I've set out on a year long project to inspire change in my 5th graders. Each week we learn about a Sustainable Development Goal. After 17 weeks students will follow their passions and change the world! This is our story. #SDGs #teaching

We started here: "We Are All Born Free." What are our universal human rights? How have these rights been violated throughout history? Why are they still being violated today? What do we do about this?

Then we started exploring one goal a week. Our conversations are guided by a picture book that is connected to the goal and "takes" us around the world. Intro the goal on Monday; spend 5-10 minutes each day the rest of the week to learn about it.

Week One: Good Health and Well Being. Picture Book: Tashi and the Tibetan Flower Cure by Naomi C. Rose Notes: Connected goal to Red Ribbon Week (redribbon.org) and looked at COVID impact to women

Week Two: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions Read Alouds: Silent Music: A Story of Baghdad by James Rumford & Peace and Me: Inspired by the Lives of Nobel Peace Laureates by Ali Winter Countries: Iraq and Iran Notes: Timed with US election in Nov.

Week 3: Zero Hunger Read Aloud: Mama Panya's Pancakes by Mary and Rich Chamberlin Country: Kenya Notes: Guest Speaker from Umoja Partnership (umojapartnership.org)

Week 3 is where things started to pick up! My students were worried about food waste at lunch and crafted a plan. We wrote a letter to see what could be done! Sadly we went virtual again the next week so this project lost steam, but it was a start...