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Calling All Teachers: 6 Interactive Ways To Use GlobalGiving In Your Classroom

Looking for ways to teach your students about our complex, interconnected world? Here are six interactive lesson plans that could work in your classroom.


 

1. Explore geographic and cultural diversity.

With charitable projects in 170+ countries, think of GlobalGiving as a virtual atlas that’s available 24/7. Your students can search for projects on GlobalGiving by assigned region or country. Independently or in teams, students can share what they learned about a region, country, and culture through their selected project. See how a Spanish teacher in Minnesota developed an interactive lesson plan that involved voting, money management, and fundraising.

Core skill-building areas: geography, cultural awareness, public speaking

2. Investigate pressing social issues from different perspectives.

GlobalGiving projects are organized around 28 important themes, including education, physical health, gender equality, child protection, economic growth, food security, justice and human rights, disaster response, mental health, climate action, safe housing, ending abuse, and animal welfare. Ask your students to choose a theme that is important to them and analyze projects under their chosen theme to learn more about any given topic from the perspective of expert nonprofit leaders. GlobalGiving project leaders publish quarterly reports brimming with important information that too often goes unmentioned in the mainstream media. See how an educator in Bali plans interactive lessons for children on environmental issues and waste reduction.

Core skill-building areas: reading comprehension, issue analysis

3. Challenge your students to fundraise for an important cause.

Challenge each team to fundraise on behalf of a selected project over a predetermined period. Try 1-2 months, and see how it goes! To motivate teams, offer a prize to the team that raises the most money for their project. The prize could even be a GlobalGiving Gift Card. And don’t miss GlobalGiving’s Learn Library of online fundraising resources. Our PDF guide, “Crowdfundamentals: The Beginner’s Handbook For Crowdfunding Success” contains step-by-step instructions, which will help your students raise money for the causes closest to their hearts.

Core skill-building areas: Crowdfunding, money management, organization, teamwork, marketing, communications

4. Play around the world in 80 days.

It is the title of a 1956 American film, but why not also make it a fun, deadline-driven activity in your classroom? Think about how many places, issues, and people your students could get to know in 80 days. Reserve 10 minutes at the end of the day for virtual exploration on GlobalGiving and see how far your classroom can get.

Core skill building areas: geography, cultural awareness

5. Read a book and crowdfund for a related cause.

Pam Giarrizzo of Sacramento, California, follows this simple, three-step process: She reads a book about a different area of the world, cooks a meal from the country where the book takes place, and gives to a cause in that country. Learn more about how Pam does it. Another member of the growing GlobalGiving community, Cindy DeCarolis of Water for South Sudan, uses the book, “A Long Walk to Water,” to teach children about extreme poverty, displacement, and perseverance. Water for South Sudan hosts the annual Iron Giraffe Challenge. As part of the challenge, students read “A Long Walk to Water,” raise funds for Water for South Sudan, and compete for a chance to meet one of the heroes of the book, Salva Dut. Is there a book on your syllabus that could get students engaged in and out of the classroom?

Core skill building areas: reading comprehension, issue analysis

6. Learn something new through the Project of the Month Club.

Every month, hundreds of GlobalGivers pool their donations together to support a different, high-impact project. Join the Club for as little as $10 a month. You’ll get a detailed, monthly email about the project your class is supporting. Members also receive a $25 GlobalGiving Gift Card after joining, which your class could give to a project of its choice.

Core skill building areas: reading comprehension, issue analysis, geography

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Featured Photo: Help Global Sorority Expand Our Reach by Support Meaningful Social Impact in Colombia

 

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