The resources on the Global Oneness Project are intended for whole-class instruction, with opportunities for group and individual activities and assignments. The lessons are best used as supplements or extensions to the core curriculum. For example, in a unit on climate change, "The Vanishing Island" provides students with a case study to further their understanding of the human impact of climate change. Depending on the multimedia used to present the story, teachers will need a projection device or individual devices. Teachers are encouraged to create rubrics for the writing prompts to help students clearly understand the requirements and expectations of each assignment. The stories can be integrated into a wide range of courses including history, anthropology, environmental science, and English language arts.
Continue readingThe Global Oneness Project produces multicultural stories for classroom use. The stories released each month are presented through short videos, photo essays, and articles. Each story includes a lesson plan aligned to the Common Core State Standards and/or Next Generation Science Standards. The topics address global themes such as cultural sustainability, architectural heritage, changing ecosystems, community, and language. Users can search for lessons by subject, media type, theme, or standard. The lesson plans all follow the same structure, which includes background information, themes, estimated time, materials, and procedures as to how to engage students. The instructional strategies vary from lesson to lesson; however, writing and discussions are the key elements of the curriculum throughout. For example, in "Mongolia’s Nomads," students pair up to view a photo essay, participate in a guided discussion, and respond to a writing prompt focused on cultural sustainability.
The stories and lesson plans provide students with opportunities to explore global themes and make both personal and interdisciplinary connections. The lessons build on prior knowledge and encourage students to see beyond their local community as they get a glimpse into the rest of the world. Some stories may be difficult to relate to for some students; the subject matter can be serious, and some of the subjects' circumstances are especially dire. Fortunately, the guided questions and writing prompts bring context to each topic and help kids develop empathy and understanding for the subjects at hand. Each lesson helps students develop critical-thinking and communication skills, and there's a special focus on using evidence to support a position in writing. Some of the concepts may be difficult for students to grasp and will require pre-teaching or additional reinforcement during the lesson. Overall, this is a visually striking, thoughtful, and meaningful way to bring topics from around the world into your classroom.