Activity Two
Connecting Classrooms is a free program that connects classrooms in the U.S., Spain and France for a virtual exchange in which students share videos/media with their partner school.
For the second activity, your students will create a video sharing their daily school routine, giving a tour of their school, or explaining the education system in their country. At the end of their video, propose some questions for the students at your partner school to answer.
Suggested topics:
Option 1: Your daily routine
- What time do you wake up?
- What do you usually eat for breakfast?
- What time does school start?
- How do you get to school?
- How many classes do you have a day?
- At what time is lunch and where do you eat lunch?
- What do you normally eat for lunch?
- What do you do during recess?
- At what time does school end?
- Do you attend any after school clubs/sports? If so, which ones?
- When do you do your homework? About how many hours of homework do you have?
Option 2: School tour
- What facilities does your school have (gym, cafeteria, library, music room, etc.)?
- How many students are in your school?
- What are your classrooms like?
- Do you stay in one classroom, or do you rotate classrooms depending on the subject?
- What materials and resources does your school provide (textbooks, computers, etc.)? Do students have to buy anything?
- What subjects does your school offer? Can you choose the classes you take?
- Do you wear uniforms? Is there a dress code?
- What do you like most about your school? What do you like least?
Option 3: Education system
- What type of schools are there in your community? (e.g., public, private, charter)
- What grade levels are mandatory and what grade levels are optional?
- What subjects/courses are mandatory? What optional subjects/courses are typically offered and/or are most popular among students?
- What are the course requirements in your country/state/school district?
- What are exams and testing like?
- What options do students have after high school? (e.g., vocational training, college/university, work opportunities)
Additional activities:
- Write out your student peer’s schedule. You can choose to write it out or create a timeline.
- Compare and contrast your school and that of your partner school. What similarities do you share? What surprised you most?
- Before watching the videos from your partner school, investigate what the education system is like in their country. Once you watch the videos, discuss what you learned and how it differs from the school system in your country.
Sample videos:
Video Format
Video Layout & Content
- Introduce yourself amd the purpose of the video, e.g., “Today we will tell you/show you…”
- Presentation & discussion of topic
- Ending – What questions do you have for your peers abroad and how can they ask you questions?
Video length: 3-4 minutes
Audience: Students at your partner school who are curious about daily school life and the education system in your country.
Activity guides
- Connecting Classrooms Activity Two Guide – English
- Connecting Classrooms Activity Two Guide – French
- Connecting Classrooms Activity Two Guide – Spanish
Example
Cole shares about his daily routine and school schedule during the stay-at-home order.
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