A group of North Hills Middle School students spent some time Tuesday morning, April 23, interacting with students from Norway.
In groups of two and three, approximately 30 eighth graders chatted virtually with similarly aged students from Ringshaug Ungdomsskole in Tønsberg, Norway. Ungdomsskole is Norwegian for middle school or lower secondary school. Tønsberg is located along Norway’s southern coast.
The students asked and answered questions about other’s lives and culture while discussing similarities and differences between the United States and Norway.
Topics included:
- Popular foods and candy
- School buses, modes of transportation and each country’s driving age
- Hobbies and weekend activities
- Holidays
- Location and proximity to neighboring countries
The students enjoyed the experience with some even exchanging social media usernames to keep in touch in the future.
The event was organized by North Hills Middle School eighth grade social studies teacher Larry Dorenkamp, who is currently on sabbatical serving as a Roving Scholar with the Fulbright Program in Norway.
Eighth graders teachers Adam Bailey, Calvin Chmura, Samantha Casile, Rich Texter and Joe Welch along with middle school librarian Meghan Clark, assisted with the project. Mr. Welch put together the video recap below.
Ms. Casile is Mr. Dorenkamp's long-term substitute this school year. Mr. Dorenkamp will return for the 2024-25 school year.