The Teddy Bear Project

The Teddy Bear Project

by | Aug 30, 2023

The Teddy Bear Project

Language:

English

Grade/Age:

Primary (5-11), Middle (12-14), Secondary (15-18)

Subject:

Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM)

Global Goals:

4. Quality Education, 16: Peace and Justice, Strong Institutions

Dates:

August 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026

Registration Dates:

August 1, 2025 – March 1, 2026

Facilitator(s):

Kathleen Wong, kywong1@seattleschools.org
Rasagnya Puppala

Project Description:

Students will share cultures through a visiting soft toy. Through the exchange of a bear or other soft toy, students create digital or hard copy journal entries to share with
their partner class. The students can write these messages as if they are the visiting bear describing its experiences in the new culture or as the host. Some of the experiences can include lessons learned in school, a visit home with each student, social events, meals and class activities. The work is shared on a regular basis (weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, etc.) with the partner class. Throughout the school year, students will find out what their bear is doing in the partner country and learn about its culture.

When is the project most active?

All Year Round

Length of time to complete project:

2-3 Months or all school year

Instructional time required for project:

less than 1 hour per week

Facilitator country:

United States

Will the project include a synchronous exchange?

No

Project Phases:
  1. Phase 1: mail teddy bears/soft toy ambassador to partner countries.
    Phase 2: share digital or hard copy entries about the ambassador’s adventures in host country. Can include a synchronous virtual exchange.
    Phase 3: return soft toys/ambassadors to original countries (visit is over).

    Where it is not feasible, the ambassador can opt to stay in host country as immigrant (can teach to that).

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Project Categories

STEM

Creative/Language Arts

Social Sciences

Talking Kites: In the Footsteps of J. Korczak

Talking Kites: In the Footsteps of J. Korczak

by | Aug 30, 2023

Talking Kites: In the Footsteps of J. Korczak

Language:

English, Spanish

Grade/Age:

Primary (5-11), Middle (12-14), Secondary (15-18)

Subject:

Creative & Language Arts, Social Studies

Global Goals:

4: Quality Education, 16: Peace and Justice, Strong Institutions; 17: Partnership for the Goals

Dates:

January 15, 2026 – April 1, 2026

Registration Dates:

January 1, 2026 – February 1, 2026

Project Description:

A tradition of flying kites with personal and group images of our dreams for a better world, in the footsteps of J. Korczak. Students make kites to fly as a massive tribute dedicated to advancing the cultural and social dialog, a symbol of bridging the gap and understanding the “other.” This will hopefully become a continuous tradition of flying kites with personal and group images of our dreams for a better world, a world of co-existence, tolerance, acceptance of the “other” and peace. “It is important in today’s political climate that we express to the world that peace is within our grasp,” said Adi Yekutieli, founder of the 10,000 Kites Project. Yekutieli, an artist, says he envisions “organized groups a wide spectrum of groups, adults, children, Israeli, Palestinian, citizens around the world coming together and each person will hold aloft a kite which he or she has decorated, as a symbol of dialogue, brotherhood and understanding of the other side. Each participant will be flying a kite with his or her thoughts, fears, dreams, and hopes.”

When is the project most active?

Spring

Length of time to complete project:

6 weeks

Instructional time required for project:

less than 1 hour per week

Facilitator(s):

Ruty Hotzen, rutyhotzen@gmail.com 

Facilitator country:

Israel

Project Phases:

February- registration and “getting to know you”

February- March study about J. Korczak and children rights

March, 21st – bulding and flying kites

March/April- uploading summaries of the work

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Holiday Card Exchange

Holiday Card Exchange

by | Aug 29, 2023

Holiday Card Exchange

Language:

English

Grade/Age:

Primary (5-11), Middle (12-14), Secondary (15-18)

Subject:

Creative & Language Arts, Social Studies

Global Goals:

4: Quality Education, 5: Gender Equality, 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

Registration Dates:

August 18, 2025 – November 30, 2025

Project Dates:

September 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026

Project Description:

Classrooms explain their holiday traditions by sending cards to their partners around the world. Teachers and students prepare an envelope with holiday cards to send to the other participants between October – December. Students may send Chinese New Year, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or Eid greeting cards or cards that show local celebrations during December or January. Each school will be placed in a group with approximately seven other schools and will prepare either handmade or purchased cards (decorations may be included) to send to each of the other schools.

When is the project most active?

Fall

Length of time to complete project:

6-8 weeks

Instructional time required for project:

1-2 hours per week

Facilitator(s):

Judy Barr, judybarr@iearn.org.au 

Facilitator country:

Australia

Will the project include a synchronous exchange?

No

Project Phases:

Phase 1 Registration and Formation of Teams. Late August – End of November
During this phase teachers will complete a registration Wufoo form (one form per school). The Facilitator of the Project will form teams of schools. Teachers and students will introduce themselves, their school and their country to their team. Schools will further research information about their partners. SChools may choose to meet on Zoom or make videos for their partners.

Phase 2 Making and sending cards. Start of September – Early December
Students will make cards representing the celebrations in their country at the end of the year. Cards may be Christmas, New Year, Eid, Chinese New Year, Diwali, Hannukah or similar. Each school prepares an envelope of cards for each of their partners and sends the cards to their partners. Some cards may need to be sent electronically if postage restrictions to some destinations are in place.

Phase 3 Receiving and Displaying the Cards. Early December – End of January
Packages arrive from partner schools. Schools arrange display of cards in their school and share photos online.

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Heritage (To Be Preserved) / Patrimoine (a preserver)

Heritage (To Be Preserved) / Patrimoine (a preserver)

by | Aug 29, 2023

Heritage (To Be Preserved) / Patrimoine (a preserver)

Language:

English, Spanish, French, Catalan

Grade/Age:

Primary (5-11), Middle (12-14), Secondary (15-18)

Subject:

Social Studies

Global Goals:

 3. Good Health and Well-Being; 6: Clean Water and Sanitation; 7: Affordable and Clean Energy; 9: Industry Innovation and Infrastructure; 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities; 12: Responsible Consumption and Production; 13: Action; 14: Life Below Water; 15: Life on Land

Dates:

September 2024 – August 2025

When is the project most active?

Partners join from various parts of the planet. Southern Hemisphere are more active during their schoolyear, whereas Northern Hemisphere is active between September and June.

Project Description:

Welcome/ Bienvenue (bilingual project) The project consists in choosing the part of YOUR HERITAGE you want to PRESERVE MOST. Once you have chosen the topic(s), whether it is Famous Buildings, Landscapes, Cooking, Emblematic Animals, Endangered Resources
(water, forests, coastlines, Marine Reserves, Coral Reefs…) you can choose whatever activity to describe, and share your presentation. The project is open to all ages from primary to secondary (high) school. The participants choose a topic relating to their country’s heritage and illustrate the topic through descriptions, articles, films, videos, audio documents, posters, quizzes, reports. Previous topics included: the preservation of our oceans, rivers and access to clean water; species in danger of extinction and emblematic wild animals; traditional dishes and cooking; handicrafts, former trades, fashion and traditional clothes; educational progress and access to education for girls; landscapes and beauties of nature
(coastlines, volcanoes, deserts); and arts and religious architecture (temples in India). People, teachers and their students, from up to 60 countries have already participated in this longstanding project. Whatever you can do will be welcomed.

Length of time to complete project:

4-6 weeks

Instructional time required for project:

1-2 Hours Per Week

Facilitator(s):

Flore Morgand, Cguerin86@gmail.com 

Facilitator country:

France

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Origami

Origami

by | Aug 22, 2023

Origami

Language:

English, Japanese

Grade/Age:

Primary (5-11), Middle (12-14), Secondary (15-18)

Subject:

Creative & Language Arts

Global Goals:

4: Quality Education; 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities; 15: Life on Land, 16: Peace and Justice, Strong Institutions; 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Dates:

September 2024 – May 2025

Facilitator(s):

Yoshiko Fukui, Ms. Ayana Kokima, Ms. Ayane Nose, Ms. Puppala Rasagnya 

Project Description:

This is a project that provides children entertainment as they see the transformation of a sheet of paper to a three-dimensional object. It does not take much space, much money, or much time. It only requires a sheet of paper and the instructions on how to fold origami. The project also contributes to others and the planet. Through folding origami, children can learn a new way of playing with paper that fosters ingenuity, originality, imagination, patience, and concentrated power. They also learn concentration and patience and can make small gifts to please others. They learn how to fold an origami crane, a symbol of world peace.

Facilitator country:

Japan

When is the project most active?

When students post the picture of their origami work.

Length of time to complete project:

5-6 Weeks

Instructional time required for project:

less than 1 hour per week

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Project Categories

STEM

Creative/Language Arts

Social Sciences