Name of the project:     The Teddy Bear Project
Organization/School:     iEARN / Sunshine Coast Grammar School   
                                      Australia
Class involved:              Class 5
Teachers Concerned:    Saimon Robin 
Subject Integrated:         English
Duration of the project: Ongoing (started on 01-08-07)
Period allocation:           4 periods / week
Website/Blog/Forum:     http://foro.iearn.org/webx/.1debd9ce/ 

Summary

This is an international Teddy Bear exchange using email/project forum and postal mail. After registration, classes send each other a Teddy Bear or other soft toy by airmail. When it arrives, the bear writes a daily diary, and sends home messages by email at least once a week describing its adventures, the places it has been, as well as the things it has seen and done. The project aims to encourage authentic writing by providing children with a real audience. They write their email messages as if they are the visiting bear. Sometimes Internet video conference between two classes may deepen their friendships. The project provides an opportunity for students to develop an understanding of cultures other than their own.