Global Classroom
Curriculum

Global Classroom offers a variety of curriculum materials developed for teachers by teachers. The materials are free to download from the web. In addition, Global Classroom also produces timely and extensive resource guides about global issues for our teacher workshops. These are also available for free on our Professional Development page.

Following the brief descriptions and links to curriculum materials, you may find a link to related Service Learning Project Ideas. We hope these will enrich the learning experience of your students. (Learn more about Service Learning.)

To view new Global Studies Curriculum (geared to WA Social Studies CBAs) click here

Linking Lands: A Partnership Between Seattle and Tanzania
In the summer of 2003, six Seattle public school teachers traveled to Tanzania as the second half of an exchange that had brought six Tanzanian teachers to Seattle just a few months before, in March. This exchange between Seattle and Tanzanian teachers took place in order to foster stronger relations between the United States and Africa and to build educational bridges between teachers here and teachers there. The twelve teachers who took part in this reciprocal exchange share a common interest in making sure that their young people gain a firsthand connection with the world beyond their borders. For the Seattle teachers, part of the legacy of this journey is this curriculum.

Linking Lands Curriculum
Cover (pdf) and Intro &TOC (pdf)

Understanding the World of Cartoons
What is a political cartoon? What is the history of political cartoons? How can we teach history through political cartoons? How can we understand world cultures through humor? What would it be like to wear David Horsey’s shoes? You can win a Pulitzer by doodling? How can we use cartoons to cope in our world? How can we use cartoons in the classroom? These are the topics the 8 week curriculum explored. The work of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's Pulitzer Prize winner David Horsey is integrated throughout to enhance the subject matter and provide a local connection. He was also the featured speaker at the workshop. We hope this curriculum will pique your curiosity about the fascinating world of political cartoons and serve as an invaluable resource for teaching.

Recommended for: Middle and high school Language Arts, English, Art, US History, and/or Contemporary Problems classes.

Curriculum (pdf) (8.1 Mgb) | Service Learning Project Ideas

Democracy in India
Through this unit, students will encounter multiple perspectives on the practice of democracy in the world’s most populous and diverse democracy, India, and will create a system by which to evaluate the practice of democracy around the world. The unit is written with enough background information that it can be used within either a unit on India or a unit on political systems. Funded by the Seattle Foundation.

Recommended for: Grades 8-12 History, Government & Politics, Political Science, Language Arts, and/or Psychology classes.

Curriculum (pdf) | Service Learning Project Ideas

Ethnic and National Identity in Africa
Including the entire continent as well as its adjoining islands, there are more than fifty independent nation-states in Africa. Most of the political boundaries between these nation-states are the legacy of European colonialism. Many of these borders either divided groups of people who had traditionally lived together or combined groups who had not. As is the case all over the world, establishing and maintaining peace and unity within its multi-ethnic nation-states has been a major challenge for the continent. Funded by the Seattle Foundation.

Recommended for: Grades 6-12. This curriculum unit addresses numerous Washington State EALRs (academic standards) in Reading, Communication, History, Geography and Civics.

Curriculum (pdf)| Service Learning Project Ideas

Exploring Contemporary Africa:  Lessons on South Africa
In July of 2001, fifteen teachers from across the Pacific Northwest traveled to South Africa and Swaziland as part of a Fulbright Study Abroad Program to study the cultures and societies of southern Africa.   Based on their travels, the group produced a collection of lesson plans and resources adaptable to a broad range of classroom subjects and grade levels.   Exploring Contemporary Africa contains personal stories, interviews and anecdotes on life in post-apartheid southern Africa, focusing on economics, education, government and society. 

Recommended for: Grades 6-12. This curriculum can be used in a variety of classes, including Economics, History, Government & Politics and Social Studies.

Curriculum | Service Learning Project Ideas

Iraq: Resources for the Classroom
Marta Colburn, Mercy Corps' Director of Education, attended the 2002 Youth Summit on "Understanding Iraq: US & Global Perspectives" as a panelist and shared her NGO perspective concerning the current global conflict with Iraq. This three page handout directed to educators lists books, videos, curriculum, and documents for K-12 classrooms.

Recommended for: Grades 6-12 as a resource in Social Studies classes.

Handout (pdf) | Service Learning Project Ideas

Reading to Learn, Writing to Connect
Six Puget Sound teachers came together to develop a curriculum guide with strategies for connecting reading and writing skills with world studies content curriculum.  With units ranging from recreating the 1962 "Century 21 World Fair" to publishing a travel magazine to reading stories about winter traditions in cultures around the world, help your middle and high school students connect with the world beyond their borders. Funded by the Russell Family Foundation. 

Recommended for: Grades 6-12. This curriculum meets academic standards for a variety of grade levels and academic subjects, depending on the lesson.

Foreword & Contents (pdf) - Lessons (pdf) | Service Learning Project Ideas

Teaching Media Literacy through the Topic of Terrorism
By learning skills for media literacy, students can adopt a more critical stance in responses to the information and images they receive and can be empowered to use media effectively to enhance both their personal development and theirparticipation in the community. Funded by the Washington Commission for the Humanities.

Recommended for: Middle and high school Language Arts, English, Art, U.S. History, and/or Contemporary Problems classes.

Curriculum (pdf) | Service Learning Project Ideas

WTO Education Materials
The crowds may have gone, but we still have a comprehensive WTO curriculum available at no charge.  The curriculum focuses on trade disputes and provides activities to bringing lively discussion and debate into your classroom.  Copies are available.

Recommended for: Grades 6-12. This curriculum meets academic standards for a variety of grade levels and academic subjects, depending on the lesson.

Section 1 (pdf) - Section 2 (pdf)