This document introduces Niva, a 10-year old girl from Christchurch, New Zealand, and her pen pal Hardick, a boy from Sonepat, India. Niva enjoys various activities like playing sports and art classes. Hardick likes going to parks and playing soccer. Their environments and climates differ - Niva's school has trees and fields while Hardick's has a large pool and running track. The weather in New Zealand can destroy crops with snow or drought, while India has hot summers and monsoons that cause flooding. Both children are affected by their regions' climates in their daily lives and activities.

1. The Way We Are By Niva

2. Essential Questions 1. How am I similar and different from my ePal? 2. How do the physical and climate differences in my ePal’s region affect my ePal’s life? 3. What affect does the culture in my ePal’s region have on my ePal’s life?

4. My birthday is on October 25th and it’s coming up soon!

6. I have 1 younger sister who is 4. I also have 1 dog, 1puppy, 2 fish and 4 chickens.

8. My Environment At my school we have a lot of greenery and huge trees! I go to Opawa School in Opawa, Christchurch. We have 3 fields and a bit of a hill. We have a huge playground that is called the Big Adventure. It has 2 towers and a 6 meter draw/swing bridge. My school is quite small compared to Hardick’s school. At my school we have 19 classrooms, an office, a gottage and a hall, which at the moment is being renovated. We have a half an hour morning tea break and a 50 minute lunch break.

9. How climate effects my life When it snows it can destroy crops and some farming animals. In summer we get some really nice warm weather and in winter we can get some really cold weather. The weather is a really important part of everyone and everything s life, especially a typical New Zealand farmer. They have watch out for snow and droughts. The weather doesn’t affect me that much only the occasional time when I’ve planned outside and its raining. I enjoy the weather and for me that is the most important thing.

10. My epals environment Hardick’s school has the biggest pool in the whole of India – it is also on the roof of one of the school buildings! It also has a 400 m running track! His school is surrounded by fields used for farming and the school is towards the edge of the village. Hardick lives in the village of Haryana. Hardick does not have any pets but he has one little sister who is three. He enjoys going to the park with his little sister.

11. How climate effects my epal It is hot all year but does get noticeably cooler in the winter season. When the rain falls it can flood easily because the ground is warm and flat, so the water doesn’t have anywhere to go. Hardick likes to play soccer in the summer but can’t play when it rains because he falls over on the slippery ground. Hardick’s environment is controlled by monsoons. They can have extreme changes in the environment. Like 1 degrees to 37 degrees.