Cherrol McGhee
This was first presented as a Powerpoint Presentation to the Beaudesert CATS (Computers and Technology in Schools) Meeting in April 1997.
Visit Hillview's Page for the short version if you want to print it. This includes links to the Travel Buddy Page.
Ernie at the beach
Travel Buddies are soft toys or puppets which become the class representative to visit another school in Australia or overseas. They are sent by snail mail with lots of goodies including a diary and a class photo. Travel buddies are exchanged with another class so while yous is off visiting you are hosting their buddy. Another model of travel buddies exists where a travel buddy goes on a journey and teachers can offer to host the buddy. These are for short visits only. The Red Dog of the Pilbara in Western Australia is an example of this.
The children in the class with some help from their teacher develop a real affection for their travel buddy sharing all activities with him even lunchtime playing.
Each night the travel buddy goes home with a class member and they write in the buddyÕs diary. The next day the diary is read by the child to the class. Any special class or school or cultural events are recorded in the diary. Photos, paintings or drawing of events are included. Emails are exchanged between the classes on a weekly basis to see how the buddy is going. This can also be used to exchange work being done that week.
After the predetermined time is up the buddy is snail mailed home. Someteimes they can hitch a ride if someone is visiting that place.
It gives a real purpose for reading and writing activities. Many of the writing genres can be modelled and practised. It adds excitement to the class program and the development of the affective domain by caring for their buddy. The children learn about other children in other places in Australia or overseas. From this the children can make comparsions about daily life activities. Of course everyone including the teacher can learn their keyboarding skills, emailing and the use of other software programs.
Think about exactly what you want to get out of this from a curriculum point of view for your class. Purchase a small soft toy or puppet. Keep in mind that you want to post it to another class. With your class name it. Now start making the buddy part of your class activities. Next join the Travel Buddies List.
After you have received your welcome message joinly compose with your class, an introductory letter advertising for an exchange for your travel buddy. Email this message to the travel buddy list. Remember if you would like an overseas class to exchange your buddy with that the Northern hemisphere is on summer holidays from June to September.You have receive a lot of replies and you may have to work out which one suits you best. Email the others and politely tell them that you have your class for your travel buddy. Sometimes you may have to send your introductory letter to other teacher lists.
Email the teacher of the buddy's class and establish contact. Then compose with the class and send a letter from the class and your travel buddy. Once contact has been made work out with the teacher what kind of things you are going to do together. Exchange ideas on what you are going to send with your buddy. Most important of all work out the dates for the buddy to be sent and returned. Give yourself plenty of time ( at least 6 to 8 weeks) to get the buddy prepared as this provides real writing puposes for a lot of genres. You need most of a term to host and exchange your buddy. This does not include getting your buddy prepared.
A very important aspect of the travel buddy exchange is to establish the need at the beginning to have regular email contact each week between the two classes all through the exchange.
Select a diary that is going to be sent with the buddy and set it up. This includes the title page and all the details about the travel buddy and his class. Get the class emotionally attached to the buddy. Let him/her (depending on your name) sit on kids desks; let children share their reading with the buddy; pass the buddy around for hugs; let the children take the buddy home for overnight visits and this involves writing in his diary and sharing it with the class the next day. Have a letter go home to parents which gives a guide to parents on how to help their child look after the buddy and the writing in the diary.
Make a class travel buddy diary to be kept at school. Email letters can be pasted in here when the buddy is away. You can encourage children to read this during quiet reading or read it during shared reading.
Buy or make a kit bag that will fit everything in that is needed to take the buddy on home visits. Send all the bits and pieces home especially when the travel buddy that your class is hosting goes home. This becomes a special experience with parents and the rest of the family. Emphasise that it all has to come back to school the very next day.
Take a clear class photo with the buddy in it. Clearly label all the names include yourself if you can. A digital photo can also be taken and sent with an email letter as an attachment helping to build up the excitement.
Commence writing projects about animals, special local, school and class activities. Start collecting photos about your school and district. Then individual biographies can be written by each child.
Make a checklist of what you are going to send with your buddy. Check for your buddy class for the correst snail mail address. Know the weigh of the parcel that you can send airmail for a reasonable price. It is essential to send the parcel airmail to keep the momentum going.
Weigh items so you know they can be sent and you don't get a big surprise when you go to post the travel buddy parcel. It is good for measurement in maths.
(TO BE FINISHED!!)
These are the notes.
Saying farewell
Checking the list
Writing the address in large writing
Making sure the bag or postpac is securely stapled or taped
Use big airmail stickers all over it.
Email buddy class to inform them that their new buddy is in the post.
Make the buddy welcome and share all his/her special things with the class.
Email the class to tell them of his arrival.
Take photos of his arrival.
Send a letter to parents about the buddy and how to look after him on home visits.
Send the buddy and his kit bag with his goodies home with inndividual students for home visits.
The next day share his diary entry written by the student when on his home visit.
Email his class as soon as you hear from his new class.
Use the class diary to keep a record of what happens.
Keep In touch at least once each week.
Check his diary and add photos.
Make a copy of the diary to keep at school.
Think of anything special you may want to send back.
Write a thank you letter or letters from the class.
Make a checklist especially for things which have to returned.
Write a letter to parents thanking them for their support with the project.
Pack the parcel carefully as before.
Email his class to let them know he is returning.
Say goodbye either with a cuddle or a little party.
Post the parcel airmail. Be considerate of term times.
Have a little class party.
Share his adventures by reading his diary and looking at the photos.
Prepare an article for the school newsletter.
Let the travel buddy have a home visit with each child to share his adventures with his parents.
Holidays in other countries and states are usually different.
Your buddy class may send their buddy surface mail
Your buddy or their buddy may get lost or damaged.
You may lose contact with your buddy class. You can call on the Project Officer, Lindy McKeown to help you in this instance.
They may not be very prompt in replying.
Using a travel buddy project can be very rewarding to the teacher and all the students both academically, culturally and socially providing much excitement and enjoyment for all.
Written by Cherrol McGhee 3 October based on the orginal presentation for CATS.
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