This document summarizes the Friends and Flags multicultural learning project directed by Karen Eini from 1999-2011. The project objectives were to promote global collaboration, be student-centered, and develop cultural awareness through authentic learning. Students from different countries exchanged care packages containing cultural artifacts, stories, recipes, and more. Participating classrooms mailed packages to 5 different countries. The project fostered improved collaboration, writing, presentation, and critical thinking skills for students, while encouraging professional development and a facilitator role for teachers. It was recognized with an online shared learning award in 2002.

1. Project Director:
Karen Eini
1999-2011
Israel
Friends and Flags
A Multicultural Learning Project

2. Project Objectives
GLOBAL
COLLABORATION
STUDENT
CENTERED
DEVELOPMENT OF
CULTURAL
AWARENESS
AUTHENTIC LEARNING

3. TOOLS COMBINED TO ACHIEVE
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
TECHNOLOGY:
Community site
Email /email lists
Forums/blogs
Chat rooms
To: USA:
From: ISRAEL
POSTAL SERVICE
Mailing of tangible items
Packages
letters
Friends
And
Flags

4. WHAT’S IN A FRIEND’S PACK?
Pictures
Small flag
Collage of items
Goodies
Audio Tape
Video
More…..
Country Guide Book

5. Friends and Flags Partners
Over the years

6. TOPICS IN COUNTRY GUIDEBOOK?
Student Stories
Favorite Foods
And Recipes
Holidays
Tourism
Art WorkIsrael
Australia
Brazil
USA
Posters, Maps

7. Friends and Flags Packages Around the World

8. Suggestions for methodology and
organization
Group Work: Each group prepares a whole package
for one other country.
Jigsaws : Each group prepares one topic
topic for all other groups.
Pair Work: Students pair up and prepare topics together
Class Work/Individual: Teacher works with class as a whol
topic/ vocabulary and students contribute to package
content as individuals

9. To: Canada
From : Israel
:
EACH CLASSROOM MAILS 5 PACKAGES,
ONE TO EVERY MEMBER IN THE CIRCLE!
To: Japan
From: Israel
To: Cyprus
From: Israel
To Australia
From: Israel
To : India
From: Israel

10. MANY TO MANY EXCHANGE ENABLES
EACH CLASSROOM TO CREATE AN AUTHENTIC
CULTURAL LEARNING CENTER
Romanian students
enjoying a package
from Turkey!
Israeli students display
their package from
Finland.

11. Friends and Flags Exhibitions
Around the World

12. PRESENTING FINLANDEin Ganim School,
Petach Tikvah, Israel

13. Katzir School,
Katzir , Israel

14. Doncrest School,
Toronto, Canada

16. English Forever School,
Brazil

17. Brazil

18. Romanian Exhibit

19. Friends
and Flags
Friends and Flags Partners
Schools
Home
Schools
Hospital
Schools
Computer
Clubs
Orphanages
Summer
Camps/
Youth
Groups

20. Friends and Flags Community Projects
GLOBAL BEAD CHAIN
Every bead represents a child!
ISRAEL
JAPAN

21. Friends and Flags Peace Calendars

23. Friends and Flags Quilt

24. We are children, we want to play with our
friends.
We need house and home, food and fresh water,
and a caring that never ends....
but most of all peace
Vallhovskolan
Gr. 4,Sandviken, Sweden
19/09/02
Friends and Flags Chain Poem

25. Students
demonstrated
presentation
skills
Students
demonstrated
ability to select
apply and
integrate
variety of
computer skills
Students
improved
collaborative
skills
Students ( EFL and
General
Population)
Improved Writing
Skills
Students
demonstrated
critical thinking
skills
Students
exhibited
appreciation of
cultural divers ity
LEARNING OUTCOMES

26. Teachers role
shifts to
facilitator
Teachers
benefit from
Educator
Network
Project
encouraged
professional
development
Teachers

27. Friends and Flags winner of
Online Shared Learning Award
TEXAS, 2002