Course Schedule

Core Activities

Day 1:  Introduction to STPM and building connections

Start the week with an active introduction to the Smart Teachers Play More (STPM) approach, emphasising the importance of collaboration, creativity, and well-being in education. Participate in energising ice-breaking activities to connect with European colleagues and build a supportive learning community. Discover Spain’s rich cultural heritage through “The Spanish Corner,” featuring engaging activities and traditions. Explore digital tools for sharing resources and fostering collaboration. Conclude the day with a relaxed social gathering at a local venue, setting the tone for a dynamic and inspiring course.

Day 2: Exploring STPM methodology and outdoor benefits

Discover the core principles of Smart Teachers Play More (STPM) methodology through engaging movement games and multi-modal techniques that enhance learning and support well-being. Experience how outdoor settings can enrich the impact of STPM activities, including "Now Minutes," by fostering mindfulness, creativity, and focus. Reflect on the unique well-being and learning benefits of taking these practices outside.  Part of this session will be taken on the beach.

Day 3: Movement games and storytelling in outdoor settings

Take STPM core activities outside, exploring travel modes through obstacle courses and the dynamic Move to the Middle game. Engage in active storytelling techniques that come to life in natural settings and discover calming story activities that harness the outdoors to enhance focus, creativity, and engagement. Reflect on the added benefits of incorporating outdoor environments into these practices. 

Day 4: Learning, reflecting, and building relationships in Altea

Experience a day of inspiration and relaxation in the picturesque village of Altea, blending learning, exploration, and cultural exchange. Begin the day by transforming the local beach into a dynamic outdoor classroom. Engage in whole-class teacher-directed movement activities and calming games designed for open spaces, fostering creativity and mindfulness. Following refreshments and a reflective session, enjoy free time to connect with European colleagues while exploring Altea’s charming streets, unique shops, and Mediterranean views.

Conclude the day with a cultural evening, featuring presentations of participants’ local foods, drinks, music, and traditions. Enjoy team-building activities and music games, creating a vibrant atmosphere of connection and celebration.

Day 5: Transforming worksheets into active outdoor learning

Discover how to transform traditional worksheets and textbook pages into engaging, movement-based activities that can be adapted for outdoor settings. Explore techniques that bring academic concepts to life through dynamic, interactive learning, fostering both fun and focus while taking full advantage of the benefits of being outside.

Day 6: Sharing good practices and managing movement outdoors

Share your favourite school activities to inspire peers, reflecting on how they can be adapted for outdoor learning. Discover simple strategies to set up and manage active learning stations in outdoor settings, combining practical tips with hands-on participation. 

Using digital tools, develop a vision plan with actionable goals, share commitments, and conclude with course evaluation and feedback.

Day 7: Reflection, Storytelling and STPM at Santa Barbara Castle
Participants begin the morning with a short interactive storytelling session exploring a local legend connected to Santa Bárbara Castle and how storytelling, history, and multimodal learning can be combined through the STPM methodology. The day continues with a guided educational field trip from Hotel Maya through Monte Benacantil up to the different levels of the castle, followed by a walk down through Parque de la Ereta and the Barrio Santa Cruz. Along the route, participants engage in several learning stations, including mindful listening activities, mindful observation of the horizon and castle silhouette, and a team spotting and sketching challenge using cardboard frames to identify natural features, landmarks, and elements of the local environment. The experience models how outdoor and urban spaces can be used as meaningful learning environments that encourage wellbeing, creativity, reflection, and active learning.