School life
In a Malaysia classroom
Local school customs vary. The best way to learn about a class's day is to ask them directly.
All country briefings
Asia · Country briefing
Malaysia
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.
- CapitalKuala Lumpur
- Population~34 million
- Time zoneAsia/Kuching (UTC +8)
- CurrencyMalaysian ringgit (MYR)
Malaysia, with Kuala Lumpur marked
loading map…
Climate in November: Dry season in many regions; warm.
The capital
Kuala Lumpur
Photo · Wikimedia Commons
Fun facts
What makes Malaysia a bit special.
The Petronas Twin Towers
Two silver towers joined by a sky-high bridge in the middle
Open lesson
The world's oldest rainforests
130 million years old - older than the dinosaurs were extinct
Open lesson
Rafflesia - the world's biggest flower
Up to a metre across, and it smells of old socks
Open lesson
Mount Kinabalu
South-East Asia's tallest mountain, often above the clouds
Open lesson
Batik - patterns drawn in hot wax
Bright fabrics made by drawing with melted wax before dyeing
Open lesson
The Mossy Forest of Cameron Highlands
A whole forest dressed in green moss, where the clouds get caught
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.
- 🦧
Orangutans - the people of the forest
Our gentle red-haired cousins, found wild only on Borneo and Sumatra
Open lesson
- 🐅
The Malayan tiger
Malaysia's national symbol - a smaller, rarer tiger of the jungle
Open lesson
- 🐒
The proboscis monkey
The big-nosed swimming monkey, found only on Borneo
Open lesson
- 🐗
The Malayan tapir
Black-and-white, with a little wiggly trunk
Open lesson
- 🦤
The hornbill - king of the forest sky
A huge bird with a giant beak and a 'casque' on top
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
- ℹMalaysia 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
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 Malaysia?
Choose Malaysiawhen you register - we’ll show you the time-zone feasibility.