Global Goals: Linking SDGs to curriculum lessons

 Global Goals: Linking SDGs to curriculum lessons

If you aren’t familiar with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), I suggest reading the previous blog  “The Global Goals: Bringing the world into your classroom” which explains the SDGs and some of the benefits to students. 

With the wide range of SDGs topics and themes, connections can be made to all curriculum areas from K-12. It is not just about students learning content and thinking about it, but providing opportunities for them to take action: at your school, the local community and even globally. The SDGs can also be used as an avenue to combat the negativity of images, stories, statistics with positive human stories, case studies, and the progress and change that might not be found in the media. 

Before teaching through the SDGs, you must identify if any of your students are directly affected by any of the inequities that could be discussed. These are potentially sensitive issues and in order to discuss them openly, you need to ensure you have a safe and supportive classroom environment.

The ideas below are just a sampling of the connections that can be made to begin the planning process.  Much of what teachers already do can be easily reframed to connect curriculum content to the SDGs.

Literacy

The SDGs can be illuminated in the classroom by offering, reading, and displaying a diverse range of stories found from cultures and countries around the world. Be cognizant of the bias that might be found in picture books, especially between poverty, race, gender, and sexuality. Poetry is a wonderful introduction to many social justice topics, while tapping into the creativity of the writer’s ideas and imagery. 

Classroom discussions can centre around stereotypes and negativity found in the media and news reports. Teach the students to define fact, opinion, stereotype, and bias so they can critically analyze images and stories through an equity lens. You can create authentic learning experiences connected to the SDGs with a focus on gender, race, ableism, and wealth stereotypes.

All 17 SDGs naturally lend themselves to a variety of writing activities in the classroom. You can develop lessons so students are able to research specific SDGs or targets, analyse data, read case studies, and learn about how their own country has adopted the SDGs. Utilize the power of student voice to turn their ideas into actions within the school and then directly to their local communities. Students can take what they have learned and write persuasive articles to the local paper or school newsletter.  They can produce vlog/blogs to advocate for change. Learners can design an informational poster or infographic to seek support from local governments or businesses, and storyboard and record their own Public Service Announcement (PSA) videos for a specific SDG issue, with a call to action that extends beyond the walls of the classroom. 

Mathematics 

Data can be used to measure progress towards the fulfillment of the SDGs.  Students can analyze statistics about access to clean water or education and can be used for math problems, interpreting and presenting data through graphs and tables. The idea of inequality can be aligned with ratios, fractions or percentages to express different equal and unequal distributions. Students can collect data on water and energy consumption to find ways to monitor and reduce their own use, and create a school campaign to reduce consumption and fulfill SDG #12.

Science 

All of the SDGs have a connection to science and technology, with the most obvious being Clean Water #6, Clean Energy #7, Climate Action #13, Life below water #14 and Life on land #15. Teachers can take the inquiry process a step further with students designing and creating prototypes of solutions to meet some of the specific targets.  Think of upgrading your traditional Science or STEM Fair to connect to the SDGs and showcase the student generated solutions.

The Arts 

Visual art is a means to express opinions, ideas and wishes about the future, by taking inspiration from well known artists to discovering new ones. Through social media, students can investigate how global issues and themes like peace, conflict and justice #16 are linked to the SDGs and how they are represented in art. Drama can be used to develop empathy, explore a variety of perspectives, and recognise the complexity of global issues to SDG themes. Students can act out tableaux, or even write plays to highlight communities impacted by climate change SDG #13 or refugees who are forced to flee their homes because of political conflict. 

History

Many significant events in history are linked to the SDGs.  Learners can consider how individuals and collective actions have contributed to to changes in areas of poverty #1, education#4, gender equality #5, and peace, justice & strong institutions #16. They can research and compare the characteristics of specific topics throughout history up to the present day, and study the impact of industrialisation and globalization on society SDG#9. 

Modern Foreign Languages 

Students can explore and compare the media coverage of different issues related to the SDGs in languages such as French, Spanish, and German. They can create a travel guide to a country where the language being studied is spoken, and integrate as information about sustainable tourism, resources, and culture.

Music 

Countries and cultures around the world have used music for positive change and to challenge social injustice. Through these themes, students can consider the role of music throughout history to the present day, and the change that has resulted from it.

Physical Education and Health

Sports is a global celebration, but has also been used to bring about change and improve opportunities and access to resources.  Students can examine the rules of a variety of sports and update them to make the sport more inclusive. You can focus on the importance of teamwork as a way of building trust between individuals and to collectively solve problems. They can consider the role and importance of a balanced diet and exercise in promoting good health and well-being for SDG#3. 

By taking a global citizenship approach to the curriculum, you will be able to highlight the societal impact of SDGs and encourage students to explore alternative points of view and steps for action.