Tim Nordin has created the project "Getting to Know My Penpal: Building Global Friendships Through Email" in Class2Class.org
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Getting to Know My Penpal: Building Global Friendships Through Email
What is this project about?
Students write and exchange introductory emails with their international penpal following set themes, starting with personal presentations, then sharing about their town and daily activities. They practice email writing while discovering similarities...
- Age of Students
- 9-12 years
- Project Duration
- 30 weeks
- Starting Month
- September 2026
This project contributes to the following global goals
This project promotes and protects these children's rights
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to identify and describe similarities and differences between their own cultural traditions and those of their international penpal through structured email exchanges.
Students will be able to demonstrate intercultural understanding and emotional intelligence by applying respectful communication strategies when exchanging perspectives about their lives, values, and experiences with their penpal across cultures.
Skills to develop
Project Activities
Getting to Know You: Icebreaker Video Call
Students join a live video call with their international penpal class to introduce themselves, share their names and one fun fact, and ask an icebreaker question. This builds comfort and excitement before email exchanges begin.
Email Exchange 1: Personal Introductions
Students write and send their first email to their penpal, introducing themselves with their name, age, family, hobbies, and favorite things. They receive replies and read about their penpal's life, noting similarities and differences.
Email Exchange 2 & 3: My Town and My Daily Life
Students write two emails describing their town, school, and daily activities, then read and respond to their penpal's descriptions. They compare routines, places, and customs, building awareness of how lives differ across cultures.
Email Exchange 4 & 5: School Life and Student Choice
Students exchange emails about their school (subjects, rules, traditions) and choose their own topic for the final exchange (food, sports, celebrations, or dreams). They practice asking questions and sharing deeper personal insights.
Email Exchange 6: Reflection and Feedback
Students write a final email reflecting on what they learned about their penpal's culture and what surprised them. They give kind feedback on the exchange and say goodbye, then complete a self-reflection journal about the whole project.
Penpal Showcase and Celebration
Students create a short presentation or poster highlighting one thing they learned from their penpal and share it with the class. The class celebrates the friendships and cultural connections made through the project.