Education Around the World

Introduction

The world is a big place, and there are many different cultures around the globe. Your life in the United States is very different from the lives of other students in countries such as Egypt, China, and Brazil. You may eat different foods and wear different types of clothes. However, children all over the world have do have something in common: their pursuit of an education. Children all over the world want to learn and succeed. On the other hand, schools around the world can be very different. In this assignment, you will become a journalist. You are going to interview seven students, each from a different country. Then, you will construct a Venn Diagram to publish in a magazine that shows how the other schools are similar and different to schools in the United States.

Task

As a journalist, you will need to have an open mind about people that are from different cultures than you are. You will need to be excited to hear their stories, and you will need to take notes on what they tell you so that you will have lots of information to publish in your magazine.

Task 1:

Take a sheet of chart paper and a box of markers. Draw a Venn Diagram. Give it a title and appropriate labels. Then, as you interview the students from around the world, take notes on facts that you find interesting. Finally, fill in the Venn Diagram with how one of the schools is similar and different from most schools in the United States. Do your neatest work, and make it colorful. The neatest and most colorful will be displayed in the classroom.

Task 2:

After you complete your Venn Diagram, you will need to answer these ten questions concerning the seven interviews. When you are finished, please turn your papers in to the homework tray.

1. In which country does the school day start the latest?

2. Why do girls and boys attend school at different times in Afghanistan?

3. What subjects do students study in Egypt?

4. Which country has the shortest school day?

5. List at least three ways students get to school.

6. Which country allows every student to have free lunch?

7. Do schools in the United States have more or less time for physical activity than schools in other countries?

8. In some countries not all students go to school. Why would a child not go to school in another country?

9. If you could go to a school in another country for one year, which school would you go to? Why?

10. If you could change one thing about the schools in the United States, what would you change?

Process

Interview with a student from Brazil:

http://www.timeforkids.com/destination/brazil/day-in-life

Interview with a student from Finland:

http://www.timeforkids.com/destination/finland/day-in-life

Interview with a student from Australia:

http://www.timeforkids.com/destination/australia/day-in-life

Interview with a student from Egypt:

http://www.timeforkids.com/destination/egypt/day-in-life

Interview with a student from Afghanistan:

http://www.timeforkids.com/destination/afghanistan/day-in-life

Interview with a student from China:

http://www.timeforkids.com/destination/china/day-in-life

Interview with a student from Mexico:

http://www.timeforkids.com/destination/mexico/day-in-life

Once you have completed the tasks, you can explore these links for fun:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2015/oct/02/schools-around-the…

http://www.theguardian.com/education/gallery/2012/sep/14/schools-around…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxBfqd639BE

Evaluation

Venn Diagram	1	2	3	4
Content: Differences	The Venn Diagram does not contain any differences, or the differences are unrelated to the assignment.	The Venn Diagram contains at least one difference between schools of the country of choice and schools of the United States.	The Venn Diagram contains at least two differences between schools of the country of choice and schools of the United States.	The Venn Diagram contains at least three differences between schools of the country of choice and schools of the United States.
Content: Similarities	The Venn Diagram does not contain any similarities, or the similarities are unrelated to the assignment.	The Venn Diagram contains at least one similarity between schools of the country of choice and schools of the United States.	The Venn Diagram contains at least two similarities between schools of the country of choice and schools of the United States.	The Venn Diagram contains at least three similarities between schools of the country of choice and schools of the United States.
Organization: Labels	The Venn Diagram is neither titled nor labeled.	The Venn Diagram has either a title or labels, but not both.	The Venn Diagram is titled and labeled, but the labels are not correct.	The Venn Diagram is titled appropriately and is labeled appropriately.
Appearance: Neat and Colorful	The Venn Diagram is not legible.	The Venn Diagram is legible, but not neat.	The Venn Diagram is neat, but not colorful.	The Venn Diagram is very neat and very colorful.

Task 1 will be graded by the above rubric.

Task 2 will be graded by an answer key.

Conclusion

As a journalist, you have had the opportunity to discover how education around the world has similarities and differences. The schools affect the culture of the people in those countries and in return, the cultures affect the schools. In the end, people all over the world want to learn and be successful and that is something that brings us all together.