The view from the window is a gentle way to explore similarities and differences between schools. It is a good introductory activity. Different media can turn this into a very interesting project.

First activity

Take a photo from your classroom window and put descriptive labels on to some of the things you can see. Paint a picture to represent the colours and moods. Imagine the scene at a different time of year. Class teams could take these different approaches.

Discuss with the class the local to global… what is in the school grounds, the locality of the school, and what is global – the air, birds, the clouds.

Take a photo of each team looking out of the window; it's a lovely way to introduce the class and show the school buildings more imaginatively.

See www.elanguages.org/66725 for examples.

Exchange work

Send by post, fax, or via email examples of the work you have done in class, and wait to receive theirs.

Ask your students about what they're expecting to see – the weather, the school buildings, clothes, trees. This helps them to focus when they do see the views.

Share responses

Try to set responses in the local to global framework.

Extension activities  

Create a display; hold an assembly.

Useful resources

• Examples and ideas: www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/website/projects.htm
• Display and share the pictures using www.elanguages.org - put up galleries of photos of your class in privacy (free).           

 Open/download (colour)  

 Print (black & white)