Local global | gowickedglobal

This is my town of 6,500 people in rural Maine. It can be a challenge to find people with global experiences to share. However, with some persistence and creativity we are able to host 2 "International Days" per year at my middle school.

Tips:

Utilize exchange students from your high school.
Tap into service organizations like Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions Club, etc.
Ask parents to think about who they know within driving distance that has international experience.
Ask local businesses to partner with you - we asked the Hannaford supermarket if we could "borrow" their sushi chef if we paid for the ingredients.

Make what's local, global. Teach kids that what happens here at home probably happens everywhere, but in different ways. For example, this year we decided to study where we get out drinking water.

Steps:

(following the Global Competence Matrix)

Investigate - Research the Belfast Water District website and invite the superintendent of the water district to come to our classroom. Go out into the community and photograph elements of our water infrastructure.
Communicate - Create slideshows and iMovies of our findings, including our personal daily water consumption data.
Take Action - Send projects via email to The Gambia to be shared with school kids there. Ask them to send back similar data.
Recognize Perspectives - upon receipt of water projects from The Gambia, my students will have a better understanding of common needs that we all face and the unique ways that we meet those needs.