Building+Background

Creative Commons drubuntu

A collection of resources to build background knowledge for teachers and students, provide global perspective, and spark questions and discussions.

 * ===Embedding Global Collaborative Projects into the Curriculum=== || * ====Slideshare presentation by Julie Lindsay, Director of Flat Classroom Project====
 * ====A fantastic resource with ideas for getting started and tips for creating meaningful collaborative projects==== ||
 * ===Ideas from from #world11kids Project=== || * ====Great suggestions for creating context, building background knowledge, generating questions, and sparking interest====
 * ====Links from here to visualizations, videos, photographs and stories==== ||
 * ===Visualize Yahoo=== || * ====Visualization tools can evoke discussions, questions, predictions and comparisons. A great starting point for open-ended discovery about a country====
 * ====This tool depicts the emails delivered around the world via Yahoo==== ||
 * === What's Your Number?=== || * ====This BBC tool calculates where you fit into the world's population as it exceeds 7 billion====
 * ====Provides your country's population and compares it to the fastest growing and shrinking populations in the world====
 * ====Also gives stats for life expectancy based on the country you live in and compares it to the highest and lowest in the world====
 * ====Potential for excellent conversations, comparisons and questions==== ||
 * ===Explore Your World=== || * ====Interactive explorations of populations (world population and country populations)====
 * ====Predicts possible population paths for the future==== ||
 * === 7 Billion & Me=== || * ====By answering a few basic questions (birth date, gender, place born, place living now) you can see how you compare and relate statistically to the world, your continent, country and city==== ||
 * ===National Geographic Education=== || * ====National Geographic Education has a collection of videos, maps, activities, and reference materials focusing on the world population geared to children====
 * ====Videos providing framework for "What is 7 billion?"==== ||
 * ===National Geographic=== || * ====National Geographic presents their year-long 7 Billion series====
 * ====Stunning photos, videos, articles==== ||
 * ===7 Billion: How Did We Get So Big So Fast?=== || * ====A short, informational video by NPR explaining the growth of the world's population====
 * ====Excellent visual representation of population growth around the world==== ||
 * ===How Big Really?=== || * ====Compliments of BBC====
 * ====Overlay important events, places and things onto a map of where you live to gain perspective and context==== ||
 * ===How Many Really?=== || * ====A BBC partner site to How Big Really?====
 * ====Compare the number of people involved in historical events to the number of people you know on Facebook, Twitter and your classroom (enter the number of students in your class or school)====
 * ====Gain perspective and context==== ||
 * ===Global Education Ning=== || * ====Global Education Conference 2011 held November 14-18, 2011====
 * ====Sessions are all on-line, free and recordings are archived====
 * ====Website has discussion boards where educators discuss global education topics and share resources====
 * ====A companion to the Ning is the Global Education Wiki with links, projects, videos and more==== ||
 * ===Gigapan=== || * ====Explore panorama photographs from around the world====
 * ====Zoom in and out to see amazing details and perspectives==== ||
 * ===Photos of the World=== || * ====Over 8000 photos from 71 countries====
 * ====Build context and perspective====
 * ====Compare cities within a country or to your own city====
 * ====Visuals of land, people, and more==== ||
 * ===Panoramio=== || * ====Panoramio explores the world through photography: cities, natural wonders, or anywhere you might go====
 * ====Photographs are added to Google Earth and can be seen using the Panoramio layer====
 * ====Photographs are submitted by professional and amateur photographers==== ||
 * ===If It Were My Home=== || * ====Compare living conditions between countries using this country comparison tool====
 * ====Examples of comparisons include: oil and electricity consumption, health care spending, birth rates, income and employment====
 * ====Visualization tool helps students understand the impact of disasters (oil spills, floods, etc.)==== ||
 * ===Harry Potter in 70 Languages=== || * ====University of Calgary's Language Research Centre has created a database to celebrate multilingualism through Harry Potter====
 * ====Listen to short sections of Harry Potter read in 70 different languages====
 * ====75% of the people who recorded the readings live in Calgary====
 * ====Website includes practical suggestions for active listening and incorporating the database into your classroom====
 * ====Excellent resource for building appreciation for the sounds of different languages====
 * ====CBC Calgary Eye Opener interview with Mary Grantham O’Brien, Director of the Language Research Centre==== ||