The Global Dimension

Try life in another language - all manner of cool and exciting things are happening outside the UK - crazy music festivals, cutting edge fashion shows and massive sporting events. Have you got the language skills to get the most out of them? Very up to date - videos of songs (with translations) for example Ages 13-18

www.channel4.com/entertainment/t4/advertorial/try-life-in-another-language/index.html

This fascinating insight into the life of a small village in Orissa, India is well worth a visit - perhaps for 10 minutes every day of the week. The children from the village tell you about their games, their mealtimes, their families and their religion - you can find out what they do in a typical day, or even watch video clips. The photos are great. From Action Aid's Global Links. Ages 5-11

www.globallinks.org.uk/liveto_india/visit_village.html

You and your class can experience a virtual visit to an African village. Nyalakot is a rural farming community of about 6,200 people where poverty is endemic and average income amounts to about £130 per person a year – less than 60 pence a day. Meet community members, children, students and adults. Ages 8-14

www.plan-uk.org/virtualvillage

Show your class the effect of the sea level rising if global warming causes the ice sheet in Antarctica to melt (Europe is at the bottom of the page). Ages 11-18.
www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/warnings/waterworld/

Take a trip round an organic farm in Uganda - very visual and takes exactly 10 minutes!

Ages 6-9.

http://tiki.oneworld.net/features/uganda/uganda.html

Primary Spanish – an animated site from the BBC with talking animals, simple spoken phrases to repeat, and great guidance for teachers. Ages 7-11

www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryspanish

There's also a Primary French site www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryfrench/index_flash.shtml

Global music, food and religion – a great interactive site that introduces you to music around the world, with instrument sounds and tunes to play; with basic facts about five countries, their food and religion (India, Ireland, Brazil, Turkey and Nigeria). Ages 7-11

www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/world/onyourstreet/thestreet

Visit tribal people - a Yanomami girl from the Brazillian rainforest region; Esimba, a 10-year-old boy from the Congo Basin; Anton, a Chukchee boy who lives in Siberia and the Jarawa of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Ages 6-11

http://tiki.oneworld.net/features/survival/survival_home.html

A virtual tour of the Borneo rainforest at night, with pop-up info boxes and photos when you spot the creatures you find. Find the orang utan for the message about deforestation and its impact on wildlife. Ages 7-14

www.nationalgeographic.com/earthpulse/rainforest/index_flash.html

A great interactive game about saving energy – in the form of an exciting mission. Pupils under 8 will be shouting out the answers for you and the animation is great. Ages 5-8. www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/education/sysm/eco/eco_friendly.shtml

Wake up, World! is a fascinating and moving journey as you follow four children, from Brazil, Russia, Ghana and India, as they wake up, go to school, play, eat and dream. Ages 6-12

www.oxfam.org.uk/coolplanet/kidsweb/wakeup/index.htm

Rivers in Europe – animated maps, bite-size facts... this site looks great on a whiteboard and is particularly suited to the Scottish Intermediate curriculum for Geography. But it's of interest to any teacher showing how rivers can be mistreated and the results that follow. Ages 11-14 www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/education/int/geog/eei/rivers

Or how about this great little zone where schoolchildren introduce you to their city and what they think of it – Belfast and Mexico City. It's very interactive – you can choose a question and choose a child to answer it. Ages 7-14.

www.bbc.co.uk/schools/twocities

A simple introduction to Peru, its people, its geography, its history. Very whiteboard friendly. Ages 6-9.

http://tiki.oneworld.net/peru/peru_home.html

For some stunning views that most of your class will never have seen, check out the natural wonders of the world and learn a few facts about them too. Ages 7-14.
www.tramline.com/tours/sci/natwon

Fascinating country focus pages from Global Eye. Ages 7-14.

Oxfam's website is an extremely colourful and accessible place to find out about selected countries from Afghanistan to Vietnam. Ages 6-12

www.oxfam.org.uk/coolplanet/kidsweb/world/index.htm

If your class enjoys these, why not see what quick projects you could do with your class and a class from your partner school. More>>>

Have you got your thinking hat on?

The Global Dimension