Interdisciplinary Global Education Unit Plan Samples
Math and Geography: "Blood for Bling"
by Jeanne Hart
ESOL
Fair Trade?
by Frances Wilkins
Science and Social Studies
"The Chemistry of Chemical Dyes"
by Jeremy Peterson
Below is my own comprehensive English Language Arts-Social Studies interdisciplinary team-taught unit covering the continent of Africa. It may seem ambitious, but because I have worked on it and revised it over the years, including most recently to reflect all I have experienced in TGC, I know it is not only doable, but incredible!
Standards-based Global Education
While the units provided above include state standards and learning objectives, this shorter document illustrates how I interpreted the Michigan English Language Arts standards and adapted lessons to reflect the Michigan standard while at the same time reflecting global competencies.
To review the Michigan State Standards for your subject and grade-level follow this link:
International Project-Based Learning Opportunities
What exactly is project-based learning?
The best online resource I have found for PBL is at Edutopia. Here you will find links for defining what constitutes PBL, and many project ideas for various grades and disciplines.
To get the gist of what a project may be like, this snapshot from BIE (Buck Institute for Education) offers an overview for different disciplines. You can search for projects by subject at this site.
Don't worry, if you are unsure about taking on a "big" project yourself, there are plenty of project-based learning ideas to include in our lessons and unit plans. Check out these ideas from pblu.org/projects
If you would like to connect with a classroom overseas to create common projects, epals.com is the "craigslist" for teachers where they can post their class size, grade-level, subject area, and project interest for others to search.
Youssef Elboutaibi, an English teacher in Nador, Morocco, contacted the Global Nomads group that arranged for him to partner with a school in Berkshire, Massachusetts for monthly Skype sessions. They discussed a different global issue each week, such as poverty, environmental topics, and geopolitical issues.
Thanks to the Internet, there are more and more ways to bring the world to our classrooms!
Youssef Elboutaibi, an English teacher in Nador, Morocco, contacted the Global Nomads group that arranged for him to partner with a school in Berkshire, Massachusetts for monthly Skype sessions. They discussed a different global issue each week, such as poverty, environmental topics, and geopolitical issues.
Thanks to the Internet, there are more and more ways to bring the world to our classrooms!
Project-based learning in the School of Global Education
at Stevenson High School in Livonia, Michigan
at Stevenson High School in Livonia, Michigan
For over thirty years, the School of Global Education has offered project-based learning opportunities through its participation in the annual Mid-American Model United Nations Conference. Each year Global Ed sends 50-75 students to this week-long conference, however with nearly 300 students in the program, this activity does not impact all students. Recognizing the educational value of model United Nations for all students, in 2000 SIMUN, or the Stevenson Intramural Model-United Nations, was born.
As close study of current events is a regular part of our curriculum, creating fictional crises based on world events is the first part of this project. Once the staff generates general topics, such as Somalian pirates or unrest in Ukraine, the seniors are given these as prompts to research and then develop into an actual crisis scenario. All underclassmen are first assigned a country to research, as during the three-day simulation each student will represent the viewpoint and interest of each assigned nation. Then, they are also given the general topic background to research, but they do not know the particulars of the crisis written by the seniors. The investigative research takes a month, with various components assigned by both their social studies and English teachers.
Once the rigorous research is completed, students are assigned committees which vary by grade-level, and when the simulation begins, the details of each researched crisis unfolds. During the simulation senior students act as chairpersons, legal counsel, and mentors. All students are coached by their teachers in parliamentary procedure. Throughout the simulation students dress professionally and are transformed into delegates as we simulate U.N. Security Council groups that will work to solve the crises as they evolve. Students have to think on their feet, adapt to changing circumstances as newsflashes are announced, communicate their positions effectively, use diplomacy skills with their other delegates, and work to find solutions to the problems.
Model-U.N. is an excellent project-based simulation that builds research, writing, speaking, and critical thinking skills. Students investigate, consider perspectives, and communicate. While they do consider taking action in the simulation, this is fictional. What we could add to this program is an action-based culmination at the end. Writing to their U.N. Ambassador expressing their concerns about issues is one place to start.
While SIMUN was developed by a few staff members of the School of Global Education, there are many international, national, and regional organizations that coordinate model- U.N.
Interested in learning more about Model United Nations?
Check out these organizations!
National Model United Nations
www.nmun.org
United Nations Association of the United States of America
www.unausa.org
Online Model United Nations
onlinemodelunitednations.org
Check out these organizations!
National Model United Nations
www.nmun.org
United Nations Association of the United States of America
www.unausa.org
Online Model United Nations
onlinemodelunitednations.org
Local Resources for Bringing the World to Your Classroom
Living in Southeastern Michigan, we have so many incredible organizations that support the ideals of global citizenry. Here I have provided just a sample to show a variety of local resources, yet a simple Google search will help you find even more!
Are you a science teacher, artist, animal lover, business person, or general steward of the environment? Check out Greening Detroit and the many links to help you connect locally!
Greening Detroit has quite a few community service opportunities to discover, as does the Great Nonprofits link below. Gleaner's Community Food Bank, Mosaic Youth Theater, The Heidelberg Project, and Kids Without Cancer are just a few of the featured organizations on this website. Note: While the link here is to Detroit organizations, you can search other cities at the homepage.
More interested in making connections with cultural groups? Like most large U.S. cities, due to its rich immigrant history, Detroit is home to many thriving ethnic organizations. Just want to immerse yourself in the language, music, and food of different worlds? Take a trip to Greek Town, Mexican Village, Cork Town, Hamtramck, or East Dearborn to explore these cultural enclaves in our area. Check-out the website Experience Detroit for tour ideas and related organizations! Plan a field trip today :)
How about sprucing up your high school Spanish, or learning a critical language like Chinese or Arabic? Encourage your students to take their language further by meeting with other interested learners. There are many language groups meeting at different times and locations in our area. Je vais au meet-up francaise a Canton chez Panera chaque dimanche a 14:00! Check out Meetup online for local language groups or to search other interest groups.
Oh, and then there is experiential learning at the recently renovated Detroit Historical Museum! Staff and students can learn more about early settlement in Detroit, the growth of the auto industry, Motown, and even the modern influences of Kid Rock and Eminem! The museum website even has curriculum and lesson plan resources! Don't forget that admission is free :)
NOTE: If getting downtown isn't as convenient, but you want to learn about early settlement in our area, then Nankin Mills in Westland, Greenmead in Livonia, Mill Race Village in Northville, and the Plymouth Historical Museum are all great free or very inexpensive options.
Another free museum that is on the same block as the Detroit Historical Museum is the Detroit Institute of Arts. From ancient antiquities, medieval armor, Van Gogh, and Warhol, the DIA is truly a world class museum. Keep your eye out for special events such as jazz nights, crafts for kids, or other unique exhibits featuring renowned and local artists. Field trips are easy to organize for school groups to the DIA. If you like independent films, teach a film class, and are interested in an evening outing, check the schedule for the Detroit Film Theater that is in the auditorium attached to the DIA (admission price is a typical movie ticket charge).
Interested in art? The College for Creative Studies, also just by the DIA in the heart of the D, has student exhibits, there is the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD), and if you have never checked out Pewabic Pottery, this is a must!
Interested in art? The College for Creative Studies, also just by the DIA in the heart of the D, has student exhibits, there is the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD), and if you have never checked out Pewabic Pottery, this is a must!
Industry and science, check. History, check. American culture, check. Innovation, check. The Rouge Factory Tour, Greenfield Village, Greenfield Museum, the IMAX...there are so many educational opportunities at the Henry Ford! While the Henry Ford sites are not cheap, there are discounts for school groups, a free teacher day offered each spring, and the yearly membership is a great value for families. The website also includes a link for educational resources and historical document collections.
Interested in a finding a guest speaker for a unit of study? Want to learn more about international education? Looking for graduate courses or professional development? How about study abroad? Then don't forget the incredible resources at the local universities in our area!
Aim higher with Wayne State! Dramatic performances at the Bonstelle and Hilberry theaters for students, fall art therapy sessions, lectures about Antarctica from emeritus professors, all at the most culturally diverse college campus in the state! Check out the links for events, the Office of International Programs, International Studies programs, and campus organizations for more ideas.
When a parent contacted me letting me know that real-life hero Paul Rusesabagina, who the film Hotel Rwanda is based, would be speaking at the University of Michigan, we quickly secured tickets, asked the parent association to pay for a bus, and passed out the permission forms to students. This free event was sponsored by the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, the International Institute, and the Department of Afroamerican and African studies. These departments are just a few outstanding resources offered at U of M. Don't forget to explore the Center for Intercultural and Global Studies or the Ross School of Business for other connections.
The Power Center for Performing Arts, the Museum of Art, Museum of Natural History, and incredible libraries (great for primary documents) are other noteworthy sites at the U to check out. I am certain that whatever your subject, grade, or interest is, there is a resource at the University of Michigan available. |
Conveniently located in Livonia, Madonna University offers a graduate-level global education class, an undergraduate certification in international studies, a Masters n TESOL program, short-term study abroad, and many community based, volunteer programs. One of the Franciscan sisters, for example, travels to Haiti multiple times a year and is always looking for additional help. I was able to earn inexpensive continuing education credit as an independent study student for a language immersion program I attended in France.
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MUSEUM MUSTs: Plan field trips for yourself and of course for your students to these local destinations!
Cranbrook Museum of Science Ann Arbor Hands-on Museum
Charles H. Wright Museum of Belle Isle Aquarium
African American History The Detroit Zoo
Dossin Great Lakes Museum Hitsville U.S.A. (Motown Museum)
Underground Railroad Living Museum Michigan Science Center
Fort Wayne Holocaust Museum
Cranbrook Museum of Science Ann Arbor Hands-on Museum
Charles H. Wright Museum of Belle Isle Aquarium
African American History The Detroit Zoo
Dossin Great Lakes Museum Hitsville U.S.A. (Motown Museum)
Underground Railroad Living Museum Michigan Science Center
Fort Wayne Holocaust Museum
Disclaimer:
This is not an official U.S. Department of State website. The views and information presented are the grantee's own an do not represent the Teachers for Global Classrooms Program , IREX, or the U.S. Department of State.
Similarly, the views and information are my own and do not represent Stevenson High School, the School of Global Education, Livonia Public Schools, or the State of Michigan.
This is not an official U.S. Department of State website. The views and information presented are the grantee's own an do not represent the Teachers for Global Classrooms Program , IREX, or the U.S. Department of State.
Similarly, the views and information are my own and do not represent Stevenson High School, the School of Global Education, Livonia Public Schools, or the State of Michigan.