The links below will take you to some important information about education and other opportunities.
Fulbright UK-US teacher exchange programme
New FREE KS2 resource – The Mystery of the Golden Stars
Christmas resources
Ten European Christmas traditions
The following publications are available in PDF format from Europa. Europe Direct NE has limited copies.
Passport to the European UnionThis booklet takes children on a tour of Europe, providing insights into each country, including food, languages and famous people. It includes stickers of flags and coins.
Ideas for international coordinators
Small changes to make a big impact
Use your LA’s library service resource boxes;
Use resources common to schools anyway e.g. artists in residence, animation projects, dance etc to focus on the international dimension;
Subscribe to newspapers e.g. First News that enable children to read about current affairs nationally and around the world;
Fundraising in school can have an international dimension e.g. Queen’s Jubilee pub quiz, Fairtrade tuck shops etc;
When topics are being planned, include a global box on planning sheets/ grids alongside subject boxes/ ideas to ensure it is thought about in the planning process;
Ask children to collect postcards from places they visit in the UK and abroad that they can bring into school for display;
Have up to date maps or globes available throughout the school, even outdoors;
Have vinyl maps and blow up globes available for lessons and even assemblies to add context to international stories;
Have weekly international assemblies that look at current affairs around the world. Newsround is a good source of information;
Ensure special dates are available for staff with plenty of notice, e.g. Europe Day, Fairtrade Fortnight etc. This often gives an easy assembly or class discussion topics;
Keep photos of everything. A portfolio of photos can not only demonstrate good practice but it is easy to forget about the range of experience in school;
Ensure some displays around school always reflect international work;
Send a questionnaire to children, teachers and parents to find out what each group thinks works, what they need more info on, what ideas they have, what skills/ contacts they have;
Plan special weeks or special events to coincide with events e.g. China Week in the week of Chinese New Year, festivals etc;
Join websites and Facebook pages that have international links to keep up to date, e.g. Europe Direct North East, BBC World Class. Take advantage of grants and free resources on offer;
Show your international work through website, policies, brochures etc;
Pursue awards e.g. EcoSchools andFairtrade Mark which can help promote an international ethos.
Some children can be international ambassadors and meet regularly to discuss ideas, share work with other schools etc;
Create a network with neighbouring schools at various stages of international work where international coordinators can meet;
Organise small scale events with other schools eg Skype, teachers share assemblies after visits to other countries, record messages, international ambassadors meet to share work etc;
Share Christmas cards with schools nearby and schools in other countries;
If the school has links with other countries eg collect temperature information, show the time in that country to compare with the UK. Put up clocks showing times in countries of interest for your school.
Call the register in a range of languages;
Explore singing songs, listening to music from around the world and in different languages.
