Children from Parkinson Lane regularly make extended visits to Pakistan during the academic

year to visit family, attending weddings or seeing elderly relatives who are ill, staying in family

homes in villages and towns. In order to make the most of educational opportunities whilst they

are there, a study book has been produced "My village in Pakistan". This ensures that our children

make the most out of the experience of visiting Pakistan. It involves them looking at detail at the

village that they are visiting, noticing similarities and differences in how people, especially children,

live their lives and what their environment is like.

Further booklets have been developed which encourage families to visit sites of cultural

importance, They cover • My Village School in Pakistan • My Study of Patriata or New Murree • My

Study of Khewra Salt Mines • My Study of Taxila • My Study of Lahore. Children and their parents

are able to select which booklets they wish to complete dependent upon where they are able to

visit. It is hoped that children will have the opportunity to share these with their class mates when

they return

Evaluations from the children – a selection of responses

What have you enjoyed about this activity?

• I enjoyed visiting historical places in Pakistan where there were artifacts.

• I was excited to learn about the village my family come from.

• Educating myself about on Pakistan’s history.

What new ideas or information have you learnt from this activity?

• I now appreciated the belongings of my Great Uncle.

• I have looked in detail at the homes in Pakistan and how they are different from mine.

• By talking to my family in the village to complete the booklet, I have learnt about the bravery

of my relatives.

What have you enjoyed least or had difficulty with?

• I went to Pakistan to see my Grandad who was ill and didn’t like seeing him like that. Whilst

we were there he died.

• I had to print the photos when we got back because they don’t have printers like we do.

• It’s hard to see how basic people’s lives are.

What would you like to change if you did this activity again?

• I would say in Pakistan for longer.

• Make sure I take my own colouring pencils because my cousins didn’t have any.

Evaluations from parents– a selection of responses

What impact has this activity had on your child and in your local community?

• Has had a positive impact.

• Being able to get an insight of a very different place.

• More eye-opening experiences in which reflecting.

• Being appreciative of what we have in common to those there.

If you have been directly involved in this activity, what impact did it have on you?

• Being able to support family.

• Spending valuable time with them has helped massively.

• This has indeed been very beneficial for us both.

How could we improve this activity?

• No comments.

Any other comments?

• Grateful that we have staff who support parents and all school children through their hard

work and continued efforts.

Evaluations from teachers – a selection of responses

What impact has this activity had on pupils involved?

• Gives children something to do whilst in Pakistan.

• Makes them look in detail at similarities and differences.

• They realise the opportunities they enjoy that others don’t.

• Enables the children to learn about their family and village.

The impact this activity has had on you and staff involved.

• Compiling the booklet has made us reflect on our visit to Pakistan and the experiences we

had, how life there is very different.

• It’s interesting to share the booklets when the children return, lots of discussions and

comparisons.

• Children learn about their heritage.

Impact on the school generally.

• Its important to us that our children recognise the value of their heritage and this activity

encourages this.

• Children report on how children live in the villages – their lives are very different, without all

the possessions children in the UK expect.

Suggestions for improvement/ what was the least effective and why?

• Most effective – learning about heritage.

• Least effective – encourage parents to take other booklets and encouraging parents to

support their child whilst they complete the booklet.

Any other comments?

Obviously we have not had many booklets this year due to Covid, looking forward to receiving

more in the future.