Abstract: The Current Event Research Project is designed to go beyond summarizing news articles. It can be a semester-long or year-long project to help students build connections with contemporary issues and past events, identify patterns and trends, and understand the perspectives of different societies. The project will require three lessons to help prepare and guide students for their final research paper.  In the first part of the project, the student will find a current event article based on their assigned region. The second half of the project will focus on an assigned theme.

Curriculum Standards: Civic Ideals and Practices; Culture; Global Connections; Individuals, Groups and Institutions; People, Places and Environment; Power, Authority and Governance; Science, Technology and Society; Time, Continuity and Change

Geographic Focus: Global

Class Periods*: 3-4

Author: Lorena Ortiz

Related Files: Lesson Plan | Outline | Attachment 1 | Attachment 2 | Attachment 3 | Regions of the World Powerpoint | Download All Files As ZIP

*based on a 55-minute class period.

Abstract: This will be a multi-day lesson, conducive to 10^th-12^th grade World History or Global Studies courses, and will begin by having the students take a school climate survey that is modeled after the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which will be used as a prelude to receiving background on worldwide child exploitation, student projects on childhood labor and children soldiers, and culminate in a student-driven, and teacher facilitated, wiki and discussion board that raises awareness on this issue.

Curriculum Standards: Civic Ideals and Practices; Global Connections; Power, Authority and Governance.

Geographic Focus: Global

Class Periods*: 4-5

Author: Ken Carano

Related Files: Lesson Plan | Teacher Attachment | Guided Imagery Choices | Attachment 1 | Attachment 2 | Attachment 3 | Attachment 4 | Attachment 5 | Attachment 6 | Attachment 7 | Download All As .ZIP

*based on a 55-minute class period.

Abstract: This lesson will expose students to the conflicts that are currently taking place all over the world. Students will realize how people are affected by such conflicts and will internalize how other people live. Students will also gain a conscious and cross-cultural awareness of the people of a specific region of the world.

Curriculum Standards: People, Places and Environment; Power, Authority and Governance; Global Connections

Geographic Focus: Africa, Congo

Class Periods*: 2-3

Author: Tracy Tillota

Related Files: Lesson Plan

*based on a 55-minute class period.

Abstract: This will be a multi-day lesson, conducive to 10th-12th grade World History or Global Studies courses, and will begin by having the students take a school climate survey that is modeled after the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which will be used as a prelude to receiving background on worldwide child exploitation, student projects on childhood labor and children soldiers, and culminate in a student-driven, and teacher facilitated, wiki and discussion board that raises awareness on this issue.

Curriculum Standards: Power, Authority and Governance; Global Connections; Civic Ideals and Practices

Geographic Focus: Global

Class Periods*: 4-5

Author:

Related Files: Lesson Plan

*based on a 55-minute class period.

Abstract: This lesson will introduce students to Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez, dictators of Cuba and Venezuela, respectively, and make them aware of the similarities between the two leaders. Students will also analyze the political dynamics of each leader and how each impacts the United States.

Curriculum Standards: Culture; Time, Continuity and Change; People, Places and Environment; Individuals, Groups and Institutions; Power, Authority and Governance; Global Connections; Civic Ideals and Practices

Geographic Focus: Latin America, South America, Cuba, Venezuela

Class Periods*: 1-3

Author: Joel Goodrick

Related Files: Lesson Plan | Handout 1 | Handout 2 | Handout 3 | Handout 4 | Handout 5

*based on a 55-minute class period.

Abstract: This lesson will teach students about children in Uganda who are becoming child soldiers during government and rebel conflict. Students will understand what the international community has done to help and what programs exist in Uganda to help these children and their communities.

Curriculum Standards: Culture; Power, Authority and Governance; Global Connections, Civic Ideals and Practices

Geographic Focus: Africa, Uganda

Class Periods*: 2-3

Author: Sanna Said

Related Files: Lesson Plan | DVD Cover | Problem Analysis | Download All Files As .ZIP

*based on a 55-minute class period.

Abstract: This lesson will show students how music of the past influences music of today by comparing the work of Johannes Brahms to the work of Carlos Santana.

Curriculum Standards:

Geographic Focus: Europe, Latin America, North America, Western Africa

Class Periods*: 2-3

Author: Joy Fauntleroy

Related Files: Lesson Plan | Resources

*based on a 55-minute class period.

Abstract: The objective of this lesson is to provide students with several sources of information with differing perspectives about Columbus’ voyages and the events that transpired. Using this information as support to their arguments, students will evaluate whether they believe Columbus’ “discovery” of America was really a positive or negative event in history.

Curriculum Standards: Culture; Time, Continuity and Change; People, Places and Environment; Global Connections

Geographic Focus: North America

Class Periods*: 3-4

Author: Katie McHargue

Related Files: Lesson Plan | PowerPoint Presentation | Handout 1 | Handout 2 | Handout 3 | Homework Assignment | Download All Files As .ZIP

*based on a 55-minute class period.

Abstract: Students will become familiar with the multiple perspectives involved in a crisis situation by reading about a prison uprising in Brazil and the conditions that led to that uprising, the participants in the crisis and their motives and the connections to life in US prisons both historically and current.

Curriculum Standards: Culture; People, Places and Environment; Individuals, Groups and Institutions; Power, Authority and Governance; Global Connections; Civic Ideals and Practices

Geographic Focus: South America, Brazil

Class Periods*: 2-3

Author: Robert Bailey

Related Files: Lesson Plan | PowerPoint Presentation

*based on a 55-minute class period.