Teach
Cummings_Global Learning UbD Unit Plan (1).pdfDeveloped lessons are always works in progress, but this is a basic overview of a Climate Science unit incorporating global competency skills I worked on while participating as a Fulbright TGC Fellow.
Hearing from teacher trainees and giving a presentation at Ecole Normale Superieure--Mohamed V University was one of the highlights of my professional experiences in Morocco!
Teaching and observing at my host teacher's public school, Halima Saadia Middle School, in Rabat was an unforgettable experience. Students from my school wrote letters that the students in the English classes were able to read and practice their English speaking. Pronouncing name of students from Hawaii was the biggest challenge for them. Students in Morocco also practiced their writing and sent letters back with me for students at my school. This was a special and meaningful exchange for all of the students who were involved, and it was touching to me as the facilitator of that exchange. Take a look at a couple of the letters they wrote:
For more information about global education initiatives and organizations I am involved in, and to find ways to get involved yourself, please visit the about page of this website.
For amazing resources local to Oʻahu, check out the following:
The East-West Center is Honolulu promotes better relations and understanding among the people and nations of the United States, Asia, and the Pacific through cooperative study, research, and dialogue. They offer a variety of programs and activities that connect local communities with global perspectives
The Pacific Forum, affiliated with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, focuses on security, political, and economic issues in the Asia-Pacific region. While it has a global scope, it's based in Honolulu, making it a local organization with far-reaching impact.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Pacific Region's education and outreach department focuses on a variety of initiatives to raise awareness about the marine environment, weather patterns, and the importance of conservation. One of their key areas of emphasis is on providing educational resources for students and teachers. Book a field trip to the Inouye Regional Center on Ford Island!
The Aloha+ Challenge is a Hawaii-based sustainability initiative that focuses on achieving six interconnected sustainability goals. These goals are related to clean energy, local food production, natural resource management, waste reduction, smart sustainable communities, and green workforce and education.
At our north shore school, surfing and the ocean are main parts of the culture and the World Surf League's (WSL) global initiative One Ocean, promotes world ocean health and sustainability. WSL One Ocean tackles issues like plastic pollution, climate change, and marine life protection. WSL's non-profit partner WSL PURE, which stands for Protecting, Understanding, and Respecting the Environment. It's like their mission statement for taking care of the ocean. They support various environmental initiatives, from beach cleanups to scientific research on marine ecosystems.
While Reach the World is a global organization, it is local to us since we're connecting with an explorer from the comfort of our own classroom by meeting with her virtually every other week, reading her posts, and getting our connection questions answered. Even though she's in Ecuador and we're on the north shore of Oʻahu, Reach the World makes the benefits of travel and global networks accessible to all students, inspiring the next generation of curious, confident and compassionate global citizens.
The Bishop Museum in Honolulu contains cultural and historical artifacts, especially focused on the Hawaiian and Polynesian cultures. It serves as a hub for global and cultural connections by showcasing the rich heritage of the Pacific Islands and fostering a greater understanding of their significance. By delving into these displays, one can gain a profound appreciation for the interconnectedness of cultures and the ways in which they've shaped and influenced each other over time.
The author of this website was a participant in Fulbright Teacher Exchanges, programs of the United States Department of State, administered by IREX. The views and information presented are the grantee's own and do not represent the views of the U.S. Department of State, the Fulbright Program, or IREX.