Using the five gyres of plastic pollution as a springboard, this activity encourages participants to explore the issues surrounding trash in our oceans and to develop solutions. Recommended for grades 3-5 Time: 3 to 4 60-minute sessions
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Social Studies/History
Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves
by Louise Derman-Sparks and Julie Olsen Edwards NAEYC, 2010 184 pgs How we set the tone about anti-bias in our classrooms and learning centers can influence the entire year — and possibly the whole of children’s lives. Children learn at an early age about differences in race, gender, ability, economic situation, sexual orientation, culture, and more,…
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Great Peacemakers: True Stories From Around the World
“The way we see the world shapes the way we treat it.” ~ David Suzuki “When you have a vision, when you know that what you are doing is good for the people, then you cannot be stopped.” ~ Wangari Maathai “To stop any suffering, no matter how small, is a great action of peace.”…
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A Gathering Crowd: Functions & Rates of Change
Is human population growth threatening to overshoot and jeopardize the earth’s carrying capacity? If so, what can be done about it? In this activity, students will be able to: describe and model human population growth during the past 600 years with an exponential function, considering both the total amount of growth and average and/or instantaneous…
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We Have You Surrounded: Exploring Branding, Marketing & Globalization
We’re surrounded by marketing and advertising telling us what to buy, whom to be, what we need to be happy. Use this series of activities to help students explore issues of branding, marketing, and globalization. Recommended for grades 9 through 12. Time: Several weeks Common Core Standards for this activity (pdf): Download Common Core…
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Heroes and Enemies
We’re often told to look for heroes we can turn to for inspiration. How often do we seek out what we can learn from people we dislike, or those who’ve done evil? This activity explores what we can learn from both our heroes and enemies (what to do and what NOT to do). This activity…
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Word Power
Words have enormous power and often assign value. This activity explores sample words in context and what kinds of value those words imply. Recommended for grades 4 and up. Time: 15-30 minutes Common Core Standards for this activity (pdf): Download Common Core for grades 4-5: http://bit.ly/1dFjnYv Download Common Core for grades 6-8: http://bit.ly/14QJcit Download…
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The Third Side: Beyond Either/Or Thinking
Many people view the world through a lens of black and white, either/or. In this activity groups of students work together to explore a variety of possible solutions to a global issues conflict. Recommended for grades 7 and up. Time: 45 minutes to several weeks Common Core Standards for this activity (pdf): Download Common…
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Earth Court
The biggest issues and challenges of our time go on trial as students serve as prosecution, defense and jury, and then develop a solutions-based sentencing. Recommended for grades 9 and up. Time: Varies Common Core Standards for this activity (pdf): Download Common Core for grades 9-12. Find out how some of our other…
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What is a Humane Life?
What’s a typical Saturday look like in the life of someone striving to live a more humane life? Participants follow a “humane presenter” or a “humane wannabe” through a reenactment of their day to learn about the whats and whys of making humane choices every day. Recommended for grades 5 and up. Time: 90-120 minutes…
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