Exploring the Forest of Emotions
Exploring the Forest of Emotions
Erasmus+ project
Erasmus+ project
At Academia Gnosis Preschool, our Erasmus+ journey, "Exploring the Forest of Emotions", brings children, teachers, and parents together to explore emotions in real life. Together with our partners from Estonia and Slovenia, we set out not just to teach about emotions, but to live through them: sharing, reflecting, and learning in real, everyday ways.
About the Project
Back home, we kept exploring: in November, the children played with the emotion of surprise, acting out little scenes, drawing faces, and learning to laugh at unexpected moments.
Parental involvement: learning together
What made this project special is how much parents were involved. They didn’t just watch from the sidelines; they were an essential part of the journey.
At our Emotional Intelligence Workshop in February, parents shared their own experiences of fear, anger, sadness, and even disgust. They learned how to better support their children through these emotional challenges.
To keep the momentum going, we launched a February-March challenge where families practiced small, simple activities at home — like talking about emotions at bedtime or doing creative exercises together.
At our Emotional Intelligence Workshop in February, parents shared their own experiences of fear, anger, sadness, and even disgust. They learned how to better support their children through these emotional challenges.
To keep the momentum going, we launched a February-March challenge where families practiced small, simple activities at home — like talking about emotions at bedtime or doing creative exercises together.
Special moments: from Astronaut Day to Christmas Party
Our project blossomed spectacularly during our Astronaut Day celebration on April 12th, when younger children (5−7) dressed up, danced, and connected virtually with peers in Estonia and Slovakia.
It wasn't just about fun; it was about sharing emotional moments and realizing that even when we speak different languages, we can still connect through feelings like excitement, nervousness, or pride.
It wasn't just about fun; it was about sharing emotional moments and realizing that even when we speak different languages, we can still connect through feelings like excitement, nervousness, or pride.
When we travelled to Estonia, we took part in Mati and Kadri Days, joining in local traditions that taught the children about community, thankfulness, and cultural identity.
A highlight was the animation and art workshops — the children worked side by side, drawing and animating emotions, learning how feelings can look so different and yet feel so similar across countries.
A highlight was the animation and art workshops — the children worked side by side, drawing and animating emotions, learning how feelings can look so different and yet feel so similar across countries.
The children (ages 6−9) learned how fear sometimes grows from imagination, how anger can be managed with healthy tools, how sadness can be softened by support, how disgust protects us but can be understood, how happiness spreads through joyful activities, and how surprise teaches us to embrace the unexpected.
And of course, in December, we wrapped up the year with our Erasmus Kids Christmas Party — a cozy, festive gathering in pyjamas, where we hid messages, decorated apples with cloves, exchanged small gifts, and watched a Slovenian dance.
Looking ahead
We have already exchanged lesson plans, run emotional diagnostics, and held reflective meetings across countries, ensuring that emotional literacy is growing both inside and outside the classroom. We’re grateful for every moment — the laughter, the serious talks, the creative mess, the quiet reflections.
Thank you to every child, parent, teacher, and partner who has been part of this journey. We look forward to continuing this work, meeting again soon in Slovenia, and keeping our emotional forest growing strong all the way until October 2025!
Thank you to every child, parent, teacher, and partner who has been part of this journey. We look forward to continuing this work, meeting again soon in Slovenia, and keeping our emotional forest growing strong all the way until October 2025!
An emotional literacy book: created by kids
One exciting part of our project is that our team is currently working on creating an electronic children’s book, designed with input from the children themselves. This book will collect their stories, drawings, and reflections on emotions, turning it into an official storytelling resource on emotional intelligence that we hope to share with a wider audience in the future.
Beyond the activities, what stands out most from this project is the spirit of collaboration: the way children supported each other, the way teachers exchanged ideas, and the way families stepped in to make emotional learning part of daily life.
Beyond the activities, what stands out most from this project is the spirit of collaboration: the way children supported each other, the way teachers exchanged ideas, and the way families stepped in to make emotional learning part of daily life.
Growing emotional intelligence together
Our project runs until October 2024, meaning we still have exciting months ahead. In fact, next month, we are heading back to Slovenia to continue our joint activities, exchange experiences, and deepen the knowledge and practice of Emotional Intelligence.
Throughout the year, we have explored all six basic emotions with our children: fear, anger, sadness, disgust, happiness, and surprise. Each emotion was approached with age-appropriate activities, creative exercises, and guided reflections.
Throughout the year, we have explored all six basic emotions with our children: fear, anger, sadness, disgust, happiness, and surprise. Each emotion was approached with age-appropriate activities, creative exercises, and guided reflections.
Tel.:+357 22 312790
+357 22312174
+357 22312174