Global Updates From World View
September 2005

Celebrate International Education Week
November 14-18, 2005

International Education Week is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. Established in 2000, IEW is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education. This joint initiative is part of an effort to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States. It is an important event observed across the United States and in more than 85 countries. IEW is celebrated each November the week before Thanksgiving.

The worldwide celebration of IEW offers an opportunity to reach out to people of every nation, to develop a broader understanding of world cultures and languages, and to reiterate the conviction that enduring friendships and partnerships created through international education and exchange are important for a secure future for all countries.

The information provided in this month’s Global Update is taken from the official IEW website for K-12 schools: http://iew.state.gov/ Through this website educators can search for specific events in their area by visiting the events database. There are also ideas and promotional materials for your own event, statements and press releases, and a global IQ quiz.

SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES FOR K-12 SCHOOLS

  • Recognizing the need to help teachers and parents address issues such as diversity, prejudice and post-9/11 fears among America's young people, the National Football League partnered with Scholastic Inc. to develop One World: Connecting Communities, Cultures, and Classrooms, a unique education program designed to encourage cultural understanding for students. The free, web-based One World program can be downloaded by logging on to: http://scholastic.com/oneworld.
  • Incorporate information on a country or culture into your regular lesson plan, even if you don't teach social studies.
  • Adopt a school in a developing country and donate school supplies, reference materials, and other items.
  • Trade questions and answers with students from another country through the Internet, pen pal clubs, or a Digital Video Conference.
  • Explore international aspects of the arts—music, film, theatre, visual arts, literature, dance—by creating, performing, or studying artworks with an international component. This could include a field trip to a museum or concert or showing a foreign film in class.
  • Organize a cross-cultural potluck lunch in which students bring in or make foods from their homeland or ancestors' homeland.
  • Feature local international experts as speakers: Fulbright Scholars, former diplomats or Peace Corps volunteers, business leaders working for multi-national corporations, or journalists.
  • Participate in a Model UN.
  • Ask students to write an essay on a country they would like to visit and why.
  • Assign students to produce a video or website about their cross-cultural experiences. The video could explore issues of cultural idiosyncrasies, stereotypes, and/or their own experiences in another culture.
  • Hold a Geography, Foreign Language, or World History Bee for your students.

CLASSROOM RESOURCES ON COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD

Embassy Information
Many embassies have resources on their web sites.
For a list of U.S. embassies worldwide, visit usembassy.state.gov.
For a list of foreign embassies in Washington, DC, visit www.embassy.org/embassies
The Department of State offers Country Background Notes at www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn.

National Geographic Xpeditions
National Geographic Xpeditions is home to the U.S. National Geography Standards—and to thousands of ideas, tools, and interactive adventures that bring them to life. In this site, you will find lesson plans, atlas maps, and various activities to help in planning lessons and other activities.

Foreign Students
EducationUSA promotes U.S. higher education abroad, supports overseas advising centers, collaborates with U.S. educational organizations to strengthen international exchange.

COUNTRY-SPECIFIC RESOURCES
The following embassies maintain sections on the web sites for children or middle school students.

AUSTRALIA
Tell Me About Australia is a publication of the Embassy of Australia aimed at middle school students. www.austemb.org/kids.html

BELIZE
The Embassy of Belize offers fun facts about the national symbols of Belize in their Kids Zone. www.embassyofbelize.org/kids.htm

BRAZIL
The Embassy of Brazil has a webpage with links to information and activities for elementary school age children. www.brasilemb.org/kids_corner/kids1.shtml

PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
This booklet, " China in the Classroom," was developed by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China and is a colorful booklet which gives a brief introduction to China and Chinese Culture.
www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/eng/cic/t27125.htm

COLOMBIA
The Embassy of Colombia houses a Colombia For Kids page.
www.colombiaemb.org/opencms/opencms/colkids

DENMARK
The Royal Danish Embassy offers site provides an introduction to Denmark for children. www.denmarkemb.org/intro.html

FINLAND
The Embassy of Finland web site contains information for students and travelers to Finland under the "About Finland" link.
http://www.finland.org/en

FRANCE
The Embassy of France offers a web page for children, with topics ranging from the economy and culture to games. www.ambafrance-us.org/kids

GERMANY
The Embassy of Germany offers online teacher's kits and other resources for the classroom.
www.germany-info.org/relaunch/education/Teacher_Kits/main.html

ISRAEL
The Embassy of Israel's Kids Site provides symbols, general information, and history for children. www.israelemb.org/kids

JAPAN
Colorful, thorough, and helpful describe Kids Web Japan. Available in nine languages, it even has a section describing the life of Japanese children.
web-japan.org/kidsweb

MEXICO
The Embassy of Mexico's website has information for the younger set that is vibrant, user-friendly, and available in several languages.
www.elbalero.gob.mx/index_kids.html

NIGERIA
The Embassy of Nigeria's Students Corner provides general country information. www.nigeriaembassyusa.org/students.shtml

NORWAY
This site, provided by the Embassy of Norway, offers the basics of geography and culture, as well as lesser-known facts. Due to the amount of text, this site is better for older children. www.norway.org/education/teachersguidetonorway/

VENEZUELA
The Embassy of Venezuela offers information on Venezuela for kids under a " Venezuela for Kids" link. www.embavenez-us.org

Do you have information to share?

Do you have information that you would like to share with other educators across the state? You are welcome to submit interesting global education programs that are going on in your schools, announcements about global education seminars, new resources that others might find interesting, etc. Please email Julie at jmarante@email.unc.edu with your "update-worthy" items!

Reader Mailbag

If you have comments about any of the information contained in the Global Update, shoot us an email! Perhaps your comments will appear here in this new section of the Global Update.

Education Around the World

Field Trip to the Alcazar, Sevilla, Spain

 

Disclaimer
World View at UNC-Chapel Hill provides information, resources, and announcements for educational purposes only. It does not represent an endorsement of organizations or point of view by World View or The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Globalize Your Curriculum: Integration Guide

Asia Society's Classroom Resources

Archived Global Updates

2005 Updates

Creating a Global Education Action Plan
See the World without Leaving the Country
Celebrating 100 Years of Rotary International
International Opportunities for Educators
Connect with a Classroom Abroad
The United Nations and Resources
 The Socratic Seminar: Practical Tips
 Natural Disasters in South Asia

Global Updates from 2004
Global Updates from 2003
Global Updates from 2002

Register Now!

Global Science: What Every Educator Needs to Know

October 24-25 for K-12 Educators
November 15-16 for Community College Educators

World View's fall programs will explore broad science themes, including technology, the environment, and global health. The programs will address how our world is changing in significant ways, what educators need to know about science-related issues, and how global themes can be infused in classes. The October program is appropriate for K-12 educators of all subject areas and grade levels. CEU credits will be offered. To register online visit the World View website or call (919-962-9264) for more information.
 

Visiting International Professionals to Visit NC Classrooms
The International Affairs Council (formerly the International Visitors Council /World Affairs Council) in Raleigh is launching a program to send visiting internationals professionals into school classrooms to share about life and culture in their countries. The program is small for the 2005-06 school year, but expected to grow in subsequent years. For more information and/or to request a speaker for your classroom, contact Todd Culpepper at 919.838.9191 or tculpepper@iacnc.org. Web site: www.iacnc.org
 

The Evolution of UN Peacekeeping
October 26, 2005

Commemorating the UN’s 60th Anniversary, UNC-Chapel Hill Political Science Professor Tim Mckeown will present on "The Evolution of UN Peacekeeping", Wednesday, October 26, noon until 2pm at the Holiday Inn (15-501 Bypass) in Chapel Hill. With broad interests in the field of foreign policy, Professor Mckeown teaches on foreign policy, international organizations, international environmental politics, foreign policy decision making and international political economy.  

To reserve a space send a check, in the amount of $15 payable to UNA-West Triangle Chapter, to Barbara Berke, 595B Fearrington Post, Pittsboro, NC 27312. Deadline: October 21. Questions: (919) 542-0319.

 

Call for Proposals -
Navigating the Globalization of the American South
March 2-3, 2006
UNC-Chapel Hill

The University Center for International Studies (UCIS)and The Center for the Study of the American South is pleased to host a major interdisciplinary conference exploring the changing face of the southern United States.

Navigating the Globalization of the American South invites proposals for presentations by scholars, policymakers, practitioners, artists, filmmakers, educators, and other professionals whose work focuses on contemporary issues facing the global American South. We encourage submissions on a broad range of topics from a variety of disciplines.

To be considered as a presenter, please send a presentation proposal and an abbreviated CV. To propose a panel, please submit a session proposal describing the panel topic, presentation proposals for each of the panelists, and abbreviated CVs for the session leader and all participating panelists. Each presentation and session proposals should not to exceed 500 words, and each abbreviated CV should not exceed two pages.

All submissions should be sent to: Navigating the Globalization of the American South,UCIS, 223 E. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-5145
or ucis@unc.edu
For more information: www.ucis.unc.edu/
Proposal Deadline is September 30.
 

New Resources from CHOICES

Responding to Terrorism: Challenges for Democracy. Now in its 4th edition, this unit addresses the issues arising from the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Students are drawn into consideration of the changing nature of terrorism, the motivations of terrorists, and the policy challenges for the US. Updates include:
• discussion of the latest acts of terrorism, including the London subway bombings
• a closer examination of the war in Iraq and its relationship to the War on Terror

Units can be ordered ONLINE, by mailing a PRINTABLE ORDER FORM (with payment), or by calling 401-863-3155.

Iraq: What's Ahead?, is a free online resource from Choice's Teaching with the News initiative. It is an interactive lesson plan that engages students in consideration of divergent policy alternatives.

Check the CHOICES Program web site for new and updated resources: www.choices.edu

 

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15-October 15

Coverdell World Wise Schools has primary resources with lesson plans on Hispanic countries. Read letters from Peace Corps Volunteers, evocative stories about life in Hispanic countries, and folk tales from Central and South American countries. Make your textbook and the world come alive to your students with stories and lesson plans that show the richness and complexities of Hispanic countries and Hispanic heritage. For more information, click here.