Friends and Flags Packages
Package Preparation
Friends and Flags packs are a very important component of the project as every class is responsible for preparing1 package for each of the classes in their international team. The packages are meant to reflect the cultural environment of each country. Students should be encouraged to be as creative and as original as possible while collecting items and creating the packages.
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Danish Package
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Israeli Package and collage
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The information can be shared in a variety of ways, such as art work, posters and even models. All of these make for a lively and tangible display for partner classes.
  
Arts and Crafts Currency and cost of living
The country cultural guide book which is written and produced by the students, can be printed and bound, organized in topic folders or made in a powerpoint presentation and burned onto a CD rom. The main idea is to share each student's cultural environment, beyond that which can be found in an encyclopedia or textbook.
Students should keep their audience in mind while preparing the material and remember that their Friends and Flags partners around the world are doing exactly the same thing.
Friends and Flags Group
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| Canada |
Denmark |
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| Australia |
USA |
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| Israel |
Brazil |
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Package Feedback!
August 6, 2002
Itīs just amazing, classes started yesterday and we received your package from Israel ! Thatīs really lovely, the posters with holidays will make a wonderful wall board! Canīt wait to get it ready and send you pictures!! The students really loved it! Theyīd like to reply to the letters and messages received in those sweet match boxes, should I put everything in a package and mail to you? The plastic plates collages are so cool! Well, we loved everything and thank you and your students very much!
Patty and students, in Brazil
Getting our first package of the project was such an exciting event that I wanted to share it with all of you. There's nothing like things you can hold in your hand to get the kids really involved and interested. I made up "treasure hunt" questions for the kids to make sure they went through all the package and I have rarely had such willingness to do classroom assignments. I believe this is something they really will remember! Our package was from Finland. Here's a copy of what I wrote them.
Dear Kirsti, Riika and class,
Thank you sooo much for the lovely package - we were greatly excited by it and still are. Our principal and the other teachers (not to mention my family) were impressed with it also. You really invested in it!
We all went "OOOH" and "aaah" over the lovely pictures of Finland. It's a beautiful country!!!!!!! And the pictures of the animals are amazing!!!! We couldn't believe how many lakes you have - we only have one, and it's pretty small!!!! if only we could give you some of our sun and you could give us a lake or two... You mentioned temperatures of -30 degrees, well we have over 30 degrees in the Summer! How hot can it get in your town in the Summer?
The rock you sent us is so special (our geography teacher went nuts over it). we all looked at the colors in it again and again. Suddenly everyone volunteered to own it at the end of the year....
Some things we have in common: both Finland and Israel have the same colors in their flag, did you notice? We had a female Prime Minister once, in the early 1970s. also, we have an amusement park with a roller coaster named "Tornado" though its smaller than the one you have. I was very excited to see that you get Jaffa oranges sent from Israel! Or's father grows oranges (among other things)!
Everyone was very interested to see the pictures of the pupils and to read about what you all liked. My pupils were very interested in your class schedule. we discussed the fact that you don't learn on Sundays - a few kids weren't really aware of the fact that you are Christians. It also didn't occur to them that you can't find out on T.V every day (like we can) . How many Euro's the Shekel is worth (4 shekels to a Euro). We are the small country looking towards Europe, the rest of the world doesn't want daily info about the Shekel...
We were surprised to learn that you learn Swedish and English and Finnish - that's a lot!
Many of the pupils knew about the Mumintriolls from the T.V show but they don't watch it at their age. I loved it and watched every chapter. I also read all the books as a child, before there was a TV show. I always said that without using any violent themes (like Power Rangers, Spiderman and such) the stories are spellbinding!
Thanks for the recipes, it will take us time to try them, I will write again.
We will be on vacation for three days next week, so there won't be a computer lesson.
Please tell us why you are going to Spain to ski. We understand why you would like to visit a lovely, much warmer country, but can't you ski at home often? Or is it too cold to ski comfortably?
Have a great vacation and be well!
Dear Students of Brazil
Yesterday was the best day of school. Your package arrived. We were very excited to see it. We put it on the table and all crowded around. We couldn't wait to see everything inside your beautiful box. The collage on the outside of the box was a great idea too. It will decorate our class. Everyone in the room got something and was responsible for telling the rest of the class about it. It was very quiet and we all listened. Everything you sent is now on display on the wall of our classrooms. The posters, the calendar of holidays, the student journal of your field trips, everything . It was great. Thank you for all your hard work!
Tanya,
Student, Texas, USA
Dear Micheline.
Please tell your students that I will be using some of your
package for my United Nations club. Each year we participate in a U.N
Conference in Dallas, Texas and this year some of my students need to
represent Canada. We will be bringing your game, booklet and all your
pictures to add to our display for Canada. So your package will in part
travel to the United States as well. Thanks again, you and your students
did an amazing job!!!!!
France, Mexico
Dear France,
Thank you, I am so glad you're kids enjoyed our package and the United
Nations club sounds very exciting. We were lucky and have received all the
ones we were expecting. All the packages are circulating into every class
in our school right now so that everyone will see each package and learn
about the different countries first hand. It a great experience for them in
global awareness of different people and countries.
Thanks for the feedback good luck with your conference.
Micheline, Canda
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