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Fire stations are known for having a meeting place - usually the radio room or the Table - for informal learning, mentorship, and relaxing. And we always have some sort of snackage or meals.

The juniors can create a blog or running document. Each month, one class company shares a recipe they've requested from a fire department from another country. They will make the recipe and bring it in for their classmates - and instructors - to enjoy while everyone researches the fire service and education in the country from which the recipe came. The company who requested the recipe should have also received information they can share with the class in the blog post, and the other companies add to the blog post with their comments of what they've learned.

The blog posts would not only be evaluated for content but also be assessed using the Discussion Tips from Avid.

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One highly effective strategy for creating global connections in a high school classroom is using Class2Class, an online platform that connects students with peers in classrooms around the world for collaborative projects. In a 10th grade U.S. History class, for example, students could explore the Civil Rights Movement in the United States while simultaneously learning about social justice movements in other countries, such as South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement or Northern Ireland’s civil rights history. Students would research their assigned topic, document key events, figures, and outcomes, and then collaborate with their international peers to create a comparative digital project, such as an interactive timeline, infographic, or short video presentation. This allows students to not only deepen their understanding of U.S. history but also gain a global perspective on how societies address issues of justice, equality, and human rights.

To implement this in a high school classroom, I would take the following steps:

1. Project Planning and Topic Selection – I would choose a unit with natural global connections, such as the Civil Rights Movement, immigration policy, or women’s suffrage. Before connecting with another classroom, I would scaffold the project with mini-lessons on research skills, primary and secondary sources, and historical analysis.

2. Setting Up the Class2Class Platform – I would create a teacher account and explore the platform to find a partner classroom with a similar age group or curriculum focus. I would establish a secure communication plan for students to collaborate through discussion boards, shared documents, or video calls on the platform.

3. Assigning Roles and Responsibilities – Within each classroom, students would have specific roles such as researcher, writer, designer, or presenter. This ensures that each student has ownership of a portion of the project and develops both academic and collaboration skills.

4. Structured Collaborative Activities – Students would complete their individual research first, then participate in joint activities with their international peers. For example, a student researching Martin Luther King Jr. could pair with a peer studying Nelson Mandela, and together they could create a joint digital poster highlighting leadership strategies, challenges faced, and the social impact of their movements.

5. Cross-Cultural Reflection and Discussion – After completing the project, students would write reflection essays or record video journals discussing what surprised them about their peers’ history and culture, what similarities and differences they observed, and how this project changed their perspective on global citizenship. Teachers can guide discussion questions such as: “How did your partner’s historical context shape their movement differently than yours?” or “What lessons can we apply to modern social justice issues?”

6. Showcase and Assessment – Students could present their final projects to the class, school community, or even host a synchronous online session with the partner classroom. Assessment could focus on research quality, collaboration, creativity, cross-cultural understanding, and ability to synthesize global perspectives.

Using this strategy, students develop critical 21st-century skills including digital literacy, communication, collaboration, and empathy. They also gain firsthand experience in global citizenship by engaging with peers from diverse backgrounds, understanding how historical events and social movements resonate differently across the world, and seeing the interconnectedness of societies. Implementing Class2Class in a U.S. History classroom transforms traditional lessons into interactive, meaningful learning experiences that prepare students to think globally and act responsibly in an increasingly connected world.

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Discover how cross-cultural classroom projects can revolutionize your teaching with Class2Class.Join our free platform today!

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Courtney Smith

(visit this website for ideas and links to help globalize your morning meeting or classroom)

Our school prioritizes morning meeting everyday for 30 minutes. Morning meeting is a chance to build relationships, create a class community, and set a positive tone for the day. There are four parts to morning meeting that make it effective. (Greeting, Share, Activity, Message) Globalizing morning meeting can help enhance students understanding of the world, foster curiosity, and create cultural awareness.

Examples on how to globalize your morning meeting:

Greeting:

Greet each other in a different language

Greet each other with a cultural gesture

Use matching cards to have students greet their matching country/ cultural

Share:

Share a story about the first or last name

Share a cultural tradition in their family

Share an interesting fact about the cultural

Activity:

Read a culturally diverse story, folktale, or poem

Create a culturally diverse craft

Show and tell an item that represents their cultural

Introduce diverse music or dance

Message:

Include fun facts about a country or culture

Highlight cultural celebrations, holidays, or events

Include diverse “Words of the Day”

Include global news

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A morning meeting in an elementary classroom is a structured gathering at the beginning of each school day that serves multiple important purposes. It is a time for the teacher and students to come together as a community, set a positive tone for the day, and engage in activities that promote social-emotional development, academic readiness, and a sense of belonging.

By integrating global learning into the morning meeting, you not only enhance your students' understanding of the world but also foster a sense of curiosity and cultural awareness.

Key Components of a Morning Meeting - and How to Globalize Them!
1. Greeting
This is where students and the teacher warmly greet each other. It helps create a positive and inclusive atmosphere, setting the stage for a productive day. For example, students might say, "Good morning" or use a unique handshake or gesture.

Globalize It! Greet each other in different languages or with gestures inspired by various cultures. For example, say "Bonjour!" for French or bow respectfully as a Japanese greeting.
2. Share
This is an opportunity for students to share something about themselves with the class. It could be related to their interests, achievements, or experiences. This fosters a sense of belonging and encourages open communication. For example, a student might share a drawing they made over the weekend or talk about a special event in their life.

Globalize It! Ask students to share the story behind their name, a cultural tradition in their family, an interesting fact about a place they traveled to, an item related to a specific culture, or a current event that has caught their attention.
3. Activity, Game, or Read-Aloud
This involves a brief, interactive activity that engages students while reinforcing important skills. It could be a quick math problem, a word game, or a team-building exercise. For instance, a teacher might pose a riddle for students to solve together.
Globalize It!

Read and discuss brief news articles and age-appropriate current events worldwide. This is an opportunity to tie in geographical knowledge with real-world applications.

Introduce simple crafts or art projects inspired by a particular culture or region. Share an example and review the directions during the Morning Meeting so that children can work on it later.

Hold a mini Geography Bee with students working in pairs or teams to answer questions such as, "Which country has the largest population in the world?"

Practice mind and body exercises. Try Mindful Kids, Yoga Pretzels, and Global Kids activity decks with detailed instruction cards. (Click the individual links to try some FREE activities!)

Introduce music and dance from various cultures. This sensory experience not only exposes students to new sounds and rhythms but also fosters an appreciation for cultural diversity.

Explore forms of poetry from around the world.

When the sun rises, it rises for everyone.
- Cuban Proverb

Play traditional children's games like Luta de Galo, a tag game from Brazil, and Lotería, a bingo-style game from Mexico.
4. Morning Message
The teacher typically shares a message with the class, which could include important announcements, the day's schedule, or a thought for the day. It serves as a way to communicate vital information while promoting literacy skills. For example, the message might contain a short poem or a question for students to ponder.

Globalize It! The message could include a fun fact about a country, a landmark, or a cultural celebration. The Global Minute includes 400 facts from around the globe!

5. Closing or Reflection

The meeting concludes with a closing activity that helps summarize the learning and set intentions for the day ahead. It could involve a brief reflection, a sharing of one thing students are looking forward to, or a closing quote or affirmation.

Additional Tips for Globalizing the Morning Meeting

Passport Stamps

Create " passports " for each student and "stamp" them as they "visit" different countries during Morning Meetings.
Use Visual Aids and Maps
Utilize maps, globes, and visual aids to provide a tangible representation of the countries and cultures you're discussing. Pinpointing locations helps students grasp geographical concepts and understand the spatial relationships between different regions. Virtual tours, using resources like Google Earth, can also provide a firsthand look at distant locations.
Create a Weekly or Monthly Theme
Designate specific weeks or months for exploring different global topics. For example, focus on a continent each month or celebrate cultural festivals from around the world. This thematic approach adds structure and coherence to your integration efforts.
Encourage Discussion and Questions
Create a welcoming atmosphere for open dialogue. Encourage students to ask questions and share their thoughts. This fosters a sense of curiosity and promotes critical thinking.
Invite Guest Speakers or Virtual Tours
Whenever possible, invite guest speakers to share their experiences and insights.

By integrating global learning into your elementary classroom morning meetings, you're not only expanding your students' horizons but also nurturing global citizens who appreciate and respect diversity. Embrace the richness that comes from exploring the world together, and watch as your students develop a deeper understanding of our global community.
* Remember, these activities should be tailored to suit your specific grade level and the diverse needs of your students. Have fun, be creative, and let the world be your classroom!

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Globalizing Your Elementary Classroom Morning Meeting

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Enhance your students' understanding of the world while fostering a sense of curiosity and cultural awareness.

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Intercultural Virtual Exchange of Classroom Activities (IVECA) is an online classroom exchange program for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Students in different countries share what they are studying and their everyday life through a web program. Through the Exchange, students share individual and group project based on weekly activity topics provided by IVECA Virtual Classrooms. This platform allows students the space to share their ideas with each other once a week. There are also other options, depending on need, for asynchronous learning using text messages, images and video clips. Synchronous learning can also take place through voice and video conferencing.

https://www.website.iveca.org/

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In today's interconnected world, fostering a sense of global citizenship among students is more important than ever. One effective way to achieve this is through a holiday card exchange program that spans various cultural celebrations. By participating in this initiative, students will not only engage creatively but also develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures.

As students prepare holiday cards for the exchange, they will explore the significance of various cultural celebrations such as Chinese New Year, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Eid. This activity encourages them to research these traditions, understanding the customs, values, and histories behind each celebration. By learning about different cultures, students develop empathy and respect for others, which is a fundamental aspect of global citizenship.

Once the cards are prepared, students will have the opportunity to connect with peers from around the world. By sending and receiving cards from other schools, students will gain insight into the lives and traditions of their counterparts in different countries. This exchange helps break down barriers and stereotypes, allowing students to see that despite geographical distances, we share common values of kindness, joy, and celebration.

After the cards have been exchanged, students can engage in discussions about their experiences. What did they learn about the different holidays? How did it feel to connect with students in other parts of the world? These reflections can lead to meaningful conversations about our shared humanity and the importance of inclusivity and understanding in a diverse world.

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A great way to exercise global citizenship with students is using this international distance learning website, iDialogue,

offering a variety of authentic student-to-student learning opportunities in English.

It is a leading platform for collaborative global learning that connects students with: exciting learning activities, virtual adventures, the world's leading experts, and other students from 150 countries!

Discussion Clubs, Challenges & Games Monthly “challenges” to create a video or photographic entry are some of the interactive activities that help to develop critical thinking skills, cross-cultural communication and an understanding of the value of hearing multiple perspectives.

Virtual Field Trips

Immersive real-time 60 mins field trips around the globe that are live-streamed, like seeing giraffes in Kenya.

Power Hours with Experts

Live online discussions with experts, guest speakers and professionals from different areas, like NASA astronauts.

Teachers can collaborate from one classroom to another, where students engage in live video exchanges and lessons as well as multimedia file sharing. IDialogue’s platform matches grade levels, facilitates scheduling and navigates time zones helping students to explore other cultures and build meaningful friendships.

“When I log into iDialogue from India, read the posts of students from other countries... I better understand their mentality and ...it is like a window to another dimension.” -Indian Student

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iDialogue | Collaborative Learning Platform

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An award-winning platform connecting students from 160 countries for cultural exchange and collaboration. It enables educators to engage and motivate students in online, blended, and face-to-face courses by providing them with tools to conduct cultural exchanges, collaborate with other classrooms globally, and complement classes with virtual field trips and live sessions with guest speakers.

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iEARN (International Education and Resource Network)

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iEARN (International Education and Resource Network)

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Real-World Relevance: iEARN projects align with global issues like environmental sustainability, cultural heritage, and social justice. This connects students’ learning to real-world problems, promoting critical thinking and empathy.

Collaborative Skills: Through iEARN, students work with peers from over 140 countries, developing teamwork, communication, and digital collaboration skills crucial for today’s interconnected world.

Cross-Cultural Awareness: By engaging with students from diverse backgrounds, iEARN fosters cultural understanding, helping students appreciate different perspectives and develop a more inclusive worldview.

Jake Mostyn

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The world of tomorrow or I would say today, it is no more geographical boundaries ... We really need to know each other, to be tolerant of each other, to be understanding each other's practices, and respect the differences. So I see iEARN is going to play a pivotal role in making this happen.

Farah Kamal/ iEARN-Pakistan

It's impressive how my life has changed after meeting iEARN!...I can say that iEARN divided my professional career in two parts: before and after working with online projects in a collaborative and interactive way.

Almerinda Garibaldi/ iEARN-Brasil

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iEARN (International Education and Resource Network) is the world's largest non-profit global network that enables teachers and youth to use the Internet and other technologies to collaborate on projects that enhance learning and make a difference in the world.

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Preschoolers are often operating in their own little world. In our preschool, we learn about three big celebrations around the world, but the experience is rather dull. A unique way to open the doors for our youngest learners would be to connect with a teacher from another country or in a different part of the United States.

With ePals, an educator can set up a profile and then search for another classroom to connect with. The profile highlights the age of the students, subjects, language spoken, purpose of the communication, class size, region, etc. This makes endless learning opportunities for any teacher

Teachers can choose to set up pen pals, share ideas for fun activities, collaborate with other teachers, or choose a project type: that may include a video for a cultural exchange, collaborative research project, or discussion on global issues.

This free website will open the door for any learners aged 3-19.

https://www.epals.com/

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One powerful way that I could promote global citizenship in the classroom is through international coding collaborations. My idea is to have students write and share code with peers from other countries, allowing each student to test, run, and provide feedback on the code written by others around the world.

This approach offers multiple benefits:

Real-World Problem Solving: Students experience coding in real-world scenarios where their work will be used and tested by others with diverse perspectives.

Feedback Across Borders: By sharing code with international peers, students receive feedback from outside their local circle, learning new approaches and solutions to common programming challenges.

Cross-Cultural Understanding: As students communicate with peers in other countries, they build empathy, respect, and a deeper understanding of how others approach similar tasks.

Global Network Building: Students gain valuable connections with fellow young coders, potentially sparking long-term collaborative projects or friendships.

This initiative can help students realize that coding is a universal language and that they can be part of a larger global community. With the world increasingly interconnected through technology, this exercise not only builds technical skills but also instills values of teamwork, inclusivity, and cultural appreciation, key aspects of global citizenship.

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We use social media for so many different purposes. A big way to stay connected and learning about other students around the globe would be small interactions on Snapchat. The idea is to allow students the opportunity to either see or chat with some other students in similar interest under a specific "story" within the app. This will allow students to grow and learn outside of their bubble and develop social interactions they may not be accustomed to.

Directions:

1.) Create/Log in to your snapchat account

2.) Connect/Subscribe to a friend/channel that is focused on the education system for a country overseas

3.) Talk about your experience in a Google Doc and then share it with me below:

nrashid24@bw.edu

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Chat, send Snaps, explore Stories & Lenses on desktop, or download the app for mobile! Connect & create with friends, wherever you are.

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I think learning about how others experience the world is so important for our students and our society. I would love to implement the idea of a lesson plan about reflecting upon the impact and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Many of the particular students I teach (grades PK-3) are too young to remember what it was like when "school shut down" - or they weren't even alive yet in some cases! This lesson plan would be more appropriate for students grades 4 and up, in my opinion.

The lesson would consist of students watching the short film Cocoon, told from the perspective of elementary, middle, and high school students during the global lockdown in 2020. Students will be prompted to discuss their thoughts and feelings about how the pandemic impacted their lives and communities. After watching the video, it would be engaging to also research how students in other countries around the world were impacted by the pandemic (including, but not limited to, specifically how their education was impacted by it). Students can explore the following questions and can respond using technology, such as Seesaw or Screencastify:

Why is social distancing and isolation so difficult?

How do changes in routine affect our daily lives?

What is normal?

This lesson encompasses SEL competencies of self-awareness, social awareness, and self-management.

Global Oneness Project: How I Feel About the Pandemic

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A great idea for students to see what it's like in school around the world would be to set up a Pen Pal with a school from around the world. Teachers could set the expectation on what students are to be talking about with their pen pal, such as "Explain to your pen pal what you did in school this week." This could allow students to see what a typical week looks like for a student in a different country.

Setting up a Pen Pal

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Although this Edutopia article is dated the idea is still great! Having students take part in a 5-Minute Film Festival before class each Friday is a great way to open them up to what is happening around the world. This would be especially helpful if the video clip focused on a country that was part of a current event.  The goal here is to develop global citizens. Students would have"opportunities to engage with diverse cultural perspectives, build geographic knowledge, grow global competency, and develop the skills and knowledge necessary to consider and address our shared global challenges". (Cronin)

https://is.gd/JjOXgM