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Introduction
In this final module, we will focus on how you as a teacher can use the knowledge gained in this course in your teaching. The Sustainable Development Goals can be incorporated into any school subject, and doing so will mean your subject will relate more concretely to the world outside the classroom, and your students will be able to tackle real issues now and in the future.
In this final module, we will focus on how you as a teacher can use the knowledge gained in this course in your teaching. The Sustainable Development Goals can be incorporated into any school subject, and doing so will mean your subject will relate more concretely to the world outside the classroom, and your students will be able to tackle real issues now and in the future.
Aims and Objectives
By the end of this module, you will be able to:
By the end of this module, you will be able to:
- Implement the SDGs into lesson plans in all subjects
- See how incorporating SDGs allows for students to tackle real world issues
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Click on the icon on the left to watch the video!
The Nord Anglia cohort of 43 schools across 15 countries recently imposed new aspects to their curriculum that was based on teaching the SDGs and taking action to implement them in their own communities. While watching this video, think of some of the positive aspects that go beyond just learning about sustainable development. How can learning about taking action and sustainable developments affect students in their daily lives? How will this inform your teaching? |
Introduction
To ensure the education of the SDGs in classrooms, the United Nations has created a website with a large amount of readymade lesson plans. These lesson plans offer to teachers the opportunity to see how to incorporate SDGs in a meaningful way to lessons. In this module, we will breakdown one of the lessons to see how easy it can be to integrate these themes into your lessons!
We will be analyzing a lesson entitled “Life Below Water- Marine Litter”. This lesson focuses on SDG 14, Life Below Water.
To ensure the education of the SDGs in classrooms, the United Nations has created a website with a large amount of readymade lesson plans. These lesson plans offer to teachers the opportunity to see how to incorporate SDGs in a meaningful way to lessons. In this module, we will breakdown one of the lessons to see how easy it can be to integrate these themes into your lessons!
We will be analyzing a lesson entitled “Life Below Water- Marine Litter”. This lesson focuses on SDG 14, Life Below Water.
Click here or on the icon on the right to download the lesson...
Let's look at the lesson plan!
This multidisciplinary lesson covers a wide range of subjects from biology to writing composition. This lesson on water litter seeks to accomplish two things:
Students have the opportunity to discuss the solutions they know, as well as seeing the dangers that this type of plastic litter can have on water ways and its ecosystem. Students then are able to write down their ideas, and share with the class.
It is easy to see, therefore, how discussing an SDG can be the theme of a lesson, and used for a variety of subjects. Not only does it help students interact with the world around them, but also provides a chance to change themes and discuss something current and that affects them.
In the next section of this lesson, we will see how two teachers from different corners of the globe used aspects of the SDGs in their lessons, changing their local community forever.
Let's look at the lesson plan!
This multidisciplinary lesson covers a wide range of subjects from biology to writing composition. This lesson on water litter seeks to accomplish two things:
- Explore and understand the threats of plastic waste to our oceans.
- To generate and explore ideas of how to better control discarded trash from entering our oceans.
Students have the opportunity to discuss the solutions they know, as well as seeing the dangers that this type of plastic litter can have on water ways and its ecosystem. Students then are able to write down their ideas, and share with the class.
It is easy to see, therefore, how discussing an SDG can be the theme of a lesson, and used for a variety of subjects. Not only does it help students interact with the world around them, but also provides a chance to change themes and discuss something current and that affects them.
In the next section of this lesson, we will see how two teachers from different corners of the globe used aspects of the SDGs in their lessons, changing their local community forever.
Case Study 1 - Growing Green in the South Bronx
American primary school teacher Stephen Blitz in a poor area of New York City, NY known as the South Bronx decided to implement how to grow plants and vegetables with his students. Not only did he succeed in creating a sustainable food, but also changed the lives of his students. Watch how this teacher’s small addition to his lesson not only helped spread the word of the SDGs, but created a domino effect of positive sustainable development on a local and international scale.
While watching this video, consider how achieving the SDGs locally can have a ripple effect on the lives of the local community. How can you as a teacher impact and improve your student’s lives like Mr Blitz, while simultaneously helping the planet? What aspects of your lessons, however small, can be possibly the biggest influence?
Click here to watch the video!
American primary school teacher Stephen Blitz in a poor area of New York City, NY known as the South Bronx decided to implement how to grow plants and vegetables with his students. Not only did he succeed in creating a sustainable food, but also changed the lives of his students. Watch how this teacher’s small addition to his lesson not only helped spread the word of the SDGs, but created a domino effect of positive sustainable development on a local and international scale.
While watching this video, consider how achieving the SDGs locally can have a ripple effect on the lives of the local community. How can you as a teacher impact and improve your student’s lives like Mr Blitz, while simultaneously helping the planet? What aspects of your lessons, however small, can be possibly the biggest influence?
Click here to watch the video!
Case Study 2 - Sydney Boys High School Gender Equality Project
On the other side of the globe in Australia, an all-boys school created an awareness campaign about gender equality. Often, it is not until it is brought to societies attention that problems such as gender equality become apparent, especially to those of the majority. These young boys, with the support of their teachers, brought to the attention of the local community the importance of gender equality, the fifth SDG.
While watching the video, think of how you as a teacher could bring to the public attention various issues related to the SDGs in Malta. How do you and your students act as activists for sustainable development and equality?
Click here to watch the video!
On the other side of the globe in Australia, an all-boys school created an awareness campaign about gender equality. Often, it is not until it is brought to societies attention that problems such as gender equality become apparent, especially to those of the majority. These young boys, with the support of their teachers, brought to the attention of the local community the importance of gender equality, the fifth SDG.
While watching the video, think of how you as a teacher could bring to the public attention various issues related to the SDGs in Malta. How do you and your students act as activists for sustainable development and equality?
Click here to watch the video!
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Creative Thinking Exercise
Before embarking on implementing the SDGs into your own lesson plans, consider the following:
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Summary
This module has provided you with resources to implement the SDGs into your lesson plans. The SDGs start at the local level. You as teachers have the amazing opportunity to create the norm amongst young people to be involved in ensuring the future of our planet.
This module has provided you with resources to implement the SDGs into your lesson plans. The SDGs start at the local level. You as teachers have the amazing opportunity to create the norm amongst young people to be involved in ensuring the future of our planet.
Additional Reading
Lesson on writing one’s own SDG
Not just world peace: U.N’s goals on 70th anniversary
The World is Not Equal. Is it fair?
Teaching Sustainable Development Goals
Themes of the SDGs-Oxfam
Lesson on writing one’s own SDG
Not just world peace: U.N’s goals on 70th anniversary
The World is Not Equal. Is it fair?
Teaching Sustainable Development Goals
Themes of the SDGs-Oxfam
Course summary...
Throughout this course, we have covered a variety of topics from the birth of the SDGs in 2015, sustainable development in the Maltese context and how to implement these ideals into lesson plans. In each lesson, we have covered case studies that highlight various international and local organizations that are trying to achieve these goals across the globe. You have also had the chance through creative thinking exercises to think critically about what the SDGs mean to you, your students, and your local community. As teachers, you are in the perfect situation to propagate the ideas of sustainable development to your students, thus creating a new generation of young people that are primed to change the world on a local, national, and international level.