Middle School students in sixth and seventh grade participated in a pair of events as part of Global Education Day. According to the Global Education Day website, “Global Education Day is a 24-hour online event taking place on September 17, 2015, wherever you are located in the world. Students, teachers, and organizations are encouraged to host a virtual activity that will connect people on this day. By registering these activities on this site, others can join in and experience global collaboration. In turn, we hope that this day will raise greater awareness of the need for connecting classrooms and education organizations around the world. Empowering student and teachers to create authentic, meaningful experiences will deepen learning and improve educational outcomes for all children. Our hope is that this event will build greater understanding of the possibilities of global education!”
In preparation for Global Education Day, seventh grade Geography students generated a statement on the importance of global collaboration with students from around the world. As a result of their classroom discussion, the students created the following statement: “The 7th grade geography class feels that it is important to study cultures from around the world so that we can see that there are things that make us all unique. Understanding these exceptional qualities helps us appreciate and respect each other. We feel that the most important reason to study other cultures is so that we can see similarities, understand that inside we are all the same, which fosters a global connectedness.” The students shared this statement and a class photo as part of “Class Pictures from Around the World”.
Kent School was one of 29 schools from around the world involved in “Class Pictures from Around the World.” Other participating schools were from Ghana, Tokyo, New Zealand, Kazakhstan and beyond. All students shared a similar vision of collaborating with one another so they can learn more about and from each other. “It was cool to see kids in countries that seem so far away and foreign like Kazakhstan. They’re just like us, they’re kids in school,” said a seventh grade student.
In addition to “Class Pictures Around the World,” sixth and seventh grade students enjoyed an interactive class with middle school students in Argentina. The class, streamed live into the Kent School classroom, joined students in English class in Argentina with Kent School students taking Spanish and Geography. “It was fun to hear the Spanish speaking students read to us in Spanish and then in English. I heard some of our vocabulary words and learned a few new words,” said one Kent School student.
Geography teacher, Michelle Cerino, worked in tandem with Kent School Spanish teacher, Betsey Hottel, to incorporate the activities into the classes. Cerino said, “It is so great to be able to open the world to my students using technology and by collaborating with other teachers and students around the world. It is truly exciting to think about the work that we can do that will make learning about cultures and customs more accessible. I think we can also do a lot to help children realize that we all share this planet and if we understand each other a little better situations will be better for everyone.
Kent School Headmaster, Chris Gorycki said, “I applaud Mrs. Cerino for incorporating Global Education Day into her classes. These activities fit really well into her curriculum but they also reflect Kent School’s mission to ‘foster the growth of honorable, responsible citizens for our country and our diverse world.’”
Kent School is an independent school located in Chestertown serving boys and girls from pre-K through grade eight. For more information about Kent School visit www.kentschool.org or call 410-778-4100 ext. 110.
Jasleen Kaur says
I also want to participate in this global education.