The purpose of this exchange was to provide an opportunity for elementary students from Taiwan to express themselves while sharing their culture and personal interests with students in America. I think these types of exchanges are important because it allows students to understand the vast scope of the world. It’s one thing to see a country on a map; it’s another thing to have a personal connection with someone in that country.
While my students thoroughly enjoyed creating their projects, the greatest part of the exchange was when we received the projects from the New York students. My students in Taiwan could see that despite being on opposite sides of the globe the New York students expressed interest in many of the same things they liked! It really opened their eyes to the similarities between peer groups.
This type of understanding leads to global connections, communication and cooperation in the future. I don’t think my students would have understood this concept to this degree without this exchange. While the focus of this was on art, it also incorporated writing, reading, and geography. It was a great project that helped enhance and connect my curriculum across the board.
