Cross-Cultural Exchange USA-SA

From the United States of America to South Africa:

My Cottage Lane students have given me information about what it's like being a kid growing up in the USA to bring to South Africa. Modeled on the Around the World magazine published by Time for Kids, the children drew pictures and wrote a description of their typical day.

They had read several of the Time for Kids magazines throughout the year, each featuring a child from a different country. Every magazine had the same format. It included a section, "A Day in the Life of …." that included pictures and information about a typical day for a kid from that country. 

Analyzing the authors' techniques to convey useful and interesting information, and the publisher's technique for making the information appealing and accessible to children, helped my students create their own version to share their culture with South African children. I brought these to South Africa with me. The South African children were so delighted with them that they wanted to reciprocate! They created their own version, A Day in the Life of a South African Child, for me to share with my American students. smiley

 

In addition, I created two blog pages that highlight daily life for two of the children from Sun Valley School in South Africa: A Day with a South African Girl, and A Day with a South African Boy.

9 thoughts on “Cross-Cultural Exchange USA-SA

  1. Thanks for your comment Chloe! Chloe is one of the South African kids who saw the pictures from the American kids, and joined with her classmates to draw pictures for me to take back to the United States. The American kids will love seeing them!

    • Thanks for your comment Chloe! Chloe is one of the South African kids who saw the pictures from the American kids, and joined with her classmates to draw pictures for me to take back to the United States. The American kids will love seeing them!

    • The kids here in South Africa are finishing up their school year. December means the beginning of summer in the southern hemisphere! They will have about six weeks off for summer vacation, beginning their new school year the middle of January. When the new school year begins I’ll be in the schools more and will have the chance to show them your “Day in the Life” drawings. I’ll let you know how it goes!

        • Hi Joe! I haven’t taken them into school yet. The kids have just begun their new school year and are learning their new school routine. I’ll take the pictures in within the next couple of weeks.

          • Yes, Grade 4 students from Sun Valley Primary School loved seeing the “A Day in the Life of an American Child” pictures. They have drawn similar pictures for me to bring back to the United States. You’ll like them!

            So glad to hear that you and Nicole joined the science fair. I’m sure it was an interesting and fun day!

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