Project Week at the Mentora Gymnasium

Project work is an important part of learning at Mentora Gymnasium. We encourage students to work together in groups to research, analyze and work out solutions to a specific topic or problem. Through project work, students acquire valuable skills such as the ability to work in a team, self-organisation, independence, and critical thinking. They learn to recognise their strengths and weaknesses and to use them in a targeted manner in order to achieve a common goal.
 

Green walls

How to build a living wall of plants and mosses? In this exciting project, students in mixed-year teams were encouraged to conduct problem-based research and create real green walls with living plants. Together they explore the question: Which plants are best suited for this project? How to set up automatic watering? And how can everything be monitored automatically?

The students had the unique opportunity to get to know the Arduino prototyping platform and implement their ideas with it. They selected and put together plants which gave them space for creative thinking and design. The overall goal of this project was to gradually green up and revitalise the interiors of our school. This is intended to improve air quality and work atmosphere. At the same time, the project allows for intensive interaction with real biotopes and the conditions for their conservation.
 

Reuse of buildings

This course opens the doors to the fascinating industrial history of Berlin and Charlottenburg. During this interdisciplinary project, students had the unique opportunity to explore urban development and urban planning in the context of industrial history. In mixed-age teams, students embarked on exciting journeys of discovery to explore the streets and buildings of Berlin and find traces of times gone by. 

During the explorations, students focused their attention on Berlin's impressive industrial complexes, which once formed the economic heart of the city and have witnessed the changing times. Here they learnt more about the importance of these facilities, their architecture and their impact on urban development. In addition, our students had the unique chance to work with experts outside the school framework and thus gain a deeper understanding of the historical and social aspects of these industrial areas. They learnt how industry shaped people's lives in the past and how it still influences urban development today.
 

Climate policy

In this course, the students had a theoretical examination of the challenges of international climate policy. Through individual consultation, reflection and feedback, they were able to gain practical experience, all while being in cross-year teams. By creating a simulated world climate conference, our students were empowered to conduct realistic negotiations and make decisions that can affect the future of our planet.

During the simulation, the students took on the role of representatives of selected countries. They engaged deeply with the viewpoints and interests of their assigned countries to enable informed discussion on climate action. It is not only about theory but also about the practical implementation of solutions to curb climate change. The simulated negotiations gave students the opportunity to develop their skills in diplomacy, compromise and teamwork.
 

Photo and video production

Teams of students from different years had the unique opportunity to implement their creative ideas in the form of short films and videos using modern digital media. Through this unique experience, students became proud producers of their own works while further developing their skills in digital media production.

However, this project is not just about realising individual ideas. Students also had the exciting opportunity to follow the progress and results of the other teams of students. They conducted interviews and gained valuable insights into the inspirations and approaches of the other participants. Additionally, they created media recordings to capture an engaging and comprehensive report of the entire Project Week at the Mentora Gymnasium.
 

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about our Project Week. If you want to find out more about Mentora Gymnasium, you can make an appointment and visit our school or take part in one of the regular open days we host.