DigiPal Activities
What to do with your partner class.....
Class to class live video call
Use an online video conferencing tool to:
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Do a group video call. Students can participate in a group activity with all the students in both classes participating.
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Split the group up into smaller groups or pairs and assign them to breakout rooms. Students can get to know each other and work together. Teachers can pop in and out of the virtual rooms to check in on the students.
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This is recommended as a great activity to get started. Each class can prepare an introduction about where they are from, their school and any other information they wish to share.
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Keep in mind that there may be a time difference between your countries.
Snail mail letters (offline)
Just like pen pals, students can send mail to each other using the postal system (via their school address).
Here they can send handwritten or typed letters.
This is recommended as a great activity to do when a holiday is approaching. Students can send holiday greeting cards or a letter to wish their new friend a happy holiday. This can also be done as a class activity by sending a class greeting to the partner class. This is a great keepsake.
Keep in mind that mail services charge to send mail and international mail is usually more expensive. This method also takes longer to be delivered.
Online letters
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Students can type letters to each other. For students who don't have a computer or device or prefer to handwrite their letters, they can still do so and then the student or the teacher can take a picture of it or scan it.
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Once completed, students will need to send their letters to their teacher whichever way the teacher requests. The letters are then added by the teacher to their class's shared Google drive folder (that DigiPals sets up for the partner teachers to share their students work).
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This is recommended as a great activity for students to build one-on-one relationships. Since online mail is quick to be delivered, the students can receive and respond to their letters efficiently.
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DigiPals class to class forum
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This virtual exchange will allow the two cohorts to work together to solve tasks, collaborate on projects, come up with solutions to world problems, and share perspectives.
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​This is recommended as a great activity for discussions and understanding perspectives.
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Keep in mind that the forum will need to be moderated by the partner teachers.
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For more information about our class chat room or to request one, please click here. (Both teachers need to be on our Premium plan)
Screencast presentation/document​
Students can create a presentation about themselves or a topic that they or the teacher have chosen. Instead of writing about it, they can screencast and verbally talk about it. ​
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This is recommended as a great activity for students to practice their speaking skills and also a great activity for students who haven't acquired writing and reading skills yet or who generally feel more comfortable expressing themselves verbally.
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Vlog
Students can create a video about themselves or a topic that they or the teacher have chosen. Instead of writing about it, they can video record themselves.
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This is also recommended as a great activity for students to practice their speaking skills and also a great activity for students who haven't acquired writing and reading skills yet or who generally feel more comfortable expressing themselves verbally.
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Projects
Teachers can assign projects for their students to collaborate on together. This can be assigned as a long-term research project or a short-term project.
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This is recommended as a great activity for students to practice collaborating and working together.
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Stories & Comic Strips
Students can use online tools to create and narrate stories and/or comic strips together. They can work together and use their imaginations. Teachers can give them a topic or moral to base the story on or the students can think of a storyline together themselves.
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This is also recommended as a great activity for students to practice collaborating and working together.
*It is the teacher's responsibility to review all their students work and make sure it is appropriate