Connecting Students to the World

Welcome!
Connecting Students to the World: Engaging K-3
Lessons for Literacy, Science, and Social Studies

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Copyright © 2011, Facing the Future

Dave Wilton
• Assistant Outreach Director
• dave@facingthefuture.org
• 206-264-1503


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About Facing the Future
 Seattle-based nonprofit
founded in 1995
 Interdisciplinary global
issues and sustainability
curriculum for K-12
 Over 1.5 million students
reached annually
 All 50 U.S. states and
over 120 countries
 Professional development www.facingthefuture.org
and consulting


Sustainable Development is…

“meeting the needs of
the present without
comprising the ability
of future generations
to meet their needs”

“Our Common Future,” United
Nations Brundtland Report, 1987

Defining Sustainability

Social
Well-being

Sustainable
Flourishing Communities Strong
Environment Economy


About the Teacher’s Guide
Four Units
1. Biodiversity & the Natural
World
2. Humans and the
Environment
3. Culture & Diversity
4. Responsibility & Teamwork
Appendix
1. Background Info for Children’s Books
2. Endnotes

Linking Across Curriculum
Connect children’s lit with
foundational science &
social studies concepts
Scaffolding student learning
Aligns to Common Core in:
reading, writing, speaking
and listening
Aligns with specific science & social studies
standards for all 50 states

Searchable Database of
State Education Standards


Teaching for the Future
Challenging issues as
opportunities
Involves students in
solutions
Designed for developmental
needs of K-3 students
Draws on students’ personal
experiences and interests


Lesson Structure
Each lesson can stand alone
Reach all learners
Components:
• Hands on lessons
• Step-by step instructions
• Vocabulary
• Critical Thinking Questions
• Additional Resources & Service Learning Projects


Unit 1: Biodiversity
& the Natural World
Objectives
 Determine if items are essential or
nonessential for survival
 Compare their survival needs with
those of other animals
 Experience simulations of high and
low biodiversity
 Read or hear stories about
endangered species
 View and label photos of eco-systems
with high and low biodiversity
 Discover ways to support biodiversity
locally and globally

Unit 1: Biodiversity
& the Natural World
Critical Thinking Questions
 What things do we need to survive?
 How are basic human needs similar to
the needs of animals?
 Why is high biodiversity important?
 Why is it important to protect
endangered species?
Key Concepts
 Essential needs
 Habitat
 Biodiversity
 Endangered species


Activity 1:
Needs vs. Wants
What things do you
need to survive?
Do animals need the
same things that we
do to survive?
Could we survive
without other
animals and plants?


Activity 2:
Biodiversity Game
Part 1
K-1: Each plant must pair
up with an animal
2-3: Each animal must pair
up with an plant that it
depends on
Temperature then rises
over the years, how does
weather affect plants?


Activity 2:
Biodiversity Game
Part 2
K-1: Each plant must pair
up with an animal
2-3: Each animal must pair
up with correspon-ding
animal
Temperature continues to
rise, how does weather
affect plants?
How are animals affected?

Activity 3:
Children’s Literature

 2 books per lesson, 8 books total
 Books available in late fall at http://www.dot-to-dot-books.org

Activity 4:
Picturing Biodiversity
Is it easier to meet your
needs, like food, when
biodiversity is high or
low?
Sort and then label as
high or low biodiversity
This picture shows
high/low biodiversity
because . . .


Appendix:
Country Background Info


Endangered Species
Background Information


Picturing Life in . . .


Unit 2:
Humans & the Environment
Objectives
 Recognize that everyday items are
made from natural resources
 Explore a local environment and
identify why nature is important
 Determine ways that humans impact a
local environment
 Read or listen to stories about
endangered species in different
This Chapter Available
as a FREE Download at
ecosystems
www.facingthefuture.org  Discover ways that humans can
improve local environments and protect
endangered species

Unit 2:
Humans & the Environment
 What are some ways that we use
Earth’s resources?
 How do humans affect the environment
in which they live?
 How can humans help the natural
environment?
Key Concepts
This Chapter Available  Natural resource
as a FREE Download at  Environment
www.facingthefuture.org  Conservation
 Endangered species

Unit 3:
Culture & Diversity
Objectives
 Explore elements of their own cultures
endangered species and personal
identity
 Interview classmates to learn about
different cultures
 Compare and contrast our own culture
to the cultures of others
 Discover ways to promote cultural
diversity


Unit 3:
Culture & Diversity
 What is culture?
 How can we celebrate our own cultures
while also respecting other cultures?
 What are some similarities and
differences that exist among all people?
Key Concepts
 Culture
 Diversity
 Tradition
 Unity


Unit 4:
Responsibility & Teamwork
Objectives
 Determine why responsibilities exist
 Participate in a role-play about rights
and responsibilities
 Create an action plan that promotes
taking responsibility in school
 Discover ways to promote rights and
responsibilities to humans and the
environment
responsibilities and teamwork


Unit 4:
Responsibility & Teamwork
 What is a responsibility?
 What responsibilities do each of us
have as a member of a community?
 How can we benefit from working with
other people to solve problems?
Key Concepts
 Rules
 Responsibility
 Teamwork
 Problem solving


www.facingthefuture.org
Website Resources
 Global
Issues
Tours
 Classroom
Examples
 Service
Learning
Database


Review of
Curriculum Resources
Teacher’s Guides
Over 60 free lessons available
at www.facingthefuture.org

Student Textbooks
Written for grades 6-12. Preview
chapters available online

Curriculum Units
1-2 weeks in length. Most
free to download online


Teaching Global Sustainability
in the Primary Grades

4 Lessons
Simple, local, and personal
learning experience
Diverse learning modes
Integral use of children’s
literature & music
Focus on systems to scaffold
for sustainability


Staying Connected

 Visit www.facingthefuture.org
 Sign up for FTF e-newsletter
 Be a Peer Educator
 Provide feedback via survey
 Contact FTF:
dave@facingthefuture.org


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Curriculum unit available
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“We must teach our students that
they can be architects of the future,
rather than its victims.”
~ Buckminster Fuller, Architect and Philosopher


Connecting Students to the World

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