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Teacher Resource Packets from Past Professional Development Programs:

Professional Development Programs

You can access GC resource packets electronically! These postings allow you to catch up on materials from our award-winning professional development trainings that you may have missed. Or perhaps you attended a training and wanted to pass on these resources to interested students and colleagues.

Please note that these packets, in compliance with copyright law, are excerpted from those distributed at our professional development trainings. They are not substitutes for our trainings but merely a listing of resources on various international issues. The full packets can only be obtained by enrolling in our professional development workshops, which are listed on the World Affairs Council calendar.

Links to Descriptions

From the 2009-2010 School Year:

From the 2008-2009 School Year:

From the 2007-2008 School Year:

From the 2006-2007 School Year:

From the 2005-2006 School Year:

From previous years:

Teaching and Learning for a Sustainable Future: Moblizing to Save Civilization (A Special Evening with Lester R. Brown, Founder and President of Earth Policy Institute)

Lester R. Brown, Founder and President of Earth Policy Institute, discussed his new book Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization and questions us as teachers: “Will we follow in the footsteps of the Sumerians and the Mayans or can we change course—and do it before time runs out? Can we move onto an economic path that is environmentally sustainable?” This 50-page resource booklet helps educators tackles these and other hard questions in the classroom. It provides teachers with access to Earth Policy Institute resources and includes extensive up-to-date resources and lesson plans on climate and energy, population pressure, food security, and urban design. New features include lesson plans featuring STEM topics and local volunteer/action opportunities.

Khoomei-Taiko Project Blending Old and New: Mongolian and Japanese Traditions

As educators, how can we discuss the social and cultural importance of preserving ancient arts while welcoming the new? Town Hall presented the West Coast debut of The Khoomei-Taiko Ensemble performing both traditional and contemporary music from Mongolia and Japan. This teacher resource packet contains over sixty pages of materials on both countries, their histories, their arts, their similarities and differences, and the challenges both face bringing their rich heritage into the twenty-first century. Additional opportunities to incorporate STEM topics into music education are provided.

Holding Up Half the Sky: Empowering Women in The Developing World (An Evening with Nicholas Kristof & UW Fellows from Sudan)

Nicholas Kristof, a two-time Pulitzer Prize winning journalist with the New York Times, spoke to Washington state teachers regarding women, education and development. As he and his wife note in their new book, Half the Sky: From Oppression to Opportunity for Women Worldwide, “The world is awakening to a powerful truth: Women and girls aren’t the problem, they’re the solution.” This resource packet provides information on five major topics that Kristof touched on in his speech: journalism; women, education and development; human rights and human trafficking; global/public health; and Sudan/Darfur. Each section has an information page on the topic, a list of web resources including print and video, two pages of links to lesson plans on the topic, and two pages of volunteer/action opportunities for Washington youth who want to get involved.

How Internet Games and Virtual Worlds Can Help You Deliver a More Global Education
5/20/09
We know that our middle and high school students are already playing plenty of online games. But, do internet-based games always mean wasted time and mushy brains? This resource packet provides resources, divided into four parts, about the world of online games. The first part provides general information on an array of educational online games categorized by appropriate school level. The second part of the resource guide dives into classroom use and provides a special focus on Second Life. The third part of the resource guide provides educational resources including lesson ideas, worksheets, articles, and helpful books. Finally, the fourth part of the resource guide provides information and links to several relevant articles and studies concerning the increase in media learning and technology use in the classroom.

Understanding the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
5/12/09
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of the world’s longest-standing conflicts and it is regarded as one of the most crucial foreign policy issues of our time. Resolving this issue has often been considered the key to ending various struggles throughout the Mideast region. This resource guide provides excellent general information including facts and timelines, information on the crisis in Gaza and other related regional issues, proposed solutions, and prospects for peace. This resource guide also provides useful simulation exercises, curricula, documentaries for the classroom, and information about local resources.

The End of Food: With a Special Focus on the Earth Charter
4/21/09
Food. Some consider it one of the most important global issues of our time. Agricultural jobs, food prices, shipping issues, health concerns, nutrition, food waste, hunger, malnutrition, mismanagement of natural resources in food production, and obesity. Food spans and intertwines numerous issues. This resource packet provides excellent sources of information on a wide variety of these and other topics. The packet also provides numerous sources for lesson plans, curriculum guides, books, documentaries, and interactive tools. A final section is dedicated to the Earth Charter.

Turkey: Searching for a Cultural Center
3/10/09
Following the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the Turkish Republic was established with a strong emphasis being placed on the importance of artistic expression. With the help of government resources, Turkish culture flourished into a unique hybrid of Eastern and Western traditions. Because of different historical factors that play an important role in defining the modern Turkish identity, Turkey is a product of efforts to be "modern" and Western, while maintaining traditional religious and historical values. Today, much of Turkish culture embodies these traditional values through modern dance, music, literature, art, architecture, theater, and other forms of artistic expression. In this resource guide, you will find information about Turkish language, culture and arts, literature, social issues including women's rights, education, religious and ethnic diversity, a chronology of Ottoman and Turkish history, political issues, cuisine, lesson plans, and much more.

Afghanistan on Our Minds and in Our Classrooms
2/25/09
Afghanistan is a country that some would say has been neglected for years. Overshadowed by the war in Iraq, it has drawn little attention until recently when the levels of violence have exceeded those in Iraq. Although improving the situation in Afghanistan at first glance seems like a military task, it is just as much a political and economic endeavor. This resource packet provides excellent sources and educational tools covering historical background, government, culture and religion, social, political and economic issues, environmental information, and a wide range of informational documentaries, books and other news sources about the complex country of Afghanistan and its surrounding neighbors.

China Matters: Exploring this Diverse Land and People
2/3/09
"One's approach to China's diversity is first of all visual," wrote the late China historian John King Fairbank. Even if you have never been to China you know from postcards, news reports, movies, and coffee table books that China conveys many diverse geographic images. In addition to China's varied climates and urban and rural landscapes, China supports the largest and one of the most diverse populations in the world. While the majority is Han Chinese (quite diverse among themselves), China's minority population of more than 100 million is divided into 55 officially designated "national minorities" (shaoshu minzu) or ethnic groups. With the economy growing so quickly, Chinese society is vastly different from what it was 20 years ago. "Little emperors and empresses" are growing into big ones. Individualism is on the rise, as young adults make their own decisions with regard to education, work, spouses, fashion, and leisure activities. Gaps between urban and rural China continue to widen. This resource guide covers a number of topics including geography, population, diversity, migrant labor, environmental issues - with a special focus on rural land reform.

Central Africa: With a Special Focus on The Democratic Republic of the Congo
1/14/09
With a population of about 60 million people, the Congo is the third largest country in Africa. It holds an immense inventory of mineral resources as well as major hydroelectric, forestry, and agricultural resources. The Congo has also been a center for a rich cultural life, and dynamic, active people. A particularly harsh colonial regime, disastrous autocratic rule, intense cold-war politics, and general regional instability, however, have contributed to a chaotic past and turbulent present. While receiving relatively poor coverage in the U.S. media, significant progress has been made in recent years, including an end to the regional war, an internal political transition to successful 2007 elections widely judged to be free and fair, and several years of significant real GDP growth. Clearly, however, major problems and substantial challenges remain. This resource packet provides excellent information on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (and other countries of Central Africa) on topics including history, government, conflict, diamonds, youth, and the environment.

Teaching Iran in the Classrom: Understanding Iran
11/17/08
The U.S. has a long-standing embargo against the nation of Iran and public knowledge of Iran is often extremely limited. Building understanding between these two nations goes a long way to diffusing tensions and fostering peace. Material from travel writer Rick Steves is included as well as a fact sheet and a comprehensive set of resources.

Waking up to Russia: A Look at Russia from a Global Perspective
11/13/08
Russia has mounted a remarkable economic recovery. In 1998, Russia was in effect bankrupt, its population impoverished, its state revenues depleted and foreign reserves as low as $6.6 billion following years of mismanagement. Just ten years later, Russia is the third largest owner of U.S. debt and its foreign currency reserves top 477 billion. The August 2008 war in Georgia brought the region into the headlines and the U.S. presidential campaign, and forced global leaders to reexamine relations with Russia.

Ethiopia: Cradle of Humankind
10/23/08
Ethiopia's rich cultural heritage is one of the best-kept secrets in the world. One of the oldest countries in the world, Ethiopia's great geographic diversity encompasses a land of rivers and deserts, mountains and lowlands. Today it is Africa's second-most populous nation and home to 80 people groups who speak 84 languages. Resources in this packet will help you explore the diversity of Ethiopia. The packet also incorporates incorporates material from the Pacific Science Center exhibition Lucy's Legacy: The Hidden Treasures of Ethiopia.

The Japanese Approach to Environmental Issues
5/1/08
For being such a geographically small country, the scope of Japan’s influence is truly staggering. Having emerged as the world’s second largest economy, with one of the most effective democratic governments and most highly educated citizenry, Japan’s rise over the past several decades is one of Asia’s most spectacular success stories. This packet provides students and educators with dozens of electronic, printed, and multimedia resources covering virtually all aspects of modern Japan. Though particular focus is given to the nation’s current environmental issues and policies, resources on such topics as history, pop culture, youth issues, religion, government, and economics are also included. The second half of the packet is compromised of a curriculum unit entitled, “Meeting Needs & Wants: U.S. and Japanese Transportation Innovations in the 1950s and 1960s” (this unit is geared to teachers implementing the “Meeting Needs & Wants” CBA for middle school students).

The Green Olympics and After: China's Environmental Challenge
4/24/08
As the host of this summer’s "green" Olympic Games, the government in Beijing is coming under mounting pressure to address China's growing problem of environmental degradation. While China’s fervent push toward modernization has brought with it significant economic growth and stability, the toll on the nation’s natural resources and environmental ecosystems has been exorbitant, indicating a very real need for Chinese policy-makers to focus on the issue of sustainability. This packet provides over fifty pages of resources (websites, articles, books, multimedia, maps, fact sheets, etc.) on environmental issues in China, including water issues, deforestation, industrial pollution, urbanization, sustainable energy development, and more. Also included is a comprehensive curriculum unit using primary sources geared to high school students entitled, “Humans and the Environment: China’s Environmental Challenge” (CBA topic: Humans and the Environment).

Turkish Culture and Society: Where East Meets West (2008)
3/26/08
These up-to-date resources include a Turkey Fact Sheet as well as articles, reports, and curriculum on numerous topics. Explore forty pages of website information on history, culture, literature, art, religion, education, politics, films, books, and local organizations. Also included are two lesson plans geared to middle school students: “Turkey and the European Union” and “The Golden Age of the Ottoman Empire: Suleiman the Magnificent” (based on the Washington State Dig Deep – Analyze Facts CBA).

Fueling the Future: Peace or Conflict? An Examination of Fossil Fuels, Development, and Conflict with a Special Focus on China 3/12/08
A net exporter of oil until the early nineties, China now imports 3.4 million of the 7.3 million barrels it consumes every day. With its growing reliance on oil, Beijing will continue to play a major role in the global economy and help shape its ties throughout the world. Both the U.S. and China face similar problems: declining domestic-oil resources and an increasing need for a stable supply. As the top two consumers of the world’s energy, they are also the top two producers of greenhouse gases.

Fueling the Future: Peace or Conflict? An Examination of Fossil Fuels, Development and Conflict with a Special Focus on Venezuela 02/12/08
President Hugo Chavez has said that he wants to create a new form of socialism and is pursuing a populist program—including free health care, subsidized food, land reform, and educational opportunities—funded by windfall profits from oil. By maintaining government control of oil wealth, Chavez hopes to transform economic development in Venezuela in ways that reduce poverty and inequality. But will these efforts succeed?

Environmental Impact on Global Health 01/15/08
Exploring the question that is being asked by scientists around the world: "Can people remain healthy in a world that is sick?" What is the relationship between the health of our planet and its residents? What are the links between extreme flooding, devastating droughts, new and reemerging infectious disease, and environmental degradation?
Additional Resources:

Social Studies CBA Lesson Packet: "Humans and the Environment"

Fueling the Future: Peace or Conflict? The Resurgent Russian Energy Superpower 11/07/07
Russia has mounted a remarkable economic recovery that has been fueled to a considerable extent by dramatically increased revenues derived from gas and oil exports. With oil and gas prices near all-time highs, Russia's return to geopolitical influence and power derive to a great extent from its status as the world's largest producer of hydrocarbons (oil and natural gas combined).
Additional Resources:

Social Studies CBA Lesson Packet: "The U.S. and Russia: Missile Defense Plans"

Fueling the Future: Peace or Conflict? An Examintation of Fossil Fuels, Development and Conflict with a Special Focus on Nigeria 10/16/07
Nigeria is an important but often overlooked producer of oil. As the U.S. Administration has sought to find sources of oil outside the Middle East, the U.S. has turned increasingly toward Nigeria. While this connection to the world’s largest consumer of oil would seem to offer promises of economic development for Nigeria, a review of the country’s history demonstrates that oil wealth has often only exacerbated internal social and economic problems.
Additional Resources:

Social Studies CBA Documentation: "U.S. Foreign Aid in Nigeria and Elsewhere"
Professor Wolfram Latsch's Presentation on the Impact of Oil in Nigerian Society

The U.S. Role in Iraq: What Teachers Need to Know 10/04/07
Is respectful and rigorous public deliberation on Iraq possible? What can teachers do to promote such a conversation in their classrooms? This packet includes resources for students and teachers on the recent history, politics, people and culture, highlighting the impact of the U.S. in Iraq.
Additional Resources:
The Choices Program Teaching Resources: "Conflict in Iraq"

The Earth Charter: A Framework for Addressing Global Climate Change 05/01/07
The Earth Charter is a declaration of principles for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful world, created in a 10-year process that included thousands of people in countries ranging from Argentina to Zambia. This interdisciplinary teacher workshop was co-sponsored by Yes! Magazine and Facing the Future: People and the Planet and helped teachers learn about the Earth Charter, the effects of global climate change, and ways to teach about them in class. The workshop also included a lively power-point presentation with Dr. Richard Gammon, an expert on environmental sustainability and global climate change at the University of Washington.

My Name is Rachel Corrie 04/12/07
Twenty-three year-old Evergreen State College graduate (and Olympia, Washington native) Rachel Corrie went to the Gaza Strip to aid Palestinians whose homes were being destroyed in the conflict with Israel. In March of 2003, she was killed by an Israeli bulldozer. Hosted by the Seattle Repertory Theater, this special Global Classroom event included a screening of the play, My Name is Rachel Corrie, which is told through Corrie's own words, and was followed by a reception and panel discussion with voices from Rachel's family and the Israeli and Palestinian communities.


Turkish Culture and Society: Where East Meets West 03/29/07
This two-part lecture series on Turkey (funded in part by the Turkish Cultural Foundation) first featured a seminar entitled "Challenges and Opportunities Facing Turkey Today." It included an overview of Turkey's modern history looking at state-society relations, the role of religion in society and politics, and the impact of the war in Iraq on the Turkish government and people. The second program was entitled "Crossing the Bridge: Where East Meets West in Turkish Culture." Teachers explored how Turkish culture embodies traditional values through dance, literature, art, architecture, and other forms of artistic expression. This comprehensive packet includes selected websites, books, articles, films, news sources, local and national organizations.

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Japan on Our Minds 03/14/07
These resources explore some of the critical issues impacting the lives of the Japanese including: the rise of nationalism, party politics, economic changes, youth issues, Japan-China relations, and Japan's role in the world. This is an updated version of the Japan in Transition packet from 05/01/06.

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Challenges Facing Vietnam Today 02/12/07
In the past two decades Vietnam has moved from bicycles to motorbikes to cars, from being the third poorest country in the world to being the world's second fastest growing economy, from importing rice to a position as the world's third largest rice exporter. While poverty and malnutrition still exist, vigorous campaigns have led to their dramatic reduction. In today's Vietnam, cell phones and the latest international fashions coexist and at times compete with a return to tradition. This resource packet looks at the background and the textures of the many fast-paced changes that abound in today's Vietnam—changes in the economy, the society, the culture, religion, politics, as well as in Vietnam's relations with Asia and the United States.

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Understanding Lebanon Today 02/01/07
What do Americans know about Lebanon? We know the simple facts that Lebanon is tiny - roughly the size of Conne
cticut. It was once part of the Ottoman Empire and became a French colony at the end of World War I and then gained full independence in 1943. The capital of Beirut has been considered the Paris of the Mideast and is famous for its beautiful beaches, mountains, prosperous cafes, and exciting nightlife. Lebanon has a population of 3.7 million with a high 86.4 percent literacy rate; it is the renowned birthplace of the writer and poet Khalil Gibran. We also are aware of its complicated contemporary history. The country was ravaged by a civil war for 15 years (1975-1990), the longest of its kind in the Middle East. In August of 2006 Lebanon was brought into our living rooms again as we watched this country shaken by a violent conflict between Israel and Hezbollah (a powerful Islamic political party with a strong militia). This comprehensive packet explores some of these issues facing Lebanon today.

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Encounter Point 12/05/06
Puget Sound area teachers were invited to a special screening of the award-winning documentary by Just Vision that follows the lives of a former Israeli settler, a Palestinian ex-prisoner, a bereaved Israeli mother, and a wounded Palestinian bereaved brother as they risk their lives and public standing to promote a nonviolent end to the conflict. Following the film, teachers received a copy of the resource packet and participated in a question and answer session by co-director Julia Bacha (co-writer/editor of Control Room) and producer Nahanni Rous.

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Most Dangerous Women: Bringing History to Life through Reader's Theater 11/28/06
How do you bring world history and current issues alive in the classroom? Dr. Jan Maher shared her ideas and her book (co-authored with Nikki Nojima Louis) Most Dangerous Women: Bringing History to Life through Reader's Theater with workshop teachers. The book cannot be downloaded but is available for purchase. Additional resources that were developed by GC can be downloaded here.

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Picturing East Asia 11/16/06
Capture students' attention and imagination by using images of East Asia. This workshop featured presentations on using visuals in the classroom to stimulate students' interest and understanding of themes in East Asian cultures and societies. The workshop also previewed the National Consortium for Teaching about Asia (NCTA), a nationwide initiative to encourage and facilitate teaching about Asia, funded by the Freeman Foundation.

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Why India Matters 11/14/06
India is a place where immense wealth and technical expertise exist side-by-side with dire poverty and social oppression. The comprehensive packet includes maps and articles and topical web resources including: Indian media outlets, government and history, India and the U.S., India and Pakistan, poverty, inequality, religion, etc.

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Teaching About Global and Local Conflict in the Classroom 10/23 & 10/24/06
This program featured Dr. Selena Sermeno who explored with educators approaches to teaching global and local conflict and discrimination at school and in the classroom. This packet includes numerous resources on peace studies and conflict resolution; peace and conflict in international affairs; and specific regions or areas of conflict.

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Shaping Globalization: Economic & Social Justice -- Can We Have It All? 10/16/06
This special workshop for teachers featured Nobel Prize Winner Joseph Stiglitz. The program featured not only a public speech by Dr. Stiglitz, but an intimate teachers-only discussion with him. This packet includes selected articles about Joseph Stiglitz, an extensive list of up-to-date web resources, and a glossary of globalization terms.

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Japan in Transition 05/01/06
These resources explore some of the critical issues impacting the lives of the Japanese including: the rise of nationalism, party politics, economic changes, youth issues, Japan-China relations, and Japan's role in the world.

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The Earth Charter: Local & Global Connections for Earth Day 03/30/06
The Earth Charter is a declaration of principles for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful world, created in a 10-year process that included thousands of people in countries from Argentina to Zambia. It is perhaps the closest thing there is to an international consensus on protecting the Earth and all its inhabitants. This link to YES! Magazine's website gives access to the Earth Charter's Curricular Module.

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Understanding the Balkans Through the Eyes of Two Writers 03/15/06
This packet was distributed at an event featuring two author-experts on the conflict in the Balkans. Zlata Filipovic, in Zlata's Diary, A Child's Life in Wartime Sarajevo, recounts her terrifying experience of a childhood interrupted by war. Peter Lippman is a human rights activist and writer with a background in the historical and social realities of Yugoslavia and the post-Yugoslavian entities. This packet offers resources for understanding the Balkans and teaching Zlata's Diary.

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A Force More Powerful 02/15/06
This program was based on the PBS documentary "A Force More Powerful" which highlights popular nonviolent movements that have removed dictators, resisted invasions, and secured human rights. Teachers interested in these issues should refer to our more recent and up-to-date packet about Teaching About Global and Local Conflict in the Classroom.

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Brush and Ink 02/02/06
This program featured an exhibit of The Orchard Pavilion Gathering: Chinese Painting from the University of Michigan Museum of Art. The accompanying course packet informs educators about the variety of formats and painting styles used in Chinese painting. The packet includes creative project plans by the Seattle Art Museum for making fans and colophon paintings which reinforce the connection between poetry and visual art.

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Understanding North Korea Today 01/24/06
While the Six Party Talks on nuclear non-proliferation in North Korea have grabbed the headlines, North Korea has also been going through a significant process of economic reform and restructuring. This packet provides educators with tools for understanding how this process affects North-South relations and the possible success of the Six Party talks.

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Demystifying Global Security and Nuclear Terrorism Issues 11/14/05
The World Affairs Council, the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), the Center on Global Security (Battelle), and the Institute for Global and Regional Security Services (IGRSS) co-sponsored an evening dedicated to discussing Global Security and Nuclear Terrorism Issues. This course packet will test your knowledge of weapons of mass destruction, answer questions, discuss global nuclear dangers and what can be done to prevent them.

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Global Health is Local Health 11/09/05
This special workshop featured a panel of global and local health experts. All registered teachers received the new Rx for Survival 6-hour documentary series and a copy of the Rx for Survival teacher guide. See above link to download the free teacher guide.

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Challenges Facing the Middle East 10/26/05
This packet was part of a workshop featuring special guest, former career diplomat Thomas Pickering, who examined the challenges facing Israel, Iran, and Iraq. The packet provides the reader with facts about each nation, historical and political causes of tension, and a list of organizations working to foster cooperation and stability.

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Beyond Islam: Muslims in America, Europe, Pakistan, and China 10/05/05
As the culminating event of the Global Classroom series "Beyond Islam: Understanding the Muslim World," Global Classroom was pleased to partner with the Al Islam Center of Seattle to offer teachers a rare opportunity to learn about the history of Muslims in America over 300 years through the special exhibit Collections and Stories of American Muslims (CSAM). The program was complemented by presentations of the brand-new curriculum materials created by a group of teachers on this project over the summer on Muslims in Europe, Pakistan, and China.

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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.)

Quick Links to Descriptions of GC Curriculum

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)

Unit 1 (pdf)

Day in the Life of a Student: A First Grade Exploration into the Daily Lives of Children in Seattle and Tanzania
by George Leung, Whittier School

Unit 2 (pdf)

Explore Tanzania
by Joni Pecor, Sacajawea Elementary School
Meet the Maasai (PPT) (14,150 Kb)

Unit 3 (pdf)

Volcanoes in Washington State and Tanzania
by Nani Castor-Peck, John Stanford International School
Tanzanian Volcanoes (PPT) (569 Kb)

Unit 4 (pdf)

What Statistics Can Tell Us About Africa
by Anne Fitzpatrick, Staff Training, Assistance, and Review (STAR) Program Consulting Teacher, Seattle Public Schools

Unit 5 (pdf)

Africa is Not a Country
by Menkeli Kanaa, Hamilton International Middle School

Unit 6 (pdf)

Connecting US Students' Lives with Those of Maasai Students
by Dan Docter, Hamilton International Middle School
Maasai Village (PPT) (1,093 Kb)


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)

 

To find out about additional professional development programs,
visit the Calendar.

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