The cardboard box which allows Elm Park children to travel over the world

The google device. (Image: Archant)

From the snow capped mountains of Everest to the depths of the Coral Sea off Australia, pupils at the school in South End Road, Elm Park, ventured on an interactive journey which brought the curriculum to life.

The device is simple yet effective, and uses an Asus android device encased in a cardboard viewfinder to transport participants to more than 230 locations.

As they move their head so does the scene before them.

When the children first looked through the contraption, the room was filled with oohs and ahs and ICT co-ordinator Daniel Marshall said the idea was “just phenomenal”.

Dennis Calot, Luke Asuming, Elisabeta Darie, Dhanish lal, Simona Ioan-Andrea try the device. (Image: Archant)

“Half of these children haven’t been on a plane before,” he said.

“To have the opportunity to go under the sea and to south America in half an hour is brilliant – it makes it so accessible.”

The visual landscape is controlled by the teacher through a tablet and Mr Marshall weaved facts about the sun, turtles and ecosystem into the experience. The children were so absorbed by their adventure that they eagerly joined in, sharing knowledge and answering questions about sights on the trip.

“The children are so engaged, I have never seen anything like it before,” he said.

“In a classroom the device is a bonus and you can weave lots of different types of curriculum into it.

“For children who find it hard to write stories it will be a great visual stimulus. I hope we can get a few

to keep.”

Luke Asuming, 10, was one of the pupils lucky enough to try out the kit. He said: “It is so cool that you can travel across the world with a cardboard box in your hand.”

Elisabeta Darie, 10, said: “It is nice to see the world in different angles.”

Dhanish Lal, 10, said: “It just looks like a cardboard box until you put it to your face and you can travel”.