Here are some ideas to get started on globalizing your classroom!
Empatico
Empatico is a FREE website that connects classrooms throughout the world! According to their website, "Empatico empowers teachers and students to explore the world through experiences that spark curiosity, kindness, and empathy." They combine live video with activities designed to foster meaningful connections among students ages 7-11.
Empatico is a FREE website that connects classrooms throughout the world! According to their website, "Empatico empowers teachers and students to explore the world through experiences that spark curiosity, kindness, and empathy." They combine live video with activities designed to foster meaningful connections among students ages 7-11.
The Map Project
Inspired by the online course I took as part of the Teachers for Global Classrooms program, I decided to leverage the wealth of global citizenry I already had in my classroom. Teaching in a public school in the Bronx, NY, I have students from around the world in my room every year. So, we put up a map of the world, and used three colors of push pins. One color represented where each of us was from (or, where our parents were from), one color represented places we have traveled to, and the third color marked places in the world we were learning about. Connected by string to these pins were pictures and facts about the countries we were from, and what we were learning about specific countries. The idea became popular across the grade (grade 5), and each class decided to do their own map! Everyone chose to do it in a way that worked best for their class. Below is an example of a fifth grade class that chose to do it without the string.
Inspired by the online course I took as part of the Teachers for Global Classrooms program, I decided to leverage the wealth of global citizenry I already had in my classroom. Teaching in a public school in the Bronx, NY, I have students from around the world in my room every year. So, we put up a map of the world, and used three colors of push pins. One color represented where each of us was from (or, where our parents were from), one color represented places we have traveled to, and the third color marked places in the world we were learning about. Connected by string to these pins were pictures and facts about the countries we were from, and what we were learning about specific countries. The idea became popular across the grade (grade 5), and each class decided to do their own map! Everyone chose to do it in a way that worked best for their class. Below is an example of a fifth grade class that chose to do it without the string.
This year, learning from our experience last year, we will start the Map Project the very first day, so that it can also be used as an icebreaker and a way we can learn about our new students.
Human Rights Posters
In my school, the fifth grade learns about Human Rights. This seemed the perfect topic to inject global standards into, so we gave our students an assignment on human rights around the world. Each student was to research a human rights violation that was occurring currently somewhere in the world, and create a poster which brought attention to that violation. Students had to summarize the event, identify what rights were being violated, and give supporting evidence. We suggested four different topics, but allowed students to choose their own, if they wished. Below is a sample of some of the posters that were created.
In my school, the fifth grade learns about Human Rights. This seemed the perfect topic to inject global standards into, so we gave our students an assignment on human rights around the world. Each student was to research a human rights violation that was occurring currently somewhere in the world, and create a poster which brought attention to that violation. Students had to summarize the event, identify what rights were being violated, and give supporting evidence. We suggested four different topics, but allowed students to choose their own, if they wished. Below is a sample of some of the posters that were created.
Since we want the posters to be current, we will need to change what topics/events we suggest. To enhance the project, and because I was able to spend three weeks in Peru connecting with teachers and students, I am excited to revisit this unit and connect my students to students in Peru for this project. The idea will be for my students to get another perspective on the human rights violations they are researching, and to see what human rights look like in another part of the world.
Epals
Epals is a free service that matches classrooms around the world to communicate and work together on projects.
Epals is a free service that matches classrooms around the world to communicate and work together on projects.
OXFAM
This resource contains several global citizenship guides. These guides outline the key principles of taking a global approach to teaching and learning, as well as practical guidance for embedding it into your lessons.
This resource contains several global citizenship guides. These guides outline the key principles of taking a global approach to teaching and learning, as well as practical guidance for embedding it into your lessons.