DATE IN 14PT BOLD HERE

MEDIA RELEASE
9th June

Kiwi Kids share ideas about saving the Planet with British Counterparts

What are kids doing on the other side of the world to help save the planet? Well, that’s exactly what Somersham School in Cambridgeshire, England intends to find out from Puhinui School in Auckland at a video conference link-up this evening.

An online discussion forum on the British High Commission’s children’s educational website, www.britain4kiwikids.org.nz has been helping connect Kiwi Kids with their British counterparts.

Now, through a project called Hello/Kia Ora, the High Commission is bringing them one step closer – face-to-face through a video-conferencing link-up.
On Thursday 2 July at 6.30pm (NZ time), and 7.30am (UK time).The British High Commission will be hosting Puhinui School’s class of 8-10 year olds for a face to face with Somersham School’s class of 8-10 year olds.

The children from both schools will do presentations about what they are doing to Save the Planet, and what they have learnt from one another. The Puhinui students also promise they have a surprise up their sleeve for the British kids.

“Our main aim is to develop an international dimension to education by linking a New Zealand classroom of students with a classroom of students from Britain via our online forum. It’s a chance to help broaden the minds of students both in New Zealand and Britain” said Mike Cherrett, Acting High Commissioner.

Megan Clune, Puhinui School Teacher, and Tony Litting, teacher from Somersham School both agreed that their student’s involvement in this project had been an incredible experience sharing ideas and putting them into practice.

“The website is aimed at children between seven and sixteen, with material for Pacific Island children about life in the UK. It is a good resource for projects about Britain and has plenty of information on Britain and British culture.”

The website also has links to children’s and educational sites at organisations like the British Museum and the Natural History Museum. It has a gallery of free photos for projects and has many useful links to other resources such as London’s Science Museum and the BBC children’s unit.

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