30 November 2011 Last updated at 12:56

School Journeys Canoe

Primary assembly about children in the rainforest who make their journey to school by canoe.

Primary assembly film dur 3,59

Teacher script to introduce film

Jefferson lives near Mondana, a small village in Ecuador which is a country within the continent of South America.

Mondana is located within the Amazon rainforest. There are very few roads deep in the rainforest, so the children in Mondana have a very special school bus… it's the school canoe.

Without the school canoe, most of these children would not be able to go to school. It is too difficult to make your way through the rainforest. The Mondana school bus picks up dozens of children every morning along the banks of the River Napo.

The Napo flows from Ecuador into the Amazon. It's one of the Amazon's greatest water sources and in Mondana it's also the local highway.

Here's Jefferson's Journey to school.

Show film and use the discussion prompts below afterwards (email [e-mail] if you would like a copy of the film to download)

Ask the Assembly Question

• How would you rather travel to school, by canoe or on foot?
• Email your school's answer to [e-mail]

What does Jefferson like to do on his journeys to and from school?

What does Jefferson do to make sure his brothers and sisters are well looked after?

If Jefferson misses the canoe, neither he or his brothers and sisters can get to school. Give examples of when you have to be on time.

Why is being on time important? What happens if you are late for school?

Jefferson's journey to school can be risky. When the river rises children go home from school early and when it's raining the younger children don't go to school at all. Despite these risks, the families think it is important to get to school. Why do you think this is?

Ask the Assembly Question

How would you rather travel to school, by canoe or on foot?

Email your school's answer to [e-mail]