Every Friday morning, my third grade class grabs their passports and sets off on a brand new adventure around the world. We explore towering mountains, taste-test imaginary dumplings, and dive into the rich histories and cultures that make each place unique. Along the way, we discover how beautifully different—and wonderfully similar—we all are. And when I ask why they’re traveling, the answer is almost always the same: “to be with my friends.” So come on—let’s take a trip!

The Around The World Presentation started off each Friday morning with a guessing game. With just a few hints, I asked my students to guess which country around the world we were visiting. After a few guesses, we located the new country on the world map and the class had to line up with their passports to go through “customs.” Each student’s passport got “stamped” and they were let into this new world! I took them on a journey exploring the food, languages, clothes, customs and traditions, and the landscape. They were free to ask questions and explore other areas of interest within our new country.

Together, we nurtured a genuine curiosity for the world and all global citizens all while truly fostering positive and engaging conversation. We visited thirty-two countries, were able to taste the cuisine of five countries, and learned how to say hello and goodbye in twenty-one languages.