January is the perfect time to try something new in your classroom. If you’re starting a new term and curious about international collaboration in education, but you need ideas that are simple and don’t require weeks of preparation, this article is for you.
COIL projects—Collaborative Online International Learning—might sound complex, but they don’t have to be. The four ideas below use project based learning to make international connections meaningful and manageable. They’re designed to be low-prep and high-impact. You can start them quickly, and your students will get real experience connecting with classrooms around the world.
Each project includes clear age recommendations and a simple path to get started using Class2Class.org. Let’s explore these ideas together.
Project Idea #1: Dance Culture Explorers
Best for: Ages 13–19
What Students Will Do
Dancing is something every culture has, but each culture does it differently. In this project, students from different countries share and compare their cultural dance traditions through research, presentation, and dialogue.
Here’s how it works:
- Students research a traditional dance from their country or region (individual or small group work)
- They create a short video or presentation explaining the dance’s history, cultural significance, and when/why it’s performed
- Partner classrooms watch each other’s presentations and post questions or observations on the Class2Class Project Board
- Students engage in structured discussions comparing how dance functions in different cultures (celebration, storytelling, ritual, etc.)
- Optional: Students teach each other simple dance moves through video calls and reflect on the experience of learning movement across cultures
Competencies Developed
- Intercultural communication: Students practice respectful inquiry and cross-cultural dialogue
- Global awareness: Students recognize both universal human expression and cultural specificity
- Critical thinking: Students analyze how cultural context shapes artistic traditions
- Digital literacy: Students create multimedia presentations and navigate online collaboration tools
Why This Works
This project is perfect for introducing students to international collaboration. It’s visual, engaging, and helps students see that even something as universal as dance has beautiful cultural variations. The discussions that follow often surprise teachers—students start asking deeper questions about identity, tradition, and how culture is preserved and transformed over time.
Project Idea #2: Around the World in School Lunches
What Students Will Do
Food is something every student understands, which makes this one of the most accessible cultural exchange projects for younger learners. Students share what they eat at school and discover how food traditions vary across countries.
The project adapts to different age groups:
Younger students (6-9):
- Draw or photograph their favorite school lunch
- Share it with the partner classroom through the Class2Class Board
- Participate in guided discussion: “What’s the same? What’s different?”
Older students (10-13):
- Document actual school lunches with photos and written descriptions
- Research where ingredients come from and how meals are prepared
- Compare meal times, food customs, and lunch routines between schools
- Create a visual comparison chart or collaborative presentation
All ages:
- Discuss questions like: “Why do we eat different foods?” “How does climate affect what we eat?” “What foods do both our schools have?”
- Optional: Share simple recipes or family food traditions
Competencies Developed
- Intercultural communication: Students practice describing their own culture and asking respectful questions about others’
- Global awareness: Students understand how geography, climate, and culture influence daily life
- Collaboration: Students work together to create comparative products
- Emotional intelligence: Students develop empathy by recognizing that “different” doesn’t mean “wrong”
Why This Works
This project’s simplicity is its strength. There’s no complicated prep work, and every student has something to contribute. Teachers consistently report that this becomes a favorite activity because students genuinely enjoy seeing what kids in other countries eat. The conversations naturally expand to topics like agriculture, family traditions, and how culture shapes everyday choices.
Project Idea #3: My School, Your School
Best for: Ages 6–13 | International collaboration in education
What Students Will Do
Students often assume that schools everywhere look and function like theirs. This classroom exchange helps them discover the wonderful variety of educational experiences across different countries.
In this project, students share what school looks like in their part of the world:
- Create simple presentations (slides, videos, or posters) showing their classroom, playground, school building, and daily routines
- Explain their daily schedule, subjects studied, and favorite activities
- Compare school rules, uniforms (or dress codes), lunch systems, and traditions
- Share and play games that are popular during recess in each country
- Exchange stories about memorable school moments or favorite subjects
Competencies Developed
- Intercultural communication: Students describe their own context clearly and ask thoughtful questions
- Global awareness: Students understand that educational systems reflect cultural values and priorities
- Critical thinking: Students analyze why schools might be organized differently (climate, resources, traditions)
- Collaboration: Students build shared understanding across classrooms
Why This Works
This project combines the familiar (school) with the surprising (how different school can be elsewhere). Students discover that while some experiences are universal—like learning math or having friends—the details vary in fascinating ways. Teachers appreciate how this naturally builds empathy and global awareness. It’s also an excellent foundation for more complex projects about education, childhood, or community in the future.
Project Idea #4: The School of the Future
Best for: Ages 13–19
What Students Will Do
This project shifts from cultural exchange to co-creation. Students from different countries work in international teams to collaboratively design what an ideal future school could look like. This deeper experience integrates Design Thinking (empathize, define, ideate, prototype, test) and Project-Based Learning (sustained inquiry, student voice, authentic audience).
The project unfolds in several stages:
- Students begin by discussing what they like and don’t like about their current schools
- They research innovations in education happening around the world
- Working in international teams, they design elements of a future school (building, technology, curriculum, schedule)
- Teams present their ideas to other groups and get feedback
- The project concludes with a shared vision or presentation that combines everyone’s best ideas
Competencies Developed
- Critical thinking and problem-solving: Students analyze current educational systems and design alternatives
- Creativity: Students generate innovative solutions and think beyond current constraints
- Collaboration and teamwork: Students negotiate ideas, distribute tasks, and build consensus across cultures and time zones
- Intercultural communication: Students learn to communicate clearly, manage different working styles, and integrate diverse perspectives
- Digital literacy: Students use collaborative tools to coordinate complex projects
- Adaptability and leadership: Students manage challenges, adjust plans, and inspire their international teammates
Why This Works
This is the most ambitious project on this list, but it’s incredibly rewarding. This project requires sustained commitment, but it also demonstrates what’s possible when students are given meaningful challenges and authentic collaboration opportunities. Students often surprise themselves with what they can accomplish together.
How to Start These Projects on Class2Class.org
Ready to begin? Here’s the simple process:
Choose your project idea. Review the four options above and pick the one that fits your students’ age and your comfort level with international collaboration in education.
Sign up on Class2Class.org. If you haven’t already, create your free teacher account. This takes just a few minutes and gives you access to the platform.
Create your project. Click the “Create” button on the platform. You’ll replicate the project idea you’ve chosen by adding details about your class: age group, subject area, when you’d like to get started, and any specific goals you have.
Make your project public. This step is important—it allows other teachers from around the world to discover your classroom virtual exchange and join.
Extra step—Connect with teachers. While making your project public is often enough, you can also browse existing projects or reach out directly to teachers whose classrooms seem like a good match. This proactive approach can help you find partners faster.
That’s it. The platform handles the logistics of connecting you with other classrooms, so you can focus on the learning experience itself.
Ready to Bring the World to Your Classroom?
January gives you a fresh start and a new term to try something different. These project ideas are designed to be realistic for busy teachers—they don’t require extensive prep, and they deliver genuine learning experiences for students through project based learning.
Whether you choose Dance Culture Explorers, Around the World in School Lunches, My School Your School, or The School of the Future, you’re giving your students a chance to see the world from their classroom. International collaboration in education doesn’t have to be complicated. It just needs to be authentic, engaging, and accessible.
Explore these COIL project ideas and start your classroom virtual exchange on Class2Class.org this January.