Bridging Classrooms

Bridging Classrooms, Growing Global Citizens: How to Build Cross-Cultural Partnerships That Matter

Over the past two years, my fourth graders in Middleton, Massachusetts, worked hand-in-hand (virtually) with a class in Newbury, England, not on a one-time pen pal exchange, but on a sustained, creative, and curriculum-connected collaboration. Together, our students co-authored storybooks, mapped out local landmarks, and reimagined classic literature through a global lens.

Students in England and the USA meeting over Google Meet to collaborate on projects

The most powerful part? The partnership felt real. Tangible. And deeply meaningful for students on both sides of the Atlantic. My students love to say, "My British friends."

This partnership didn’t happen overnight, it was built through curiosity, trust, and the belief that young learners are capable of global thinking when we give them the tools and the space to grow it.

As part of a National Educator Association (NEA) Learning and Leadership Grant I received, I was fortunate to visit this partner school in England this spring. Seeing Burghclere Primary School in action allowed me to reflect on what made this collaboration work and what others might borrow to launch cross-cultural experiences of their own.

Visiting Burghclere Primary School in Newbury, England

Here are a few guiding ideas for educators hoping to bring global competencies into their classrooms through authentic international connections:

1. Start With the Relationship, Not the Project

Find a teacher, not a program, who’s interested in building something with you. My partner in England, Mrs. Field, and I began collaborating through the JDO Foundation. We start each year with a Google Meet for students to exchange student questions and say hello. Over time, that evolves into shared Google Earth projects, book publishing, and real-time feedback loops. Global work is human work. Building relationships makes it possible.

Hand-delivered letters, books, postcards, pens and stickers

2. Make the Curriculum the Bridge

Our students didn’t collaborate “on the side.” Instead, we weave the work directly into our standards-based curriculum. In the project, we collaborated on based on my site visit, students wrote storybooks inspired by Make Way for Ducklings and Paddington. Both take place in our local locations but this time, students made their teachers the main characters. This allowed for lessons in geography, narrative writing, civic pride, and empathy, all through the lens of two cultures meeting.

3. Use Tools That Empower Student Voice

We relied on tools that made student work visible and interactive: Google Slides for co-writing, Flip for video sharing, Padlet for photo stories, and Google Earth to explore each other's communities. These tools helped bridge the physical distance and gave students a sense of agency and ownership in the process.

4. Visit If You Can But Connect Either Way

My in-person visit to Burghclere deepened everything. I was able to walk the streets students had described, take photos for our collaborative projects, and observe new instructional strategies firsthand. But even without international travel, these partnerships can flourish. What matters most is consistency, creativity, and care.

5. Redefine “Global Competency”

Global education isn’t about one-off festivals or food days. It’s about perspective-taking, collaboration, communication, and curiosity. When students work with peers from another culture, they begin to ask better questions about the world and themselves. That’s the heart of this work.

This year, I watched my students become not just writers or researchers, but bridge-builders. They celebrated each other's voices. They noticed similarities and differences. They stepped into a shared story. Global competencies aren’t extras. They’re essentials and they grow best when rooted in relationships, relevance, and real-world creativity.

If you're an educator wondering where to begin, start small. Start simple. Start by connecting. And if you’d like to connect with me, I’d love to hear from you. Let’s build something global together.

 

Turning Immersive VR into Action

Virtual Reality isn’t just about exploring breathtaking places. It’s about igniting curiosity and empowering students to make a difference. After our incredible Patagonia VR experience, my students didn’t just stop at earning their Patagonia Explorer Badge. They turned their new knowledge into action, tackling real-world environmental challenges with creativity and determination. 

Our journey through Patagonia introduced my students to the stark realities of plastic pollution, glacial recession, sea level rise, and the importance of conservation efforts. These lessons didn’t just stay in the classroom, they became the foundation for action plans that my students eagerly brought to life.

One group of students created "Howie’s Planet Protectors," named after our school comfort dog. This initiative focuses on promoting sustainability through peer education and community engagement. From creating posters about recycling to leading classroom presentations on reducing single-use plastics, Howie’s Planet Protectors has already begun making waves in our school. 

Check out the Howie's Planet Protector Campaign

Another group launched a campaign to reduce waste at the town's annual Turkey Trot. After noticing the use of single-use plastic bottles at the event, they designed a plan to replace them with reusable alternatives. The students created a presentation to share their ideas and support for alternatives. In addition, students worked to inform community members about bringing their own reusable cups and bags to local businesses. Update: Six months after their presentation, the organizer of the Turkey Trot informed me they no longer were using single-use plastic bottles! They worked to secure a sponsor and were able to not only get decomposable cups and have water refill stations but also have sustainable porta-potties. This was a great example of how the ripple effect works.  

One student, inspired by the VR experience, partnered with her mom to arrange a class trip to a local waste management recycling facility. During the visit, the students learned about the recycling process, what happens to materials after they’re collected, and the challenges of managing waste sustainably. This hands-on experience deepened their understanding of the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling, and it inspired new ideas for the Howie Planet Protectors for improving waste management in our school.

Watching my students take ownership of these projects has been incredibly rewarding. They’ve not only embraced their roles as problem-solvers but also inspired our entire school community to think differently about our impact on the environment. The Patagonia VR experience didn’t just transport them to another world, it gave them the tools to change the one they live in.

Presenting about our impact at a School Committee Meeting

As an educator, there’s nothing more fulfilling than seeing students transform their learning into action. These initiatives aren’t just about recycling or reducing waste; they’re about building a mindset of empathy, empowerment, and responsibility. My hope is that these projects are just the beginning of a lifetime of advocacy and environmental stewardship.

To my students, thank you for proving that exploration leads to inspiration and that even the smallest hands can make a big difference. Keep exploring, keep learning, and keep protecting our planet! 🌍

Patagonia 360

After lots of editing and behind-the-scenes "teacher" work, my class embarked on an unforgettable journey—one that didn’t require passports, airports, or long flights. With the power of VR headsets, we “traveled” to Patagonia! As someone who’s had the privilege of experiencing Patagonia firsthand, I couldn’t wait to bring its awe-inspiring beauty to my students. While we didn’t pack our bags and hop on a plane, the Patagonia VR experience brought us as close to the real thing as possible.

To kick off the day, I grouped the students into expedition teams and handed each pair a VR headset. Their excitement was contagious as they geared up for the adventure. I challenged them to explore four breathtaking locations in Patagonia while solving puzzles and completing activities to unlock clues. At the end of the journey, their mission was to earn their Patagonia Explorer Badge by piecing together the final code word.

Our first virtual stop was Staten Island, where the students marveled at king penguins and visited the Lighthouse at the End of the World. After their VR experience, the students dove into an activity about conservation efforts on the island. They read a passage, filled in key sentences, and uncovered a hidden clue word by circling specific letters—a great way to link reading comprehension with problem-solving. Next, the students explored the lush beauty of Karukinka National Park, complete with cascading waterfalls and incredible wildlife. The elephant seal coming right towards you in VR was a huge hit! Students learned about the impact of plastic pollution on this pristine environment. Solving a puzzle about sustainability gave them their next clue word. Seeing their determination reminded me of how meaningful hands-on experiences are for building awareness about global challenges.

The third stop felt extra special to me, as it featured the ship I lived on during my own expedition. The students virtually stood on the observation deck, explored the library, and even navigated the Chilean fjords alongside the captain. They used a map to answer navigation questions, collecting symbols and letters for their next clue word. Hearing them marvel at the fjords brought back memories of the stunning landscapes I had the honor of seeing up close. Our final destination was the breathtaking Bernal Glacier. Here, students worked on a math-based mystery picture activity to learn about glacial recession and sea level rise due to climate change. Each correct answer unlocked a piece of the image, leading to their fourth and final clue word.

With all four words—explorer, curious, empathetic, and empowered—entered into the Google Form on the Google Site I created, the students unlocked their Patagonia Explorer Badge. Their sense of accomplishment was palpable, and the discussions that followed about conservation and exploration made me proud.

Bringing this VR experience into my classroom wasn’t just about showing them Patagonia’s beauty—it was about inspiring them to think globally, act locally, and see themselves as part of something much bigger. This virtual journey allowed my students to see the world in a whole new way, sparking curiosity about geography, wildlife, and conservation. I feel so fortunate to have been able to share a little bit of my own Patagonia adventure with them. Who knows? Maybe one day they’ll visit it for real! 🌍💻🌿

On Assignment

One of my goals while exploring Patagonia was to bring the immersive experience of Patagonia back to my students and community. I was very aware of the fact that even though I was physically there I wanted my students, colleagues, and the larger community to get a chance to "be there" too. If you missed the previous post about this, check it out here: 🎥Immersive Experience 

From left to right 1: Practing with my Insta360 x3 camera 2. Immersive technology gear on loan from National Geographic 3. Exploring the VR headset

With all my tech gear packed, I was ready to be "on assignment" and capture all the 360 views of Patagonia. I very quickly learned that being "on assignment" is much harder than it looks. The wind in Patagonia was so intense that there were many times I thought I was going to fall over or my phone was literally going to fly out of my hand. That is NO hyperbole. The wind was really that strong. Sadly my Insta360 camera and invisible selfie stick never stood a chance. I would say about 9 out of 10 times my Insta360 camera ended up on the ground blown over by the wind. 

Left 📸: Getting 360 views of Ushuaia Middle 📸: Getting 360 views of the Aguila Glacier  Right 📸: Impact of the wind on the 360 camera at the Aguila Glacier

Despite the elements, I was able to capture some truly beautiful 360 views of this magical land. Much like the fauna, flora, and fungi of this region, I had to quickly adapt to survive the harsh elements. I become masterful at anchoring down my tripod with rocks (sometimes even boulders) and even digging small holes to keep my camera upright. 

Insta360 camera anchored down with rocks at our landing location before we hiked to the Aguila Glacier

Ultimately I am working to create a 360 immersive experience of Patagonia to be viewed through a VR headset with accompanying learning materials. Until that editing is done here are a few 360 views of magical Patagonia.