Visibility of eTwinning Projects Group July 2026 Newsletter
When Space Became Part of Children ' s Lives by Ana Suciu names of the planets, but to inspire them to ask questions, explore, investigate and understand that science is part of the world around them.
Which planet is the hottest? Do you know what a black hole is?
These were not questions asked during a science lesson. They were conversations I overheard on our school bus as my pupils were travelling home after school. That was the moment I realised something extraordinary had happened.
During the 2025 – 2026 school year, our eTwinning project, Explorers of the Universe – Journey Among the Stars, brought together pupils aged 6 to 12 and teachers from Romania, the Republic of Moldova, Türkiye, Spain, Jordan, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. Through international collaboration, STEM activities, creative tasks and digital technologies, the project aimed to awaken children ' s curiosity about the Universe, develop scientific thinking and digital competences, and encourage cooperation across cultures. By the end of the project, space was no longer just another topic in the curriculum. It had become part of the children ' s everyday conversations, their games, their questions and their dreams.
As a primary school teacher in a small rural school in Romania, I wanted my pupils to discover the Universe through curiosity rather than memorisation. My goal was not only to teach them the
Throughout the project, children became active explorers. They investigated the Solar System, carried out STEM experiments, created digital books and artwork, participated in coding activities, explored space through Virtual and Augmented Reality, and collaborated with children from partner schools across eight countries. Using educational resources provided by ESA and NASA, space exploration became an authentic learning experience rather than just another school topic.
One of the most meaningful changes was the way children naturally began using scientific vocabulary in their everyday lives. During the journey home on the school bus, they challenged one another with questions such as " Which planet is the hottest?" or confidently explained what a black hole is. These spontaneous conversations showed that learning had become meaningful enough to continue long after the lessons had ended.
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