Project Time at GISA – Creative Learning, Living Language, Discovering Germany

Project Time is an established part of school life at the German International School Accra. It creates space for forms of learning that go beyond traditional subject lessons: students research, design, plan, experiment, work in teams and develop their own ideas. In doing so, language, culture, art, music, history and digital learning come together in a very natural way.

With the Day of the German Language on Saturday, 31 October 2026, approaching, it is especially exciting to see just how diverse these learning experiences can be. The following examples offer only a small glimpse into the wide range of projects our students are currently working on.

In Primary School, students are creating their own short films. They choose topics, write scripts, design backgrounds and characters, and later bring their stories to life digitally using Puppet Pals or stop-motion techniques. In another project, students are exploring clay as a creative material, first learning basic modelling techniques and then designing their own bowls and Tic-Tac-Toe games.

Music also becomes a way of discovering Germany. In a “musical journey through Germany”, students explore different regions and traditions, from Northern and Southern Germany to Carnival and the German national anthem. Music becomes a gateway to language, culture and regional diversity.

In Secondary School, students are also engaging with Germany and German-speaking culture in very different ways. In the “German Famous Arts” project, castles, historic architecture and colourful street art provide inspiration for their own creative work.

Another group is exploring the history of migration to and from Germany. Their work includes migration from German-speaking regions to Chile, Brazil and Texas, as well as Turkish migration to Germany. Interviews with people connected to these migration stories make history personal and show how language and culture are shaped by movement, encounter and exchange.

In the project “A Journey Through the Seasons”, students are creating a digital calendar with Canva. They research public holidays, special events and seasonal traditions in Germany and present their findings in a creative and digital format.

These examples represent just a selection of the many projects currently taking place in Primary and Secondary School. Although the topics, products and working methods differ, they share a common educational goal: learning should be active, independent and meaningful. Students take responsibility for their own learning, work collaboratively, make decisions and present outcomes they have created themselves.

At the same time, German is experienced not only as a school subject, but as a language for researching, creating, discussing, singing, storytelling and working together.

Many of the projects currently taking shape will also play a special role during the Day of the German Language on Saturday, 31 October 2026. Together, they show just how closely language, culture and learning are connected at GISA.