School life
In a Myanmar classroom
Local school customs vary. The best way to learn about a class's day is to ask them directly.
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Asia · Country briefing
Myanmar
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.
- CapitalNaypyidaw
- Population~51 million
- Time zoneAsia/Yangon (UTC +6.5)
- CurrencyBurmese kyat (MMK)
Myanmar, with Naypyidaw marked
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Climate in November: Dry season in many regions; warm.
The capital
Naypyidaw
Photo · Wikimedia Commons
Fun facts
What makes Myanmar a bit special.
Bagan - the plain of a thousand temples
Over 2,000 brick temples scattered across a wide, dry plain
Open lesson
Shwedagon Pagoda - the golden hill
A 99-metre golden tower that you can see from across the city of Yangon
Open lesson
Inle Lake - the lake of leg-rowers
Fishermen who row their boats with one leg, not their hands
Open lesson
The Irrawaddy - the river that runs through everything
Myanmar's mightiest river, 2,170 km long
Open lesson
The longyi - a wrap-around skirt for everyone
A single piece of cloth, worn by almost everybody in Myanmar
Open lesson
Lahpet thoke - the tea leaf salad
A crunchy, tangy salad made from pickled tea leaves
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.
- 🐘
Myanmar's gentle giants
Asian elephants live in forests across Myanmar - some still help with logging
Open lesson
- 🐬
Irrawaddy dolphin - the river dolphin with a friendly smile
A rare, round-headed dolphin that lives in rivers as well as the sea
Open lesson
- 🐼
Red panda - the bamboo-munching forest acrobat
A small, fluffy, fox-faced animal of the misty mountain forests
Open lesson
- 🐒
Hoolock gibbon - the singing tree-swinger
A long-armed ape that swings through Myanmar's forests and sings duets at dawn
Open lesson
- 🐃
Gaur - the biggest wild ox in the world
A huge, shy, jet-black forest animal with white socks
Open lesson
Tap any animal to open a class-ready lesson about it.
Greetings to learn
Say hello like a local
- Hello!Burmese
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
- ℹMyanmar 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 Myanmar?
Choose Myanmarwhen you register - we’ll show you the time-zone feasibility.