Here is an example of cooperative work of an elementary class and an intermediate class. One of the short stories written by pupils of class 2 in year 3 with the help of their families was chosen to be translated into English by the pupils of class 1 in year 7. Read the two texts below and enjoy yourselves!


UMA ILHA NO MEIO DO MUNDO

Era uma vez uma menina, que perdeu a sua mãe quando era muito pequenina, tinha ela dois anos.
Era uma família muito grande, eram onze filhos e eram muito pobres. Seu pai trabalhava como jardineiro numa quinta.
Rosinha acompanhava muitas vezes seu pai, porque os seus irmãos mais velhos, todos trabalhavam na agricultura.
Sua avó materna chamava-se Ana, e Rosinha gostava muito da sua avó porque ela lhe dava muitas vezes comida e carinho, mas infelizmente também a perdeu aos três anos de idade.
Cresceu, a sonhar com uma vida diferente, e gostava de ter aprendido outras coisas. Nunca andou na escola, não aprendeu a ler nem a escrever, e aos oito anos foi trabalhar para casa de um agricultor, a tomar conta de animais: vacas ovelhas e cavalos.
Aos dezassete anos perdeu o seu querido pai.
Trabalhou sempre na agricultura até aos seus vinte anos, quando um dos seus irmão, que não via há muitos anos, lhe propôs sair do país. Rosinha ficou toda entusiasmada e logo aceitou.
Rosa imediatamente de preparou e embarcou. Passou treze dias no mar, sem saber onde iria desembarcar. Esta jovem rapidamente sentiu um clima diferente e foi então que avistou uma ilha muito bonita e tropical; era a ilha de São Tomé e Príncipe.
Logo ali rosa pressentiu que iria ser muito feliz. Lá a esperavam quatro dos seus irmãos, que há muito tempo não via. Era uma ilha muito verde com lindas praias e um clima maravilhoso. Depressa se adaptou, aprendeu a ler e a escrever, trabalhou na padaria do seu irmão e, nas horas vagas, tirou um curso de costura.
Ao fim de dez anos, conheceu um português, pelo qual se apaixonou, casou-se e nasceu uma linda filha.
Rosa conseguiu encontrar a felicidade numa ilha no meio do mundo.
Essa menina é a minha querida avó materna!
Maria da Costa Oliveira, Class 2, Year 3 and her family



AN ISLAND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WORLD

Once upon a time, there was a girl that lost her mother when she was very small, she was two years old.
It was a very big family. Her parents had eleven children and they were very poor. Her father worked as a gardener in a farm.
She grew up dreaming of a different life and liked learning other things. She never went to school. She didn’t learn how to read or to write; when she was eight years old she went to work in a farm to take care of animals, such as, cows, sheep and horses.
Rosinha accompanied her father many times because all her older brothers worked in a farm.
Her grandmother's name was Ana and Rosinha liked her grandmother very much because she gave her food and affection but unfortunately she lost her at the age of three.
At seventeen she lost her dear father.
She always worked as a farmer until she was twenty, when one of her brothers, who she didn’t see in a long time, proposed her to leave the country.
Rosinha was very excited and she accepted.
Rosa immediately got ready and embarked. She spent thirteen days in the sea, without knowing where she would disembark. This young girl quickly felt a different climate and then saw a very beautiful and tropical island. It was the of S. Tomé e Príncipe.
Right there, Rosa felt that she would be very happy. Four of her brothers that she didn’t see for a long time waited for her there. It was a very green island, with beautiful beaches and a wonderful climate. Rosa quickly adapted to it, she learned how to read and write, she worked in her brother’s bakery and in her free times, she learned how to make clothes.
Ten years after, she met a Portuguese man and fell in love with him, they got married and they had a beautiful daughter.
Rosa found happiness on an island in the middle of the world.
That girl is my mother’s mother, my sweet grandmother!
Translation by Class 1, Year 7

WHAT I THINK ABOUT SCHOOL (2)

I’m Erica Rodrigues and I’m a pupil at school E.B.I 123 de Gondifelos, in Portugal.
I like school. What I really like about school is being with my friends because I feel great. Lessons are interesting except Maths because I don’t understand it.
I love Sciences, English and History because I like learning new things.
In classes, I like group work because it’s more fun.
I think the breaks are cool. During the breaks I’m with my best friends.
They are interesting, funny and understanding.
This is my opinion about school.
Érica Rodrigues, Class 1, Year 7

WHAT I THINK ABOUT SCHOOL (1)

Hi! My name is Ana Raquel. I am 13 years old. I am in year 7.
I like the teachers, they are cool, they help us understand things and they explain what we don’t know.
My favourite teachers are Mr Carvalho, the Maths teacher, and Ms Ferreira, the English teacher, they are good people. Ms Ferreira is very happy and funny and Mr Carvalho is understanding. I like them.
My friends are wonderful, my best friend is Liliana. I adore my friends.
My favourite subjects are English and Physical Education.
I like school.
Ana Raquel Ferreira, Class 3, Year 7

DESCRIBING SOMETHING DECORATIVE (2)

It shows a dog eating a van and a man angry at what the dog is doing. The mouth of the dog has a lot of teeth and it is open. The mouth is black and the teeth are white.The dog’s got very big eyes painted in black and a black nose too. The body of the dog is white with brown stripes. The van has got many black arrows. At the front, there are two round headlights. The van’s back has been eaten by the dog. The rest of the body is white. The man’s got a pink sweater and a bushy beard on his angry face.
Ricardo Oliveira, Class 2, Year 9

DESCRIBING SOMETHING DECORATIVE

SPIDERMAN’S TATTOO
At first sight, it seems like a painting, but it’s a real tattoo. This tattoo is considered by many, one of the most original tattoos in the world.
The tattoo is on the chest and it looks like as if the skin is being torn. Through these tears, the Spiderman’s outfit can be seen. Red and black are the main colours. There’s a little bit of white to paint the shadows.
It’s Art!
Catarina Freitas, Class 1, Year 9

This is a simple and multicolor tattoo. There is one little and round red flower with two green leaves, above it there is one yellow and elegant butterfly with pink and blue wings with red spots. Under it there is one line that makes the image more elegant and sophisticated.
Ângela Barros Santos, Class 2, Year 9

THE CITY AND THE COUNTRY

I will talk about the advantages and disadvantages of living in a city.
First of all, I want say what I think about the cities.
For me, the city, has more advantages than disadvantages, and why? That’s because… well… think with me, the country is very small. I mean, you don’t have any facilities… I will give an example: Some famous people, singers, writers… do you think, that they will appear in the country? No, never! That’s why I like the cities, because the cities are near to CIVILIZATION. In a city, you can find shops and a lot of resources.
Yes, I know…the cities have disadvantages, too. For example, in a country, you can relax, there is no stress, is very calm and there is no traffic jams, too.
As a conclusion I like more…well, I don’t know what I prefer, really. Like I said, there are a lot of advantages and disadvantages. Maybe, one day, I can say, what I prefer. But, until then, I will live where my parents prefer…the country. But, of course, every day I go to the city.
Maria José Henriques, Class 1, Year 8

"MANKIND IS NO ISLAND"

Tropfest NY 2008 winner, "Mankind Is No Island" by Jason van Genderen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrDxe9gK8Gk