The Global Classrooms^® Curriculum

Since its inception in 2000, Global Classrooms staff and outside experts have created four curricular units: Peacekeeping, Human Rights, Sustainable Development, and the new and timely unit, The Economics of Globalization.

The Economics of Globalization focuses on international finance, trade and development and will offer students a comprehensive understanding of the
world marketplace – a highly valuable education vital to their futures in this new era of globalization. Evaluation and piloting of the unit are almost complete and we are moments from the formal 2009 launch.

The Peacekeeping, Human Rights, and Sustainable Development units are divided into two parts: a teacher’s guide and a student resource guide. A third element – a volunteer guide – has been added to The Economics of Globalization. Through UNA-USA’s local partnerships, area “expert” volunteers will now help implement the curriculum by visiting classrooms in their local communities.

The Economics of Globalization student guide is presented in four colorful magazines that cover each of the curriculum’s main themes: globalization, economics, trade, and finance. Each magazine has seven feature pieces that repeat throughout the four magazines. One of the student favorites is the “How the World Connects” articles, which use an object familiar to students, such as a t-shirt or Apple iPod, to illustrate connections in the global economy.

The comprehensive teacher’s guide includes the articles from all four magazines, as well as supplementary readings and suggested classroom activities. The teacher’s guide contains an introduction for educators to help them determine which articles to introduce in the classroom. In addition, there are several paths through the curriculum to accommodate different reading levels and instructional goals. Unique Model UN simulations form the culminating lesson for each unit.

Curriculum Lesson Plans

At the heart of each curriculum unit are step-by-step lesson plans that begin with an introduction to the United Nations and culminate with a simulation of the Security Council, Commission on Sustainable Development or Commission on Human Rights.

All lessons are aligned with standards in:

• Social studies (from the National Council for Social Studies);
• English language arts (from the International Reading Association/National Council for Teachers of English);
• Geography (from the National Geography Content Standards); and
• Civics and government (from the US Department of Education).

Lesson plans incorporate instructional strategies based on "best practice" methodologies in teaching social studies and literacy. Lessons also end with assessment tools inlcuding rubrics, information on creating delegate portfolios to collect and interpret student work, and information on evaluating writing samples.

In conjunction with the lessons, the Reference/Resource sections provide extra support materials, primary documents, a glossary of terms and acronyms, and Internet resources.

Global Classrooms Curriculum Comparison Chart