School life
In a Papua New Guinea classroom
Local school customs vary. The best way to learn about a class's day is to ask them directly.
All country briefings
Oceania · Country briefing
Papua New Guinea
A child-friendly mission briefing for Thursday 19 November - capital, climate, school day, languages, fun facts, native animals, and five questions to ask the class on the other side of the world.
- CapitalPort Moresby
- Population~12 million
- Time zonePacific/Port Moresby (UTC +10)
- CurrencyPapua New Guinean kina (PGK)
Papua New Guinea, with Port Moresby marked
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Climate in November: End of dry season or start of wet season; warm.
The capital
Port Moresby
Photo · Wikimedia Commons
Fun facts
What makes Papua New Guinea a bit special.
The country with over 800 languages
More languages are spoken in Papua New Guinea than in any other country on Earth
Open lesson
The Highlands - the hidden valleys
Mountain communities that the outside world only learned about in the 1930s
Open lesson
The Kokoda Track
A famous jungle walking trail across the mountains of Papua New Guinea
Open lesson
The Sepik River
A huge, winding river full of villages, canoes and crocodile carvings
Open lesson
Tap any card to open a class-ready mini-lesson - for the teacher to walk through, or an older child to read aloud.
Native animals
Wildlife your partner class might know best.
- 🐠
Coral reefs of the Coral Triangle
PNG sits in the most fish-filled patch of ocean on Earth
Open lesson
- 🪶
Sing-sing - the great gathering
A festival of music, dance and incredible costumes from across the country
Open lesson
- 🪶
Birds of paradise
The most beautifully decorated birds on Earth
Open lesson
- 🦘
Tree kangaroos - kangaroos that live up trees
Yes, really - kangaroos with fluffy tails who climb
Open lesson
- 🦤
The cassowary - the dinosaur bird
A huge, flightless bird with a blue neck and a helmet on its head
Open lesson
Tap any animal to open a class-ready lesson about it.
Greetings to learn
Say hello like a local
- Hello!English
Five questions to ask
Conversation starters
- 01What does your school day look like?
- 02What do you eat at lunch?
- 03What games do you play at break?
- 04What's the weather like today?
- 05What do you wish more children around the world knew about your country?
What not to assume
Friendly cautions
- ℹPapua New Guinea has many regions and communities - there is no single experience.
- ℹClimate, food, and traditions can vary widely from one part of the country to another.
Culture
Food, music, sport, festivals.
Food
Music
Sport
Festivals
Tap any chip to open a class-ready lesson - what it is, why it matters, fun facts.
Reflection prompts
- “What's something you'd love to share about your school day?”
- “What's the most surprising thing you'd love to ask the other class?”
Could your class meet Papua New Guinea?
Choose Papua New Guineawhen you register - we’ll show you the time-zone feasibility.