Sharing ideas about saving the planet

What are kids doing on the other side of the world to help save the planet?

Well, that’s exactly what Somersham School in Cambridgeshire, England, were looking to find out from Puhinui School in Auckland at a video conference link-up.

An on-line discussion forum on the British High Commission’s children’s educational website, www.britain4kiwikids.org.nz has been helping connect Kiwi kids with their British counterparts.

Now, through a project called Hello/Kia Ora, the High Commission brought them one step closer – face-to-face through a video-conferencing link-up.

On Thursday 2nd July at 6.30 p.m. (NZ time), and 7.30 a.m. (UK time), the British High Commission hosted Puhinui School’s class of 8-10 year olds for a face to face with Somersham School’s class of 8-10 year olds.

The children from both schools did presentations about what they are doing to save the planet, and what they have learnt from one another.

The video conference went well. It was a cold bleak night, four degrees in Papatoetoe, when we held the conference. The kids from the Cambridge school were enjoying a balmy 30 degrees in England.

Most of the video conference centred on climate change and how the English school had a very detailed and strong Code of Environmental practise.

The kiwi kids talked about the measures they had taken in their school to stop waste.

The schools also talked about class size and interestingly enough Puhinui came in lowest with only 24 pupils while the Cambridge school had 28. The Cambridge school was also very concerned about library facilities as this school did not have its own library. They were pretty envious of the NZ school on that score.

“Our main aim is to develop an international dimension to education by linking a NZ classroom of students with a classroom of students from Britain via our on-line forum,” said Mike Cherrett, Acting High Commissioner.

“It’s a chance to help broaden the minds of students both in NZ and Britain.”
Megan Clune, Puhinui school teacher, and Tony Litting, teacher from Somersham School, both agreed that their student’s involvement in this project had been an incredible experience sharing ideas and putting them into practice.

“The website is aimed at children between seven and 16, with material for Pacific Island children about life in the UK. It is a good resource for projects about Britain and has plenty of information on Britain and British culture.”

The website also has links to children’s and educational sites at organisations like the British Museum and the Natural History Museum.

It has a gallery of free photos for projects and has many useful links to other resources such as London’s Science Museum and the BBC children’s unit.