Project Week at Valle Gran Rey Primary School – Part 1

Discovering the Fascinating World of the Oceans

As part of a special project week, we introduced the children of the Valle Gran Rey primary school on La Gomera to the fascinating world of the oceans. Through various interactive stations, they had the opportunity to learn exciting facts about marine life, ask questions, and engage with the topic emotionally and creatively.

Station 1 – Talk & Storytelling

Whale and Dolphin Talk (in English)

At the M.E.E.R. / OCEANO exhibition, Ricarda Scholz — an active member of M.E.E.R. and team member at OCEANO Whale Watching — gave an engaging and informative presentation in English. The children learned about the local whales and dolphins around La Gomera, exploring different species, their behavior, and their ecological importance. The talk also addressed how human activities affect marine life — including threats from plastic pollution, ferry collisions, and the captivity of dolphins.

Emotional Storytelling about a Young Pilot Whale (in Spanish)

After the talk, OCEANO captain Noel Covian shared the true story of a young pilot whale that had once become entangled in a plastic string, which severely deformed its dorsal fin. An animated video showed how this injury might have occurred, and how the whale, despite the impairment, remained close to its family. Accompanied by live music from Ignacio Fauri, the moving story highlighted not only the dangers of plastic in the sea but also the emotional depth and social bonds of pilot whale families. Photos and videos showed the young whale — now free of the string — swimming again with its family near the coast of Tenerife. The story emphasized both the ongoing threat of ocean pollution and the hope offered by human care and marine resilience.

Station 2 – Interactive Ocean Quiz (in English)

At this station, the ocean became the subject of a playful quiz that encouraged both knowledge and language skills. Austin Bryant, a language assistant from the U.S. currently supporting English instruction at the school, hosted an interactive ocean-themed quiz with the children.

With questions such as:

“What is the largest fish in the world?”

„Are whales fish or mammals?”

“How many arms does an octopus have?” the children tested their knowledge. But the real focus was on collective thinking, guessing, and discovery — not just getting the answers right. Along the way, they naturally practiced their English and expanded their understanding of the ocean and its creatures. Even local wonders like the nighttime calls of the shearwaters (pardelas) on La Gomera made their way into the quiz, sparking both curiosity and laughter.
Winners received posters and stickers — but the true reward was the excitement, learning, and wonder the children carried with them after a week of ocean exploration.