One way of connecting with global education communities is through the organization Global Kids Connect found at, http://www.globalkidsconnect.org/. This organization has a program that connects students in the United States to students in Afghanistan and Tajikistan through collaboration projects, media and school based initiative to build global citizenship and youth philanthropy. The objective is to provide future leaders and world citizens with knowledge, skills, and values for positive action and participation in an interconnected world. Right now the organization collaborates with these regions and posts activity ideas on how to increase global citizenship in the classroom. These activities include: soccer around the world, what's in a name, and culture wheel. These activities show the results from the classroom in Tajikistan. The organization is currently working on building a digital community with kids around the world through greeting cards, interactive chat rooms, email and much more. I found this website through google search. Children can learn about the history and culture of the students in Afghanistan and Tajikistan. One lesson plan I really liked that connects all of the children is the soccer activity. In this activity both classrooms use a map and the internet to find and label the winners of the world cup games for every year and the country the game was held in. One last thing I found really cool on the website is a database of different classrooms from all over the world. The class posts a list of any 10 things that make them smile. Everyone can look up all the classes from around the world to see what makes them smile.
This is actually an amazing idea. I have been wondering if anything is being done to stop the prejudice that has been going around in both countries. This website sounds like a wonderful tool to allow students to grow and talk to one another and understand each other. At young ages these children can learn to surpass the prejudice that a lot of their parents harbor. I would love to see this site go in every school so that students can understand the culture of the whole county and not just the actions of a few.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea. The younger students can learn about other cultures the better. It is nice that it finds things that the kids have in common that way they see their similarities instead of just how different they are. You also hope that as they become older they will have a great respect for other cultures and be more tolerant of others beliefs.
ReplyDeleteI really liked that global kids connect focuses on connecting future leaders. Providing these leaders with real-life knowledge and interaction with various cultures that they otherwise would only hear about. I think this is a great idea so that students can gain a better understanding about that is happening in different cultures. I really like the greeting card idea and if I ever have the capability to pursue a project like this I think it would be very beneficial for all that are involved.
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