Global Goals Project Starter Kit

Choose a level that works for you & get started. #TeachSDGs

What are the Global Goals?

In 2015 World Leaders committed to the Global Goals for Sustainable Development. 17 goals to achieve 3 extraordinary things in the next 15 years. End extreme poverty. Fight inequality and injustice. Fix climate change. Check out the goals at the link below.

What are the Global Goals?

Global Goals Student Examples Video

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Why should you and your students learn and support the Global Goals?

As members of society, everyone no matter their age, need to be involved in supporting these goals. As educators we have a chance to broaden student perspectives and explore local and global issues to investigate solutions. When embedded into student learning, this builds an awareness of the importance the key issues within the global goals plays in our lives. It also supports the ISTE standards to serve as a "Global Collaborator". Learn more about all ISTE Student Standards at the link below.

ISTE Student Standards 2016

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How can you and your students get involved in the Global Goals Initiative?

Level 1: Build an Awareness to the Global Goals

  • Sign the pledge to teach the Global Goals:

Gobal Goals Pledge

  • Look for lessons and resources to connect Global Goals to your current curriculum or student interests.

#TeachSDGs Resource Search

  • Introduce the Global Goals using the video below:

Malala introducing the The Worlds Largest Lesson

  • Share the goals with students and share actions they can do to support the goal.

Take Action Today

  • Discuss the importance of the goals
  • Use literature to connect the goals to the real world
  • Select a goal as a class, in groups, or as individuals to brainstorm solutions

Link to Goal Printables


Job well done, you are now aware of the Global Goals…you could stop here or continue to level up the learning and make a bigger impact in Level 2.

Malala introducing the The Worlds Largest Lesson
Level 2: Students Design a Solution or Awareness Campaign to the Global Goals

Level 2: Students Design a Solution or Awareness Campaign to the Global Goals

  • Get students excited about helping out by viewing the "Call to Action" video below.

The World's Largest Lesson 2016 - with thanks to Sir Ken Robinson and Emma Watson


  • Develop a project, based on your students' strengths, connect it to your curriculum standards, and towards finding a solution to the Global Goal selected. New to Project Based Learning? Check out the below resources

Edutopia's Project Based Learning Articles

Hacking Project Based Learning

Buck Institute for Education


  • Explore Global Goal Project Ideas
  • It can be as simple as a poster (example posters) or digital story to build awareness, a campain to get others involved, or as complex as a protype of an invention. The tools you use are completely your choice.
  • Curriculum Standards Connection Hint- Look for topics and terms at your grade level like: goods/services, compare/contrast, design, human needs, changes in Earth, relationship between humans and physical environment, Earth Day, and others in science and social studies.

Yay, your students are taking part in the solution...stop here or level up by making them true global collaborators in Level 3.

Level 2: Students Design a Solution or Awareness Campaign to the Global Goals
The World's Largest Lesson 2016 - with thanks to Sir Ken Robinson and Emma Watson

Level 3: Connect with other Classrooms through the Global Goals Collaboration

Option 1: Working independently, in groups, or as a whole class, students will then share their work from Level 2 with a class of children in their own school, district, town, or across the globe. The other class will do the same.


Option 2: You will connect with another teacher somewhere in the world and will work collaboratively to develop a project that works for both of your classes. An example might be solar lamps which fits into SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production and SDG 13: Climate Action. You may have several Skype sessions for brainstorming, project development, and sharing. This is a choice to be made by you and your partner teacher.


Connect with educators/experts using a tool that works best for your needs (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Hangouts, Flipgrid, etc)

Level 4: Share and Showcase Student Learning

No matter what level your students get to, share with others to keep the momentum going.
  1. Contact Eileen Heller (@eileenheller) to share your project
  2. Showcase in your school by displaying solutions or sharing them verbally with others.
  3. Share via social media on Twitter or Facebook
  4. Twitter: Use hashtags #TeachSDGs and #SkypeSDGs

Resources

Global Goals Educator Guide

Global Goals Explained- Kid Friendly

Global Goal Project Ideas

The Lazy Person's Guide to Saving the World

Successful #TeachSDGs Stories

Zero Hunger Read Aloud

I was invited in as a guest reader to Rosehill elementary. The librarian, Michelle Tilson, selected the book "Maddi's Fridge". A wonderful story with two characters that were new friends. One realizes her friend does not have enough food at home, but promises to keep it a secret. The book offered suggestions and resources that would allow the students to be a part of the solution.


Look in your local library or classroom books to see if there are topics that will go along with the Global Goals as a natural tie into building an awareness of the world issues for your students.

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Earth Day OPS Classroom Connection

Rena Sharp, 2nd grade teacher at Kellom Elementary and Lucie Ripley, Kindergarten teacher at Prairie Wind connected their students together to plan out and share their projects that focused on a Global Goal as they worked towards celebrating Earth Day. They focused on goal #6 Clean Water and Sanitation and goal #12. Responsible Consumption and Production. Rena's class researched facts about water and shared ways to reduce the usage of water. Lucie's class focused on learning how to reduce, reuse, and recycle to help our Earth. They then connected via Skype to share their learning and projects. After the Skype visit they sent thank you cards. Rena's class shared further by working with a school in Michigan working towards similar goals she found on the #TeachSDGs Skype Collaboration.

Water Conservation Awareness Campaign- Wilson Focus School

Water Conservation Awareness Campaign- Wilson Focus School

Water Conservation Awareness Campaign- Wilson Focus School

Dani Nyffler, sixth grade teacher, was teaching the process of the Water Cycle as a portion of their curriculum, but the lesson provided in the text did not go into much depth or real world application. She wanted to connect it to the global goals and selected #6 Clean Water and Sanitation. She shared with the class a video about the Cape Town Africa Water Crisis. Students did research on water usage and conservation. They wanted to create an awareness campaign tied to the Global Goal.

Dani selected five areas to raise the awareness to build groups to create a final product. Students selected their group of interest and worked collaboratively to share the information they had learned through research and to create the final product and share with an audience.:

  • Posters- hung around the building
  • Keynote Presentation- presented to each class
  • Rap Song- played with the presentation
  • Info Pamphlet- sent home to families
  • Skit- Performed with presentation
Water Conservation Awareness Campaign- Wilson Focus School
Contact Info

Contact Info

Contact me about any questions or to share ideas.

Eileen Heller

Instructional Technology Trainer

Omaha Public Schools

#TeachSDGs Ambassador

Skype Master

Email: eileen.heller@ops.org
Twitter: eileenheller

Blog: eileenheller.com

Contact Info