day,
In the sun and in the rain.
Your bike just stays inside,
It never comes out to play.

Tom: 
So, you ride your bike every day,
In the sun and in the rain.
I want to take my bike outside too,
Can I come out and play with you?
Can I come out and play with you?

HIPPO 2025 National Finals

 This year's National Finals for pupils from local schools were held at Đura Jakšić Primary School on 11 April. Just like last year, the contestants did their exams online.

Both my pupils did their best on the more challenging tests and, once again, made it to the orange list. 

Hippo 1: Nina Stijelja, V2 (Reading: 37/40, Writing 24/37.5 - compared to the first on the list),

Hippo 3: Nikola Tomić, VII2 (Reading: 33/34, Writing: 24/40.5 - compared to the first on the list).

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

 My Class 1 pupils have recently enjoyed the story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. 

We started our lesson with a fun guessing game about food. Then, I asked them if they had ever seen a caterpillar - Was it big or small? What colour was it? What superpower has it got? 

Next, I asked them to draw a big, happy caterpillar in the middle of their page. We started watching and listening to the animated story. Whenever the pupils spotted the food the caterpillar ate, they drew it in their notebooks. Soon, their pages were filled with colourful fruit and treats, and they weren't able to hide their surprise at how much food that tiny creature could eat!

Helena, I1

Aron, I1

Mirna, I1

Ivan, I1

Iskra, I1

Tea, I1

They all wowed when the caterpillar transformed into a beautiful butterfly. Inspired by that moment, they created their own butterflies. They were proud to present their work to their classmates.

As a follow-up, I asked them to explain the caterpillar's journey and name the food they had drawn. We finished the lesson with the well-known Do you like bananas? song but mentioning the food the caterpillar ate.

SDG 15

In our lessons about extinct and endangered animals, we usually discuss those living in other countries. This time, I asked my Class 7 pupils to turn their focus closer to home. 

Working in teams, pupils researched and designed infographics and posters showcasing Serbia's endangered animals, including the griffon vulture, brown bear, and otter. 

Some enjoyed working on our collaborative acrostic poem. They added three lines (Earth is our home, let's keep it clean! Inspire each other, every day; Create a world where every new day looks bright), created accompanying images using Canva, and recorded their messages using Chatterpix Kids.

Later, we used AIMusicGen.AI to transform the acrostic lyrics into a catchy pop tune.

Finally, as members of an international team, they imagined themselves as animals facing various challenges and expressed their feelings. They also suggested solutions to solve certain problems. You can find their ideas in the collaborative e-book Saving Our Earth: Problems and Solutions.

saving our Earth e-book

Click to read this book, made with Book Creator

read.bookcreator.com

These engaging activities were inspired by our Sustainable Future: Our Actions, Our Impact eTwinning project.

The Best Gift of All

As a follow-up to our lessons on gadgets and past simple, I asked my Class 4 pupils to remember the best gift they'd ever received. They mentioned bikes, phones, rollerblades, dogs, and trips. 

Next, I drew a mind map on the board and asked them to list details they would add in their writing: when and who they got the gift from, its appearance, and why it was special. Then, we read a short text in our books about a bike they could use as a model for their writing. 

Finally, they wrote short paragraphs and volunteers read their work, sharing happy memories.

Fish Song

 To pracise using 'was' and 'were' while revising colours, my Class 4 pupils learned a lively song about fish which appear in some unusual places. This catchy tune made grammar learning enjoyable, and the pupils loved singing it.

There was a blue fish in the pool,
Mum was scared, but I was cool.
There were green fish in my bed,
There was one on my mum's head.

Fish, fish, everywhere,
On the sofa, on the chair.
Quick, quick, Sue and Frank,
Get the fish back in the tank!

There was a pink fish on the mat,
It was really big and fat.
There were red fish on the floor,
Five or six, or maybe more.

Fish, fish, everywhere, ...

Eco-Issues

 Have you ever wondered how you could change the world or improve your local area? Eco-issues like climate change, air or water pollution, deforestation, endangered species, acid rain, food or water waste need our attention. 

Imagine you can make a difference, by raising awareness, sharing ideas, or taking action.

Write a magazine article, blog post, or design an infographic using Canva to present your suggestions and what could happen as a result of these changes. 

Follow these steps to organise your ideas:
P1: What's the problem? What are its effects? Clearly describe the eco-issue you've chosen. Explain the damage it's causing to people, animals, or nature. 
P2: How can we help? What is your first idea? Think about something realistic. What will happen if people follow your suggestion? 
P3: What else can we do to help? What is your second suggestion? What will be the result? Will the situation improve?
P4: Summarise your opinion. Encourage everyone to adopt your solutions. Give clear reasons for why your solutions are the best. End with a statement to inspire action! For example, 'Together, we can protect the planet for future generations!'

Don't forget to use some of the linking words to organise your ideas:
- to introduce suggestions: To begin/start with, One way, Firstly/Secondly...
- to express effects: Therefore, As a result/consequence...
- to conclude: All in all, To sum up/conclude...

You can find more information about the eco-issues on the following sites:
World Wildlife Fund, Climate Kids, National Geographic Kids, or C2ES. Please, use the information for a reference, don't just copy-paste. Respect copyright, please.

PS You might find some extra ideas in these problem trees.

Eco-issues are very serious today. Our planet is in danger. Pollution, deforestation, and climate change are big problems. People throw trash in rivers and cut down too many trees. Factories and cars make our air dirty.

We must protect nature. We can help by recycling, planting trees, and using less plastic. These actions can stop more damage.

We should also change how we travel and use energy. Riding bikes is better than using cars. Using clean energy like solar power helps the Earth.

Every small action matters. If we all work together, we can make the world a better and cleaner place. Let’s protect animals, plants, and people too.

Luka Markuš, Stefan Utržen, Vanja Derbakov, VII2

Deforestation is really bad for our world. We need trees because they give us clean air. But people cut down trees to make paper, cardboard, and to use wood for making their houses warmer. A lot of things around us are made of wood. 

We need to fix this problem. One idea is to plant more trees. If we cut one tree, we should plant two new ones. This helps bring back the trees we lost.

We can also use some other resources. Maybe we can use bamboo to make paper. For heating our homes, we can use radiators, ga, or electricity. We can use solar panels too. They are a great way to get clean energy from the sun.

Let's save the trees and help nature. If we all try small things, we can make a big difference. Trees are important for people, animals, and the planet.

Aljoša Felbab, Nikola Tomić, Luka Baba, Vukašin Pap, VII2

Water is very important for life. We cannot live without it. But many people waste water every day. They do not think before using it.

For example, some people take very long showers. They leave the tap running while brushing their teeth. I do this too, but I want to change.

We must save water. It is more valuable than gold. We should turn off the tap when we don’t need it.

Let’s take care of water like we take care of life. If we all try, we can save water for everyone.

Vukašin Ćirić, Vukašin Badrljički, Vukašin Bajkin, VII2

Acid rain is harmful rain. It has bad chemicals in it. These chemicals come from smoke made by cars and factories. The smoke goes up and mixes with clouds. Then, when it rains, the rain is dirty and dangerous.
Acid rain can hurt nature. It damages trees, animals, and even buildings. This makes the Earth unhealthy and sad.
We can help stop acid rain. People should use fewer cars. We can walk, ride bikes, or use clean energy like solar power.
Small changes make a big difference. If we all help, the Earth will be cleaner and safer. Let’s protect our planet before it’s too late.

Nikolina Pilipović, Petra Gačka, Petra Milica Fazekaš, VII2

Tech Forum

Read these questions and think carefully about the pros (advantages/benefits) and cons (disadvantages/downsides) of such situations, giving your reasons for and against, with examples. What's your conclusion? Share your opinion on one topic in 100-120 words.

• Should we download music or not?
• Should every teen have a mobile phone?
• Should teens play computer games?
• Should teens have social media accounts? 
• Should online time be limited?
• Should AI be used in schools?
• Should schools ban smartphones in classrooms?

Remember to use linking words:

• To list arguments, use: To start with, Firstly, Secondly, In addition, Moreover, Finally, Also
• To introduce examples, use: For example, For instance, As a result, so that, such as
• To show contrast, use: On the other hand, but, However, Still
• To conclude, use: In conclusion, To sum up, All in all

In 2025, we have lots of apps and websites. We can use them to study or do other things. But there are hackers. Hackers can do bad things.
Some parents do not allow mobile phones. They think phones are dangerous. Other parents allow phones. They think teens can earn money or be safe.
Some websites are safe. We don’t need to give personal information. ChatGPT is one example. We can use it to study or cook.
TikTok has good and bad sides. We can learn what people think about apps and websites. But not all things on TikTok are true.
The Internet has good and bad sides. We must use it smartly. Some apps help us. Some can be risky. Be safe and choose well.

Darija Širjančev, VII1

The Internet has a lot of good sides. It helps people find jobs, download music, and learn how websites work.
We can talk with friends and family using apps like Viber, Discourse, and Snapchat. We can also play video games online and have fun.
A lot of people use the Internet to be creative. Some make websites that go viral. Others try, but do not live up to their expectations.
But the Internet also has bad sides. There are viruses, hackers, and scammers. These can cause big problems.
We should be careful online. Some websites can steal your information. Use antivirus software and avoid unknown sites. The Internet is great—but only if we use it wisely.

Nemanja Popov, VII1

Limiting online time has good and bad sides. It is not always easy to decide.
If teens go online less, they can spend more time with friends and family. They can play outside and have fun. They will also have more time to study and get better grades.
Parents may be happy. They do not want their kids online all the time. They want teens to sleep and focus on school.
But there are also bad sides. Teens may miss new things online. They may not watch their favourite shows. Sometimes they need to call parents, but they can’t if the time is limited.
Online time should be limited, but not too much. Teens need balance between real life and online fun.

Nikolina Pilipović, VII2

I think every teenager should have their own phone. Phones can be good or bad. They help with learning and school.
Teens can use phones to chat with friends from other countries. They can also play games and call their parents or family.
But phones are not always safe. There is violence online, viruses, and hackers. Phones can cause arguments and sleep problems too.
Some teens stay up all night looking at their phones. That is not healthy. The Internet has many dangers.
Phones are helpful, but they must be used carefully. Parents can limit screen time or talk to their children when needed.

Teodora Tomić, VII2

AI is a new technology. It can help with jobs and give fast answers.
Some students misuse AI. They use it to cheat on tests. That is not good.
But in schools, AI can help. It can make learning easier and more fun.
Still, schools must stay serious. Some classes can be fun, but others must focus. Students must also use their own ideas.
AI can help us, but we must use it carefully and not let it ruin our creativity.
AI should be used in schools, but only carefully. It must help—not replace—student creativity.

Vukašin Ćirić, VII2

AI in schools is a very controversial idea. Some people believe it can be misused and make students lazier. They worry that students might stop thinking for themselves if they rely too much on AI.
On the other hand, AI could improve school efficiency. It can help with complex problems and support students in different subjects. AI can also be a strong brainstorming partner, using its large database to explore the pros and cons of ideas that benefit schools.
It now seems that AI might have more advantages than disadvantages. But a lot of people think otherwise. They have lots of worries and concerns about its impact on learning, behaviour, and ethics.
In my opinion, I support the use of AI—especially for gaining knowledge. Still, I understand why others worry. It’s true that today, AI can be used for fake art or unethical things.
I hope that one day AI will be available for mild, responsible use in every school. If used carefully, it could support learning while still encouraging students to think on their own.

Nikola Tomić, VII2

Easter 2025

With Easter round the corner, my Class 4 pupils got very busy making creative cards which we later sent to our friends in Lithuania, Spain, Taiwan and the USA.

Amazing Creatures

Talking about animals is always fun for my pupils. Each year, I try to introduce fresh activities to keep them engaged and help them learn and use new words.

As a warm-up, I asked the pupils to look at the poster on the board and guess which animal I was describing. We recalled our last year's lessons, where they worked in groups to create animal habitats. We mentioned where different animals live and what they eat.

Next, two volunteers read a short text from our book about turtles. We discussed their size, colour, habitat, and what makes them special.

Then, I drew a large mind map on the board and asked the pupils to do the same in their notebooks. We brainstormed what to include in their writing, and agreed on: name, size, colour, habitat, food, abilities, and fun fact. To support weaker pupils, I wrote sentence starters as well: My favourite wild animal is ... . It lives in ... . It can ... . One interesting fact about it is ... . The pupils used the information from their mind maps to write a short paragraph about their favourite wild animal. 

To wrap-up, a few volunteers read their paragraphs and received feedback. 

In the next lesson, pupils designed infographics showcasing their favourite wild animals, using the information from their mind maps.

SDGs 6 & 14

 My Class 7 pupils got very inspired by the topics of clean water and its importance, as well as the animals living in the water. 

While one group focused on different aspects of the water cycle, others suggested tips for saving water, shared slogans discouraging water waste and designed posters with slogans shared by other partners. 

Later, I asked my pupils to imagine themselves as animals living in the water, so they explored their lives and explained their choices to their international friends in a joint presentation. 

Some wrote poems about the sea and the ocean and left comments on the Underwater Poetry Wall.

The activities were suggested by the partners of our Sustainable Future: Our Actions, Our Impact eTwinning project.

The Little Red Hen

 My Class 1 pupils have lately enjoyed the story The Little Red Hen. It turned out that only few of them had heard it before.

We started the lesson by meeting the characters of the story. Then, we watched the parts of the animated story, and, after each part, we discussed what they saw and what they thought would happen next.

After watching the last part, I asked them about the message of the story, and they agreed that it is important to help others and work together.

We also listened to accompanying songs, including the one about the hen finding another seed the following year.

As a follow-up, I asked the pupils to illustrate their favourite scenes. They did it while listening and humming along to the songs. Then, they proudly presented their colourful drawings to their classmates.

Dunja, I1

Iskra, I1

Lorena I2

Aron, I1

Iva, I2

Bojan, I1