The World's Largest Lesson Plan: My Summer PD

by Bridget Suvansri

It’s common for teachers to take large chunks of their summer vacation to teach summer school, work another job, or engage in professional development.  Some teachers even do all of the above.  As one of those teachers who takes some time for PD, I want to tell you my plans.

What is the World’s Largest Lesson Plan?

The World’s Largest Lesson Plan “aims to introduce the Global Goals for Sustainable Development  to children and young people everywhere, and help them take action,” and I want in!  

It’s an amazing and extensive set of resources to help teachers teach students about the Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs.  The Sustainable Development Goals are 17 goals to achieve 3 extraordinary things by 2030:

• End extreme poverty.
• Fight inequality and injustice.
• Tackle climate change.

Don’t be fooled by thinking 2030 is SO FAR away!  It’s only 13 years away which means my incoming 6th graders (11-12 year olds) will be out of college and in the working world.  NOW is the exact time to get started in introducing the goals and helping kids understand what they can do in their own communities to do their part in a local way.  

How Do I Start?

A great place for teachers to start is by taking this course, “Teaching Sustainable Development Goals.”  It’s free, and links to all of the sites and resources you will need to make a plan and get started!  There are lesson plans for all ages that last one day, one week, a term, or all year!  And, no matter the subject you teach,  there is an SDG that connects!

Once you have the basic overview,  take this course, “Students Who Campaign for the SGDs”  and start working with students using the lesson plan on Day One if you want to!  It is a 12-step guide that introduces the SDGs and has them create an artifact to display in the school or on social media to spread their #globalgoals!

A wonderful resource is Participate.com!  Check under their “Courses” tab for a course called, “Transform Our World: the Global Goals.” This site also aims to connect teachers using Twitter chats and SDG-related hashtags so you can stay current with what other teachers are doing.  

But, if you just need something to get started, like a launch to help students learn the goals and learn how each and every student can be inspired to help, use this lesson plan called, “Calling All Heroes!  Blue Capes:  Global Game Changers.”

Of course, these ideas are just the tip of the melting iceberg, so I intend to get on it quick, see what else is out there, and figure out a plan for the 2017-2018 school year.

A Sense of Purpose:

Read this wonderful excerpt from an article in ASCD Express by Global Educator Erin Dowd.  It exemplifies the purpose of the SDGs:

 “A global education doesn't always have to be about world events or other countries, but rather about how to live in the world. Learning how to listen, how to disagree respectfully, how to encourage, and how to be a leader are several elements of a global education that all students need. Global education is not a separate subject or a single lesson; it is a necessary part of all education, for all people. Global education allows a shift in perspective, which provides opportunities for both students and teachers to grow and develop as humans equipped with an understanding of their roles in a complex world.”  (follow Erin on twitter at @eedowd27)

It is this idea that excites me for my own summer professional development.   I hope you will join me! Go to www.teachsdgs.org to take the pledge, find more resources, and connect with other educators around the world #teachsdgs.

As you find cool lessons and resources you think you will use when teaching the SDG’s, please tell me all about it (and link to it) in the comments below!