S.O.S
SCHOOL OF THE
(IM)POSSIBLE
What if S.O.S, a secret organization from the future, found a way to
communicate with our time? What if they invited children to embark on
an impossible mission and help rewrite our future?
The ‘School of the (Im)Possible’ is an immersive educational experience about Climate Change for 8-10 year olds kids from primary schools.
The experience is facilitated by teaching artists in collaboration with the classroom teacher and with the support from a digital platform. A time travelling bookshelf appears in classrooms around the world filled with mysterious still-to-be-written books from the future. Over two months, the interactive books engage the students in different embodied and sensorial challenges; from the school surroundings to a nature trail to visit the “portal to the future” (a green space in their local community). The participants are challenged to protect the “portal” whilst they learn about climate change. Their final challenge is to lead the ‘School of the (Im)Possible’: a day in which the children are the teachers, and the adults take the role of ‘students’, learning about the children’s vision is for a sustainable future.
Piloted in Brazil in 2021, commissioned by ITAC (International Teaching Artists Collaborative), the initiative has begun its journey to becoming a global phenomenon. Winning a British Council International Collaboration Grant and joining forces with Simon Sharkey and The Necessary Space (UK), it has implemented the project in Scotland and expanded in Brazil, as well as developed an online interactive platform. Discussions with other countries are taking place with a view to building a global community, opening more portals and empowering more children to become agents for change.
10 episodes| Duration: 02 to 03 month | 20 hours total
Age group: 8 to 10 years old.
Main topic: Environmental Education | Climate Change
In practical terms
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The project is interdisciplinary, exploring transversal skills and competencies in the curriculum, and anchored in the UN's sustainable development goals.
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It is aligned with the national curriculum, delivering literacy, numeracy, science,, geography, citizenship, digital literacy, and a plethora of other curriculum outcomes, having been adopted as an exemplar in how to embed blended arts based learning in the curriculum.
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It happens once a week during school normal hours. Each episode lasts approximately 90 minutes.
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The school receives the facilitation guides for each episode in advance. On each guide, teachers have access to the episode structure, objectives and learning outcomes, as well as extra resources and activities.
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The digital environment provides opportunities for the classroom teacher to continue working on the project whilst delivering their classes.
How is the project in practice?
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It takes place during the official shift of the classes, both in the classes of the teacher and in other curricular components.
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Each class receives the project once a week: two art educators from Platô Cultural go to the school at the scheduled time and facilitate the episode, which has the script already agreed with the school.
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All scripts are shared with the school in advance.
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Each script has themes, objectives, a pedagogical plan aligned with the BNCC and optional support activities.
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Each episode lasts 90 minutes.
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The digital environment offers resources for the class teachers to continue the project in their classes.
What we offer:
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Digital Platform with AR Experience and 3D Environment.
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1 interactive bookcase (provided during the implementation of the project)
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Tablets and Speakers (provided during the implementation of the project)
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S.O.S Agents Kit + 1 personalized book per student.
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Online monitoring and extra resources
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Teachers training
Check out an S.O.S
Agent sharing some of the episode missions
Watch some of the kids final videos with some ideas on how to rewrite the future
These videos are now part of the “Impossible Library, an virtual 3D library, where S.O.S Agents share their visions about a sustainable planet.
Click HERE to visit the library.
How does the project align
with the curriculum?
If you want to dive deeper into the project, and study how it is aligned to the curriculum, download HERE an example of a facilitation guide of the implementation of the project in Scotland in 2022.
Watch here the impact evaluation video from the pilot project in 2021.
THE IMPACT
A strong evaluation plan interacts with the fictional narrative and the educational goals. This results in assessment of both educational and social impact, measuring short, medium and long term change.
Changes in Knowledge:
Working with curriculum experts the School of the (IM)possible has embedded learning across all subjects using climate reality as a focus for exploration. As well as enhancing the school curriculum the project has supported
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Increased knowledge and awareness about climate change
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Coached teachers and children in identifying the causes and effects of climate change in their local area and engaging their communities
Changes in Discourse:
Using embedded role play, School of the Impossible has created a dynamic learning environment where
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Take ownership of their learning process and understand their active role in making and transforming reality.
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Children become teachers and adults the learners in a shift from the usual positions in the final School of the (Im)Possible Event
Changes in Attitudes:
By engaging the children and teachers in an iterative and ongoing process and offering continued engagement via the interactive platform,
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Children genuinely view themselves as agents of change.
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Negative perceptions about the environment and nature shift to a more optimistic view.
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A community of children and teachers is growing globally.
Changes in Capacity
Teachers and Education Settings
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Develop new capacities to integrate Learning Adventures Approach, live and digital immersive environments to improve pupils engagement with the curriculum through the lenses of climate change.
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They become familiar with the tools of the learning adventures and t are able to discuss and assess their own teaching practice .
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They can Integrate the project in their curriculum providing new and innovative ways of greening the curriculum.
School of the (Im)Possible around the world
Watch the video about School of the (Im)Possible in Scotland.
What are they saying out there?
Globe Matter:https://globoplay.globo.com/v/10754951/?s=0s
NDTV Matter:http://clipagens.com.br/area-restricta/boletim/ver.html?id=239141&layout=2
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/in-your-area/lanarkshire/wishaw-schools-turn-special-agents-28543765
COP27 Report:https://catalyst2030.net/
Video Catalyst 2030:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdhAakNPMqg
ITAC: https://www.itac-collaborative.com/projects/francine-kliemann-sos-the-school-of-the-im-possible
The project will continue to allow our pupils to be ‘windows of wonder’, to be curious about how they can continue to learn to make a difference in our world and the impact this can have on their future – St. Aidan’s Agents accept the mission.
St Aidans Headteacher Mrs McLean
“Orla’s enthusiasm and fascination with the time travelling bookshelf has been amazing to see and to listen to. She is so involved in the process and has spoken about going to the forest with Sally and Hazel to find the portal for weeks. She said it’s been her fav school thing ever!”
Amy Pearson, Orla’s parent (student at BerryHill Primary, Wishaw, Scotland)
