Globalizing your instruction to teach for core competencies does not mean adding extra SOLs or throwing out your tried-and-true content lessons. What it may mean is looking at what you already do with a different lens and make some revisions to help meet global competency goals. Remember- you don't have to do it all at once! Here are some resources to help you make that change:
Resources for teachers
Edutopia's comprehensive Resource Roundup features resources to help you foster global competency in the classroom, strategies for teaching, and student leadership and service ideas. Australia has a Global Education websitefull of ready-to-go lessons, strategies, case studies, videos, graphic organizers and links.
Teach SDGs has lesson resources, project ideas, professional development and teacher networking opportunities for those who want to teach the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Teach SDGs also have a Global Books Collection that recommends K-12-appropriate books to help teach each Sustainable Development Goal.
The Global Education Toolkit for Elementary Learners, by Homa Sabet Tavangar and Becky Mladic-Morales Comprehensive guide with lessons, websites, texts, you name it for all your Elementary Learner and Teacher needs. It has everything. I could replicate the info here but it's all in this book. Highly recommended.
These free resources from the book are available from the publisher, click here: Tavangar and Morales' Beyond Food, Fun, and Festivals Webinar, Multicultural Book List, Global Citizen Passport Template
Tons of educational resources aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This text digs deep into the challenges faced by our future generations and discusses ways teachers can prepare their students to participate on the global stage.
Tools to design global curriculum, design school-wide strategies to teach global education, and a 60 lesson curriculum prototype. Lessons from k-12 and beyond that address the UN SDGs can be implemented immediately.
Follow Nick Palmer, PhD candidate researching Global Citizenship Education on Twitter
Help your students connect to the world around them
Tech can connect your students to the world. Here are some ways you can bridge the distance.
Padlet - A visually compelling collaboration tool that allows for equity of voice between peers and an easy-to-engage-with interface. Grab some ideas here.
Thinglink - Turns images and videos into interactive learning experiences.
Flipgrid- A video discussion platform that links people form 180+ countries. Students love to record their video responses to topics generated by you and other educators. Especially useful for younger children who are not yet proficient writers, but engaging for everyone.
Community Resources
The VDOE and VIF International Education have piloted a program in Virginia called the Global Schools Network (GSN). Member schools are dedicated to best practices in international education, including language learning and global awareness programs, international professional development, use of technology and cultural exchange.
The University of Richmond has an International Education program that hosts various programs, including a global music series and an International Film Festival. View its website here. Virginia Commonweath University has an outreach program through its Global Education Office. Check it out here.
What does the Virginia Department of Education say about International Education? Find out here.
The Asia Society produced the following information about Virginia's global education initiatives: Global Virginia
"The Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice. The Goals interconnect and in order to leave no one behind, it ís important that we achieve each Goal and target by 2030."
"World’s Largest Lesson introduces the Sustainable Development Goals to children and young people everywhere and unites them in action."
Global Education Unit Plan
Below is an elementary level unit plan that based on VA Science SOLs that has been globalized. I have used some components of it successfully, and some components are in the process of changing to meet my time constraints and to improve interconnectivity.