A European Blue School recognizes the importance of the ocean in its education activities by embracing the Find the Blue challenge and developing a school project centered around an ocean-related theme. Through project-based learning teachers actively integrate marine subjects into the classroom, making marine (science) education an essential part of the school curricula. This approach empowers students to explore new societal concepts such as 'Ocean Health', 'Food from the Ocean', and 'Climate and Ocean' in a meaningful way.
The educational model of a European Blue School is based on ten key points. These can be considered both as guidelines to develop a project and as criteria to self-evaluate the European Blue School application. The first five criteria are obligatory, forming the foundational requirements every project must meet to obtain European Blue Schools Certification. The remaining criteria are optional.
For more information about the criteria:
How to develop a Blue School project
In this section, you will find examples of different types of projects broken down into performed activities to demonstrate how they align with the mandatory criteria. This will help you design your own project.
We strongly encourage you to explore the information and opportunities highlighted in our downloadable guide:
1. Classroom-based
Examples of “simplest” projects that link different school subjects and can be conducted in a classroom without leaving the school mostly involving reports, art, etc.
2. Quick-and-dirty
When developing a Blue Project, many students and teachers opt to step beyond the classroom and experience the natural environment they're studying, engaging in hands-on experiences. A commonly chosen and straightforward activities are cleanups of local beaches, riverbanks, or lakeshores. However, it's important to note that not every cleanup can automatically earn you the title of European Blue School.
3. Inland Blue Schools
You don't have to be near the sea to learn about the ocean's impact on you and your impact on the ocean. The following examples showcase that schools situated away from the coast can also partake in the Blue Challenge and obtain European Blue School Certificate through local projects that aren't directly related to the sea.
4. Involving business
Involving local stakeholders in ocean awareness is crucial. At the Network of European Blue Schools, we value partnerships with local businesses as they promote a wider grasp of marine environment protection in the community. This influence can bring about change within the local market and economy, steering them toward sustainability. Here you can find examples of Blue Projects accomplished through collaborations with local businesses.
5. Outside-the-box
Integrating Blue Education into school curricula doesn't have to rely on science, biology, or geography classes. Numerous schools, including vocational ones, adopt innovative approaches and create unconventional projects with surprising takes on marine subjects. The examples here showcase schools that embrace creative thinking.