by Marsha Rakestraw Balloons and decorations. Disposable tableware. Gift wrap and little plastic toys. Birthday parties are often accompanied by a slew of waste and wear on people, animals, and the earth. But parties can be fun and full of humane choices that do more good and less harm. Here are tips to consider for…
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by Marsha Rakestraw Modeling a message of compassion for others is a vital part of creating a better world for all. Children’s picture books are a valuable means of sharing with younger children examples of people helping those in need, and of inspiring them to think critically about what it means to be a good…
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by Marsha Rakestraw People and animals without homes surround us year-round, but their presence seems more palpable in the winter months. As rates of poverty and homelessness grow, so do children’s questions about those who don’t have a home. Teacher Mary Cowhey, author of Black Ants and Buddhists, said, “One might argue that the realities…
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by Marsha Rakestraw Many a great changemaking idea has been stifled by the challenge of finding funding. In the past, options were limited and often a bit complicated. But with the exponential growth of our digital world, it’s becoming a bit easier to gain traction in financing smaller projects. Here are three sources to help…
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by Marsha Rakestraw Children’s books are a terrific tool for sharing positive values, teaching students (in age-appropriate ways) about global ethical issues, and inspiring them to take positive action. They are a powerful part of any classroom and curriculum. Here’s a round-up of 19 of our lists of suggested children’s picture books on a variety…
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by Marsha Rakestraw Children’s literature is often a reflection of society (and sometimes an influencer). As we humans continue to make progress in doing more good and less harm and in striving to create a better world, we’re seeing more books for children that explore and celebrate those themes. Although we can search online for…
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by Marsha Rakestraw Many schools have debate teams that choose an either/or side regarding a current event and then gather evidence and argue against other teams to support their chosen side. But what if instead of just discussing important issues, students were challenged to develop realistic, meaningful solutions to our pressing global problems? Students did…
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We’re surrounded by marketing and advertising telling us what to buy, whom to be, what we need to be happy. Use this series of activities to help students explore issues of branding, marketing, and globalization. Recommended for grades 9 through 12. Time: Several weeks Common Core Standards for this activity (pdf): Download Common Core…
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Many people view the world through a lens of black and white, either/or. In this activity groups of students work together to explore a variety of possible solutions to a global issues conflict. Recommended for grades 7 and up. Time: 45 minutes to several weeks Common Core Standards for this activity (pdf): Download Common…
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The biggest issues and challenges of our time go on trial as students serve as prosecution, defense and jury, and then develop a solutions-based sentencing. Recommended for grades 9 and up. Time: Varies Common Core Standards for this activity (pdf): Download Common Core for grades 9-12. Find out how some of our other…
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