Port access1.- PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION
With the aimw to create closer bonds with the Port’s social environment, the Port Authority of Bilbao offers since 2014 a programme of educational visits designed for all schoolchildren in the Basque Country so that they may learn about the historical development and the present reality of the port activity..
The visits – which will be in Basque or Spanish- are free and are aimed at schoolchildren between 5th grade of primary school and 4th grade of secondary school. They take place from Monday to Friday every day during the school year, coinciding with both the school calendar and timetables in order to take into account the needs of the different schools.
This programme, known as “Ezagutu Portua”, (Basque for “Know your Port”), will bring the Port closer to 4000 schoolchildren a year. To make it easier for them to reach the Port facilities, the Port Authority will put on a free return bus service.
The activity is part of the competences that are worked in schools: pupils will have an active role and be provided with both learning and fun activities, including port world-related materials, to work on together with their teachers, both before and after the visits. The goal is to reinforce some of the concepts and ideas that have been seen.
The Port’s activity helps to maintain 11.500 work posts. This represents the 1,30% of the Basque Country’s total employment and the 2,53% of Biscay’s. Moreover, it’s activity generates 1,29% of the Basque Country’s GDP and 2,55% of Biscay’s.
2.- THEMES
This are the subjects that are worked:
- History and Geography (History of the River and Port, its location and positioning)
- Types of vessels (typology and parts of a boat)
- Maritime transport (modes of transport, maritime traffic, historical and present day professions in the Port)
- Energy and the environment (renewable energies and measuring instruments)
3.- METHODOLOGY
Methodology is participatory and constructive and uses different techniques both in the Port’s classroom and the bus tour around the Port facilities and the outside surrounding areas:
- Explanations based on the group’s previous knowledge
- Observation of reality inferring explanations about how the Port works (from the bus tour)
- Observation of both descriptive and comparative photographs (old and current)
- Handling objects and construction of their history through logical reasoning
- Carrying out simple scientific measurements
- Support using fun-learning activities on all the worksheets
Besides, materials for learning and fun activities for teachers are provided for work in the classroom before the visit, as well as materials to reinforce concepts and ideas for exploitation afterwards.
4.- VISIT TIMETABLES
The programme is scheduled to last 3 hours, from the start of the visit at the Port until participants leave to return school. Visits start, with flexibly, between 9.00 and 10.00 a.m.
5.- TRANSPORT
The Port Authority provides a free return bus from the school to the Port. Needs for people with mobility difficulties will be dealt beforehand in order to assess whether available resources are suitable.
6.- DEADLINES AND REGISTRATION
Registrations are attended in strict order of written confirmation.
Contact should be made through the following email address:
- email address: ezagutuportua@bilbaoport.eus
Reservations must be made at least one week before the planned visit. Visits can be conducted either in the Basque or Spanish languages.
