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You can help
your pupils to become active global citizens by involving them in
the following activities:
Choosing an issue
What would your pupils like to inform, influence, or persuade
someone else about?
It may be that they simply want to tell others about what they have
learned and why they think it's important to understand about other
people and places. Or maybe you can help them see the bigger global
issues illustrated by their class work.
For example:
- Fair Trade
- Rich World/Poor World
- Global warming
- Destruction of rain forests
- Debt
- Energy resources
- Poverty
- Hunger
- Homelessness
- Refugees
- Human rights
- Racism
- Water resources
- Waste
- Pollution
Deciding what to do
Pupils could take many types of action to inform, influence or
persuade others to bring about positive change. However, we can all
start by changing ourselves. What individual commitment are your
pupils going to make to effect the change they want?
I can turn off the tap when cleaning my teeth.
I will try to re-use and recycle as much as possible.
When it comes to influencing others, your pupils need to realise
that the action they take will depend on what message they want to
give, to whom, and why. Pupils are often unaware of the range of
possibilities for action.
Begin by brainstorming the kinds of action they could
take.
Here are a few starters:
- Display work in a public place
- Contact the local press
- Put on a performance
- Invite an MP into your school
- Hold a public debate
- Organise a petition and hold a sponsored event
- Produce and sell a fair-trade directory for your area
- Do a green audit for your school
Hot tips for action:
- Think big.
- Start small.
- Keep it simple.
- Be realistic.
- Celebrate success.
Reflecting on how it went
It is important that the pupils reflect on questions such
as:
- How did we work together?
- Did the group reach a decision that everyone could
support?
- Have we made a difference?
- How do we know?
- What would we do differently next time?
Write down three learning points to remember. 'Next time I...' |
