A Care Package from Australia

Today in my Grade 6 class, we had a moment like this, and it wasn't because the kids can smell the end of the school year:

The source of the excitement was an announcement about the arrival of a package that was "too big to fit in my mailbox", and could I send someone down to the office to pick it up, please.

I usually know when packages arrive, who they are from and what they contain, so at the look of uncertainty on my face, pandemonium broke loose. Some students jumped up and down, vying for a coveted courier position, arms desperately flailing in the air, while others mused aloud about what it could be...

As soon as the package arrived in the classroom, the mystery was solved: "It's from Australia --TimTams!!!" yelled one of the two delivery students, having looked at the return address enroute from office to classroom and remembering the promise our Austrialian friend Ms. Cross had posted on our virtual collaborative classroom a few weeks back.

And then they all insisted I tear open the package immediately!

Indeed, TimTams it was! TimTams, and Australian flags, and play money, and a whole, long decorative banner which three students immediately carried out to the hall to post above our lockers!

The pedagogy of a cross-cultural collaboration is important, it's true, but so is the fun of just receiving a care package -- sent by plain old snail mail -- from a class in another country. Thanks, Australian chums!!! For the fun diversion today!