By Ashley Grant from Greene County Middle School
OVERVIEW OF LESSON: Working collaboratively, students will develop an action plan to solve a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) in one country by the year 2030. Students will research the targets for their SDG, focusing on national level strategies and solutions to address them. Finally, students will create an action plan detailing the findings from their research and prepare a class presentation. As they create their presentation, students will practice responding to common questions a community would raise when offered an action in order to communicate their ideas effectively in the Q&A (question and answer) portion of their presentation.
SUGGESTED GRADE LEVELS: Grades 7-12
SUBJECTS: Social Studies, Global Studies
CORRESPONDING NATIONAL AND/OR STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA STANDARDS:
I.1.5: Identify evidence that draws information from multiple perspectives.
I.1.8: Construct responses to supporting and opposing perspectives supported by evidence.
I.1.10: Identify challenges and opportunities created in addressing local, state, tribal, regional, national, and/or global issues.
I.1.11: Use a range of civic approaches to address problems being investigated.
7.B.1.3: Compare how individuals and groups respond to stereotypes, oppression, human rights violations, and genocide.
7. C&G.1.1: Explain how the power and authority of various types of governments have created conflict that has led to change
7.E.1.2: Explain how national and international economic decisions reflect and impact the interdependency of societies.
7.G.1.2: Explain reasons why societies modify and adapt to the environment.
7.H.1.3: Compare individual and societal responses to globalization in various regions and societies.
7.H.1.4: Critique the effectiveness of cooperative efforts and consensus building among nations, regions, and groups from various perspectives.
7.H.1.5: Explain how slavery, xenophobia, disenfranchisement, ethnocentrism, and intolerance have affected individuals and groups in modern world history.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
- What is the purpose of the SDGs?
- What issues are addressed by the SDGs?
- How can nations contribute to the progress of the SDGs?
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
- Students will be able to explain the purpose of the SDGS and identify the areas of global improvement addressed by the SDGS.
- Students will be able to analyze the effects of global issues on individual nations.
- Students will be able to identify and develop strategies to aid nations in achieving one SDG.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR THE EDUCATOR or RESOURCES TO EXPLORE FURTHER:
SPECIFIC STUDENT STRATEGIES & ACTIVITIES:
SCAFFOLDS/DIFFERENTIATION:
- For ELL: provide digital translation tools and translation setting that provide translation into the student’s primary language; provide translated paper copies when digital translation is not possible
- Provide a graphic organizer for students who need extra support to guide their country/SDG research by providing specific questions to answer.
- Have students focus on a specific target of an SDG instead of the SDG as a whole if overall broad SDG is too challenging.
Introduction
- Students will watch a short video introducing the SDGs: An Overview of the Sustainable Development Goals and complete the “Game the Goals”- SDG Introduction Game
- Using information from the game and video, students will complete a circle map summarizing the purpose of the SDGs and the issues they seek to address.
- Students will form groups and select the SDG and country for which their group will create their project.
Project
- Groups will conduct research about their chosen country, specifically focusing on the areas correlating with their chosen SDG, using the teacher provided research organizer (SDG Achieved! Handout).
- Groups will also research strategies used by other nations and organizations to make progress towards their SDG topic
- Groups will work together and create an action plan that achieves the SDG in their nation by the year 2030. Students must have at least three strategies and a timeline in their plan.
- Groups will develop a presentation and present their action plan to the class and conduct a Q&A session following the presentation.
Wrap- Up
- Students will complete a peer feedback form for each group, providing feedback on the group’s plan and presentation.
ASSESSMENTS:
Formative Assessments: Research Organizer (SDG Achieved! Handout)
Summative: Action Plan and Presentation Rubric (SDG Achieved! Handout)
LEARNING EXTENSIONS:
- Compose questions for Q&A sessions for SDG presentations other than their own.
- Write to U.S. foreign ambassador of their chosen country sharing their action plan.
- Create a reading project or incentive encouraging students to read books correlating with the SDGs.
MATERIALS:
- Device and internet access
- Poster/Trifold Board/ Art Supplies (if not using a digital presentation tool)
- SDG Achieved! Handout (includes Group Work Guidelines, Action Plan Requirements, Presentation Requirements, Student Resources, and SDG Achieved! Research Organizer, SDG Achieved! Action Plan Template, SDG Achieved! Grading Rubric)
REFERENCES:
The 17 goals; Sustainable development. (n.d.). Retrieved October 28, 2022, from https://sdgs.un.org/goals
Overcoming the world’s challenges. (n.d.). The Global Goals. Retrieved January 5, 2023, from https://globalgoals.org/
Play the Global Goals game today and take action for a better world. (n.d.). Global Goals. Retrieved January 5, 2023, from https://gamethegoals.com/
Teaching about the sustainable development goals. (n.d.). Educators 4 Social Change. Retrieved January 21, 2023, from https://educators4sc.org/topic-guides/teaching-about-the-sustainable-development-goals/
The world’s largest lesson. (n.d.). The World’s Largest Lesson. Retrieved January 5, 2023, from https://worldslargestlesson.globalgoals.org/
UN sustainable development goals—Overview. (n.d.). Retrieved January 5, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-iJM02m_Hg