Connected Minds 1: Introductions and Interdependence – October 2004
Students learn how different parts of the world depend on each other for basic needs such as food and clothing. Basic concepts such as trade, resources, imports and exports are explored.
Students communicate with other students describing each other’s daily lives. Students share further details about their country as well. After receiving a response from other students, your students explore similarities, differences, and surprises between cultures.
Connected Minds 2: Images and Perceptions – November 2004
Students learn about the topics of stereotypes and tolerance. They explore the formation of stereotypes with activities based on images and perceptions. Students attain greater appreciation for respect and openness. The students learn to value cultural diversity and alternative points of view. The students discuss within their Web Forums community common stereotypes of their own culture, and describe how their life is similar or different to these stereotypes. After receiving a response from the other schools involved in the project, students explore details of other students’ lives.
Connected Minds 3: Social Justice and Change for the Future – April 2005
Students learn about the topic of Social Justice, Change and the Future. This topic allows students to think about their future and the future of their community. Students discuss on the Web Forum community their feelings about social justice, change and views of the future. Students share details about the future of their own lives as well. After receiving responses from the other schools, students explore ways to promote social justice in their own futures.
Connected Minds 4: Conflict and Conflict Resolution – February 2006
This lesson plan helps students understand the causes of conflict and presents a useful methodology to resolving conflict. Students evaluate conflict in their own lives and the lives of their matched-schoolmates. The recent conflicts in Iraq are examined and the students apply conflict resolution methodology to explore potential options for resolution. Students won’t just explore conflict and conflict resolution by reading information from the newspaper or a website, but rather by communicating about conflict with their partners. The exercises also allow the students to realize that the causes of conflict around the world are quite similar, and to think about how conflicts can be resolved in the present and future.
