On Monday, May 19, Elementary School students from Grades 1 & 6 enthusiastically took part in a beach cleanup at Varkiza Beach. The activity was part of the PYP interdisciplinary unit "Sharing the Planet" and was included in the volunteer initiatives of HELMEPA. Through this program, students expressed their commitment to HELMEPA's action map for the protection of the seas.

The cleanup marked the culmination of a broader educational process. Elementary School Grade 1 students had previously worked on an interdisciplinary STEM project focused on marine pollution. Specifically, they were asked to identify the problem and brainstorm innovative solutions, using Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) principles.

As part of the project:

• They explored the issue through a relevant fairy tale and examined photos and videos of polluted beaches, discussing the causes and consequences of marine pollution.
  
• In groups, they categorized types of waste and sorted the materials (paper, plastic, metal, organic, etc.).
  
• They designed and constructed a model beach "trash collector" using simple materials—a small prototype that mimicked real waste-collection mechanisms.
  
• Through experimentation, testing, and modifications, they developed collaboration, problem-solving, and creative thinking skills.
  

This experiential approach not only nurtured ecological awareness, but also provided students with the joy of becoming "little engineers," contributing meaningfully to the protection of the environment.

The cleanup day served as a natural extension of this work: a real-world application of classroom learning that demonstrated students' ability to be agents of positive change, even at a young age.

The day concluded with snacks and joyful moments playing in the sand!