School life
In a Turkey classroom
Local school customs vary. The best way to learn about a class's day is to ask them directly.
All country briefings
Middle East · Country briefing
Turkey
A child-friendly mission briefing for 20 November - capital, climate, school day, languages, fun facts, native animals, and five questions to ask the class on the other side of the world.
- CapitalAnkara
- Population~86 million
- Time zoneEurope/Istanbul (UTC +3)
- CurrencyTurkish lira (TRY)
Turkey, with Ankara marked
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Climate in November: Mild autumn; cooler in the north.
The capital
Ankara
Photo · Wikimedia Commons
Fun facts
What makes Turkey a bit special.
The country on two continents
Most of Turkey is in Asia, but a piece sits in Europe - with a bridge in between
Open lesson
Pamukkale - the cotton castle
Snow-white stone terraces filled with warm turquoise pools
Open lesson
Tulips came from Turkey
The flower most people think of as Dutch actually started here
Open lesson
The blue eye - 'nazar'
A bright blue glass charm that people give for good luck
Open lesson
Ancient Ephesus
A 2,000-year-old city you can still walk through today
Open lesson
The Kangal - Turkey's giant shepherd dog
A gentle giant that guards sheep against wolves
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.
- 🦭
The Mediterranean monk seal
One of the rarest sea mammals on Earth, hidden in Turkey's sea caves
Open lesson
- 🐢
Loggerhead sea turtles
Mothers swim hundreds of kilometres back to the exact beach they were born on
Open lesson
- 🐻
The brown bears of Turkey
Big, shy and almost never seen - they live deep in Turkey's forests
Open lesson
Tap any animal to open a class-ready lesson about it.
Greetings to learn
Say hello like a local
- Hello!Turkish
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
- ℹTurkey 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 Turkey?
Choose Turkeywhen you register - we’ll show you the time-zone feasibility.