Teacher/Facilitator Guide
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SM Service Learning Curriculum of Mothering Across ContinentsSM TEACHER/FACILITATOR GUIDE • Framework of 7 Global Issues • Activities and reflection exercises to help students understand contemporary South Sudan, peace and conflict • Recommended readings and resources INCLUDES: SUGGESTED SUPPLEMENTAL READINGS AND RESOURCES, PLUS LINKS TO CURRENT EVENTS AND FACTS ABOUT SOUTH SUDAN. A Mothering Across ContinentsTM Publication What’s Inside The Raising South Sudan Service Learning Curriculum includes: • Overview of 7 global issues that affect South Sudan and communities around the world • 3 lesson plans covering: difficult times before and after South Sudan’s independence in 2011; sources of internal conflict that began in December 2013; and activities for students to reflect on and share their learnings and service project experiences • Suggested articles, primary source documents, warm-up exercises, Photo: Mothering Across Continents and hands-on activities for each lesson plan • Additional print, film and online resources to further explore South Sudan Filling a Need ions from many sources, and included recommended The future holds many questions about what it readings to supplement the content. We are grateful means to be a global citizen and leader.Schools are for cooperation and suggestions received from rep- increasingly called on to meet standards for academic resentatives of The Enough Project, Water for South achievement while incorporating relevant classroom Sudan, the South Sudan Institute, Sudan Sunrise, and content and service projects that develop students as other organizations engaged in South Sudan. We offer global “thinkers” and “doers.” This curriculum (includ- this curriculum as one vehicle by which teachers and ing Teacher/Facilitator Guide, Student Handbook, students can practice research, reflection, dialogue, and hyperlinked exercises and worksheets) provides critical thinking and creative expression about global flexible, easy-to-use tools that focus on South Sudan, change making. the world’s newest country as of 2011. It can be used at any time, covered in just a few hours, or as part of an extended global learning WHAT’S MEANT by SERVICE LEARNING? journey or service learning The US has a history of emphasizing student initiative like the Walk for service to encourage civic responsibility. But Wisdom. studies indicate that few schools successfully link youth service themes and activities to Philosophy classroom learning and academic achievement This curriculum is not intend- (Example: Community Service and Service ed as a “blueprint” or “one- Learning in America’s Schools, 2008). Teachers size-fits-all.”Many individuals are challenged to integrate academics and service and organizations are involved due to time and budget constraints and a void of available and relevant materials. According to the in and have perspectives on Photo: Mothering Across Continents the history, needs, challenges Corporation for National & Community Service, the number of schools and opportunities of South practicing integrated service learning declined during the past decade. Sudan. For this service learn- This curriculum combines education and service into a comprehensive but easy-to-adopt-and-adapt approach that: ing curriculum, we drew on data, information and opin- • Promotes social consciousness • Fosters global issues understanding and connections • Develops communication, critical thinking and problem-solving skills 2 RAISING SOUTH SUDAN Teacher/Facilitator Guide Curriculum Origins – A Student Story Raising awareness both in and out of the classroom Original inspiration for this curriculum comes from is an important part of service learning projects. By Myers Park High School in Charlotte, North Carolina. learning about global issues such as conflict, peace, In 2013-14, the school engaged in a year-long service education and access to clean water, students become learning program, guided by The Global ClassSM & empowered to educate others in their community. Any1CanSM Project of nonprofit Mothering Across This knowledge inspires students and communities to Continents. During the year: take action and make a difference through a meaning- ful service learning project. • Students attended assemblies about South Sudan and met former Lost Boys of Sudan. • Teachers incorporated articles and films about South Sudan into ninth grade English classes. About the Authors They facilitated students to consider parallels This Raising South Sudan Service Learning Curriculum between themes of conflict in South Sudan and is produced and presented through The Global Class & written works like Romeo & Juliet, The Odyssey, Any1Can Project of 501c3 nonprofit Mothering Across The Hunger Games and Monster. Continents with a mission of “Adopting Dreams. • More than 700 students created memes with Raising Tomorrow’s Leaders.” Special thanks go to powerful messages about peace and conflict Youth Service America (YSA), a Washington, DC-based by combining a phrase selected from a reading nonprofit that inspires youth service around the world assignment with an image from South Sudan. and shares best practices in service learning, for their Some of the memes were curated into a physical helpful conversations and references. As a result, exhibit and featured at the local art museum. this refined curriculum is a particularly great fit for Other memes were made into postcards students engaging in service projects like the Walk and mailed to members of Congress to voice for WisdomSM. the importance of supporting peace and humanitarian efforts in South Sudan. • The school’s Any1Can Club planned the first Walk for Wisdom. They registered over 700 students and raised $4,000 to support literacy Patricia Shafer and education in South Sudan. Today, the Walk Chief Catalyst for Wisdom has grown into a nation-wide global Mothering Across Continents learning and service initiative supported by 2012 Rotary Peace Fellow Mothering Across Continents. [email protected] Elizabeth Peacock Special Projects Coordinator Mothering Across Continents [email protected] Liza Melms Walk for Wisdom Team Lead Mothering Across Continents Photo: Mothering Across Continents [email protected] 3 This curriculum is designed primarily for use in English and Social Studies classrooms in high schools and advanced/IB middle schools. The curriculum includes three 90-minute lesson plans within a Teacher/Facilitator Guide, Student Handbook supplemental hyperlinked materials, and ways to reflect on and share the success of your school’s service learning project. 7 Global Issues as a Foundation 5 Thinking About South Sudan In A Broader Context LESSON I South Sudan: Difficult Times Before and After Independence 6 Lesson I reviews the history of Sudan and South Sudan, focusing on the creation of a new country (South Sudan) in July 2011. Students learn about the role of the former Lost Boys of Sudan and the challenges of nation building and development. LESSON II South Sudan Today: The Current Conflict 9 Lesson II introduces the ongoing conflict in South Sudan which began in December 2013. Students explore causes and effects of conflict, how to distinguish between facts and opinions about conflict, and the impact of conflict on a country’s development. LESSON III Reflecting and Sharing: Youth Awareness and Service 12 Lesson III introduces four creative ideas for reflection activities. After learning about South Sudan and participating in their school’s service learning project, it’s important for students to reflect on their experiences, and use their voice to raise awareness with others. Included in the activity descriptions are numerous opportunities for students to share their reflections and learnings within their classroom and school, as well as the community and wider society. Supplemental Readings and Resources 16 4 RAISING SOUTH SUDAN Teacher/Facilitator Guide THINKING ABOUT SOUTH SUDAN IN A BROADER CONTEXT Global education requires more than memorization of names, dates, and places, or recognition of foods, flags and festivals. It involves understanding the interplay of economic and social factors, as well as a set of issues that affect communities everywhere in the world. When considering South Sudan’s experiences with conflict, it’s helpful to also think about the following seven issues: POVERTY AND THE ECONOMY PEACE AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION The Big Idea: Prosperity is a combination of financial The Big Idea: By some estimates, there are as many success and citizen well-being (health, happiness, se- as 345 armed conflicts underway around the globe. curity). The world’s countries as a whole have grown Countries may struggle for years to overcome con- more prosperous over time. In contrast, the popula- flict issues. For factors including political and ethnic tion of South Sudan is among the world’s poorest. violence, high numbers of IDPs and refugees, and More than 80 percent of people live in communities underdevelopment, South Sudan consistently ap- with households that have subsistence-level in- pears near the top of the global ‘Fragile States Index’, comes and few or no assets. produced annually by the Fund for Peace. HUNGER AND NUTRITION ACCESS TO EDUCATION The Big Idea: Global food production has been in- The Big Idea: In developed economies, entrepreneurs creasing for decades. In contrast, the world’s poor- actively create and introduce new learning forms and est nations experience daily food insecurities and formats, and continuously