TRAVEL BUDDIES

A wonderful project for all classes - check out the Travel Buddy home page.

Our Travel Buddies consist of a very much loved soft toy and a puppet that travel across the world as representatives of our class.

We have Ernie Echidna a puppet, Pete Platypus a soft toy and Bibi Bilby also a soft toy.

Everything you need to know about travel buddies.

Travel Buddies are very much loved soft toys or puppets that travel across the world as representatives of a class.

It is easy to organise and creates so much excitement in any class with a little help from the teacher.

what a travel buddy can do for your class
getting started and finding your buddy a class
getting your class travel buddy ready to travel
sending your travel buddy
looking after your new buddy
thinking of your travel buddy while he/she is overseas
preparing and sending your visiting buddy home
when your buddy returns home problems that may occur

What a travel buddy can do for your class:

gives a real purpose for reading and writing
adds real excitement to the daily program
gives an opportunity to teach responsibility by caring for the travel buddy
provides learning opportunities by sharing reading and other activities with the travel buddy
provides a real opportunity to learn about other children in other parts of Australia or the world
it takes away the sense of isolation that children can sometimes feel in their classroom especially out in the country
new genuine friends can be made
children can learn about emailing and keyboarding skills

Getting Started

think about exactly what you want to get out of the project for your class
purchase a soft toy and with your class name it
make the new buddy part of your class activities
join the travel buddies list so that you can find a partner class (This also gives you some security as the list owner can help if there are any problems)

To do this send a message to:

travel-buddies@rite.ed.qut.edu.au

Leave the subject blank.

In the message write:

subscribe travel-buddies

joinly compose an introductory letter advertising for a travel buddy and post it to the list
if you get a lot of replies just select the school that suits you best and politely reply to the others that you have a buddy class
email the teacher of the buddy class to establish contact
work out what you are going to do and what you are going to send with your buddy and how it is to be sent (NB It is VERY important to get the correct snail mail address)
work out the dates that the buddy is to be sent and RETURNED (Of course AIR MAIL is the best option.)
ask for regular email contact between the buddy and his class

Getting your travel buddy and his bag ready

select a book to be used as a diary to be sent with him
make a class diary to be kept at school
make a kit bag for everything to be packed in to
take a clear class photo with the buddy and write all the childrens' names
commence writing individual letters
start collecting information and photos about your school and district
make a checklist of what you are going to send
check with your buddy class for the correct snail mail address
know the weight of the parcel that you can send AIRMAIL for a reasonable price
weigh items so you know that they can be sent
some items you may like to send include:

a cassette with a recording of the childrens' voices

individual biographies of students

research projects local area, animals, food etc

video of school, class, activities etc

photos of special events that had happened so far in the year

small gifts purchased or made by the class eg bookmarks

individual drawings

a small Australian flag or individual catering flags

badges of Australian animals, coat of arms, etc

storybook or book about Australian animals

made up passport for your travel buddy

disposal camera PLUS

THE DIARY

THE CLASS PHOTO

KIT BAG

Sending your travel buddy when the big day arrives:

say farewell (this may be a class party or a big hug and cuddle)
check off the list of things to be packed
address the padded parcel or postpak in BIG writing
make sure the bag is securely stapled or taped
if going overseas a custom declaration will have to be filled out
put BIG airmail stickers all over the parcel
email the his new class to inform them that their new travel buddy is on his/her way

Looking after your new buddy when he/she arrives:

share all the special things with everyone in the class and make the new buddy welcome
take photos of his arrival
email the travel buddy's class (as from the buddy for more fun) to inform them that their special friend has arrived- our letter from Ernie and Pete
send a letter home to parents to let them know that the buddy has to get some TLC (tender loving care) and about writing in his diary and taking photos
send the buddy home trustingly for home visits
share the diary the next day with the class
help the children write an article for the local paper or the school newsletter with photos.

Thinking of your buddy while away:

email his class as soon as you hear from his new class
use the class diary to keep a record of what happens
keep in touch each week or at the least every two weeks by email
send a postcard by snail mail (This can be made by the class or purchased)

Preparing and sending your visiting travel buddy home:

check his diary and add photos
make a copy of the diary to keep (This can also be word processed into smaller stories and made into readers.)
think of anything special that you may like to send home with the buddy (maybe some special clothes or a game or a book)
write a thank you letter or letters from the class
make a checklist especially for things needing to be returned
write a letter to parents informing them and thanking them for helping
pack the parcel as carefully as before (still send it airmail because everyone is waiting anxiously)
email his class to let them know their buddy is on his return journey

Returning Buddy:

let all the children give him a big HUG!
share his adventures in his diary with the class
share any goodies sent back with him
let him have a home visit with each child to share his adventures with parents
prepare an item for the school newsletter and perhaps the local newspaper

PROBLEMS that may occur:

holidays in other countries especially the northern hemisphere are different to ours
your buddy class may send their buddy by surface mail not air mail....
your buddy may get lost or damaged
your buddy class may not be as prompt in replying to emails

NB The Travel Buddies List Owner can help if you lose contact.

I hope this helps you have a very successful travel buddy exchange.

Visit the pages of other travel buddies.

Created by Cherrol McGhee October 1997.

Updated 30 April 1999.