Lesson For All

Enhancing Global
Competence

An Intermediate Unit
(Grades 4-6)

Table of Contents
Unit Overview
Background Information

Rights of a Child
Millennium Development Goals

Common Core State Standards

Global Competence Matrix
Lesson 1

What are Childrens Rights? Why is education an important?

Lesson 2

What are the barriers to education?

Lesson 3

Who is out of school and what countries have the biggest issues?

Lesson 4

What is being done to help remove these barriers and how can that
contribute to development?

Handouts
Unit Extension

Author: Donna Roman

Photos: buildOn, www.buildon.org
Design: Manu Badlani, By-line Design

Unit Overview

The Lesson for All (LFA) is a series of units focusing on the fact that education is a human right, but one that
nearly 132 million children (secondary and primary) out-of-school young people worldwide do not enjoy.
Additionally, In the United States, over 500,000 students dropped out of school in the 2009-2010 school year,
a rate of 3.4 percent nationwide. The Averaged Freshman Graduation Rate is nationally, 78.2 percent, but
states vary widely. The graduation rate in Nevada is 57.8 percent, in the District of Columbia 59.9 percent
and in Wisconsin and Vermont, over 90 percent. The LFA serves to educate U.S. students about the issue of
education worldwide and, in some cases, teach them what the experience is like and what they can do to
address this global issue.
We hope that through these lessons, your classrooms will be inspired to action to help those children and
youth worldwide that do not have access to education. Students can write letters to their Members of
Congress, work with one of our coalition members to raise money to build a school or send a student to
school, and/or participate in our Global Action Week each year. For more information on these ideas or for
more actions, visit our website at www.gce-us.org.

Background Information

Increasingly, educators, administrators and the general public are acknowledging that our students need
skills that will prepare them for the 21st century world. These skills include an awareness of and engagement
with their peers about the issues facing the planet, as well as skills in the areas of critical thinking, reading/
writing and collaborative/team work. There are many global issues US students can explore and address to
meet this goal. The LFA enables educators to enhance global competency among US students by focusing
on the issue of how to ensure that these 132 million (4 million of whom are in the US) young people
worldwide have equitable access to a quality education worldwide. The 2012 case of 14-year old Malala
Yousafzai in Pakistan gave a face and reality to this headline issue.

Rights of the Child

In 1959,The United Nations adopted the
Declaration of the Rights of the Child (http://
www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/humanrights/
resources/child.asp), which recognizes that
children need special legal protections because
of their immaturity.

You have the right to love and understanding,

preferably from parents and family, but from the
government where these cannot help.

All children have the right to what follows, no

matter what their race, color sex, language,
religion, political or other opinion, or where they
were born or who they were born to.

Your parents have special responsibilities for your

education and guidance.

You have the special right to grow up and to

develop physically and spiritually in a healthy and
normal way, free and with dignity.
You have a right to a name and to be a member
of a country.

You have the right to go to school for free, to play,

and to have an equal chance to develop yourself
and to learn to be responsible and useful.

You have the right always to be among the first to

get help.
You have the right to be protected against cruel
acts or exploitation, e.g. you shall not be obliged
to do work which hinders your development
both physically and mentally.

You have a right to special care and protection

and to good food, housing and medical services.

You should not work before a minimum age and

never when that would hinder your health, and
your moral and physical development.

You have the right to special care if handicapped

in any way.

You should be taught peace, understanding,

tolerance and friendship among all people.

Millennium Development Goals(MDGs)

TheMillennium Development Goals(MDGs) (http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/) are goals made by the
United Nations in 2000, including 193 United Nations members and at least 23 international organizations.
They agreed to achieve these goals by 2015.
1. Eradicatingextreme poverty and hunger,
2. Achievinguniversal primary education,
3. Promotinggender equalityandempoweringwomen,
4. Reducingchild mortalityrates,
5. Improvingmaternal health,
6. CombatingHIV/AIDS,malaria, and other diseases,
7. Ensuring environmentalsustainability, and
8. Developing a global partnership for development.

Common Core Standard

L1

L2

L3

L4

RI.1 Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to
make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when
writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.

RI.2 Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their

development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.

RI.7 Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and

formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.

W.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey

complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the
effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.

W.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development,

organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
SL.1 Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations
and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others ideas and
expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

Final
Assessment

Global Competence Matrix

L1

L2

L3

L4

Investigate the World

Recognize Perspectives

Take Action

Communicate Ideas

Council of Chief State School Officers, http://www.edsteps.org/ccsso/SampleWorks/matrix.pdf

Lesson 1
What are the rights of children? Why is education an important right?

Enduring Understanding

import right that

Children have rights and education is an

every child should have access to.

Essential Questions

were those rights established?

What rights do children have and how
Why is education an important right?

Materials Needed
Video
For Every Child 2010
JXcs-lFlw)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3
Book
sual Schools Around the World, Owlkids
Unu
and
le
edib
Incr
s:
Clas
To
Off
an,
Sus
,
Hughes
Books Inc, 2011
Lesson 1 Reflection

Directions

are rights for

orm a list of things the students believe
1. In small groups, have students brainst
lthy and grow up to fulfill their potential)
kids. (things children need to be safe, hea
film.
ting out the rights as they are listed on the
2. Show video: For Every Child 2010 poin
video.
add the rights they remember from the
3. Small groups go back to their lists and
the whole
ir own definition of right and share with
4. Ask small groups to come up with the
group.
the World.
s: Incredible and Unusual Schools Around
5. Read and discuss page 4 in Off To Clas
to. They will
is a right that not all students have access
6. Wrap-up: Summarize that education
those kids.
help
school and what is being done to
learn more about what keeps kids out of
All children
t Goals as they pertain to Education For
7. Explain the Millennium Developmen
ents to add more
Go over as a whole group allowing stud
8. Allow time for the lesson reflection.
ctions for the final assessment.
during the discussion. Retain those refle

Extension (Class Discussion)

What is the difference between a right and

some other kids do not?

a privilege? What privileges do you have

that maybe

:
on this lesson, visit our coalition members
For additional resources and action steps
/
lkit, http://gcc.concernusa.org/media/pdf
Global Concerns Classroom, Education Too
EducationToolkit.pdf
st, http://webquest.nobelity.org/issues/
The Nobelity Project, Education WebQue
education/

Lesson 2
What are the barriers to education for children around the world?

Enduring Understanding

of school.
There are many factors that keep kids out

Essential Questions

g to school?

goin
How are kids being prevented from

Materials Needed

Video produced by Oxfam

eos/
on it, (http://www.goodnesstv.org/en/vid
Education for Girls: Our Future Depends
voir/48129/1/)
Book
s
Unusual Schools Around the World, Owlkid
Hughes, Susan, Off To Class: Incredible and
Books Inc, 2011
for small
and Unusual Schools Around the World
le
edib
Incr
s:
Clas
To
Off
from
es
pag
of
Copies
both pages
w) Save these pages for lesson #4. Copy
group work (see pages in directions belo
e in this lesson.
for each article, but only use the first pag
Lesson 2 Reflection

Directions

for all?
at is a right? Why is education important
1. Review key points from Lesson 1: Wh
Depends on it
2. Watch Education for Girls: Our Future
ay we will look
be barriers to education in the world. Tod
3. Say: Cultural beliefs and gender can
at several barriers.
exist to
sing specifically on the fact that barriers
4. Read aloud pages 7-8 and 23-24 focu
education.
the World
s: Incredible and Unusual Schools Around
Clas
To
Off
from
ion
sect
one
read
s,
pair
5. In
ir section
below and complete Handout #2 for the
ster)
Out of the Rubble, pg. 18 (natural disa
y)
From Trash to Textbooks, pg. 24 (povert
n)
Out of Sight, Out of Mind, pg. 32 (locatio
ABC Is for Everyone, pg. 34 (location)
haned)
Off the Streets, Into School, pg. 36 (orp
38 (war and violence)
Building Hope in a Refugee Camp, pg.
ess)
Schools that Go to Kids, pg. 50 (homel
revise
ers with the same article and compare and
oth
ing
join
by
ups
gro
ll
sma
te
crea
s
pair
6. Have
report while other students complete the
7. As a whole group, have small groups
listen. Retain Lesson 2 Reflections for
remainder of Lesson 2 Reflection as they
final assessment.

Extension (Class Discussion)

be overcome?
1. Do you think these barriers can always

Lesson 3
Who is out of school and what countries have the biggest issues?

Enduring Understanding

Although an education for all is a world

in some areas.

problem, the issues that keep kids out of

school are greater

Essential Questions

ng an education for all?

Where are the biggest issues in providi
n are out of school?
Why is it important what age childre

Materials Needed

t Goal :
n for Education Millennium Developmen
Video produced by the Global Campaig
.org/en/videos/voir/30753/1/
Education for all http://www.goodnesstv
Video: 2 Girls, 2 Lives
https://vimeo.com/61018495
hs
Handout: Who is Out of School grap
Lesson 3 Reflection
World Map

Directions

re are barriers to Education for All.

1. Review key concept from Lesson 2: The
t Goal : Education for all
2. Show video: Millennium Developmen
e day
3. Show video: 2 Girls Born on the Sam
o is Out of School handout
4. Discuss how to read the graphs on Wh
on Lesson 3 Reflection
5. In pairs discuss data and complete 1-4
tion and integrate ideas
6. Pairs join another pair to share informa
discuss and chart findings
7. Come together as a whole group to
in
all over the world, the problem is greater
ool
sch
of
out
kids
are
re
the
h
oug
Alth
8. Wrap-up:
some areas
on 3
stion #5 on Lesson 3 Reflection. Save Less
9. Allow time for students to answer que
Reflection for final assessment.

Extension:

resources and
our coalition members: to For additional
For additional resources on this lesson, visit
n members:
action steps on this lesson, visit our coalitio
http://10x10act.org/for-educators/
10x10, Lessons 1-3, Upper Elementary,
, http://plan-international.org/girls/
Plan International, Because I Am A Girl

Lesson 4

What is being done to help remove these barriers and how can that contribute to
development? Should education be free and open to all?

Enduring Understanding

cation around the world, there are efforts

Although there are many barriers to an edu

to remove them.

being made

Essential Questions

riers to an Education for All?

What is being done to remove the bar
5?
Nations goal of an education for All by 201
ted
Uni
the
ieve
ach
to
e
don
be
to
ds
What nee

Materials Needed

Book
s Books
Unusual Schools Around the World, Owlkid
Hughes, Susan, Off To Class: Incredible and
Inc, 2011
ld for small
edible and Unusual Schools Around the Wor
Copies of pages from Off To Class: Incr
w)
group work (see pages in directions belo
Lesson 4 Reflection

Directions

e the biggest
is out of school, and what countries hav
1. Review key point from lesson 3: Who
issues?
s will be
cifically focusing on the fact that student
2. Read aloud pages 7 and 23 again, spe
se barriers.
looking for efforts being made reduce the
on.
uss and complete 1-3 on Lesson 4 Reflecti
3. Break into Pairs. Each group read, disc
Out of the Rubble, pg. 18-19
From Trash to Textbooks, pg. 24-25
Out of Sight, Out of Mind, pg. 32-33
ABC Is for Everyone, pg. 34-35
Off the Streets, Into School, pg. 36-37
38-39
Building Hope in a Refugee Camp, pg.
Schools that Go to Kids, pg. 50-51
pare and
ing others with the same article and com
4. Have pairs create small groups by join
revise.
remainder of
report while other students complete the
5. As a whole group, have small groups
.
Lesson 4 Reflections for final assessment
ain
Ret
n.
liste
y
the
as
on
ecti
Refl
4
on
Less
6. Read page 58 aloud
7. Wrap up discussion about:
Education is a right, should it be free?
Barriers to Education for All
s
Efforts being made to alleviate barrier
benefit students, countries and the world
ld
How having an Education for All wou

Extension:

our coalition members: to For additional

For additional resources on this lesson, visit
our coalition members:
resources and action steps on this lesson, visit
://10x10act.org/for-educators/
10x10, Lesson 4, Upper Elementary, http

Lesson 1 Reflection
Name:____________________________________________________________________________________

1. In your own words, define right in the context of todays lesson.

2. Name some rights that children have, and explain where those rights were established.

3. What was the education goal adopted by the United Nations to be completed by 2015?

4. Do you think that education should be a right for every child? Explain your answer.

Lesson 2 Reflection
Name_____________________________________________________________________________________

1. The name of your article:

2. What is the barrier to education, in other words, why are children having trouble going to school?
Circle all that apply.
a. Lack of money
b. Location
c. Natural disaster
d. War or violence in their country
e. Homeless

1. Explain what the article is about.

2. As other groups report, write 2 sentences that describe what their article is about.

Who is out of School?

Lesson 3 Reflection
Name:____________________________________________________________________________________
Directions: Use the top graph to answer the following questions
In general, did the world make progress in getting kids in school from 1999-2010?

2. What area is not making much progress in getting kids in school?

3. Explain the difference between the number of boys and girls out of school. Why do you think this
difference exists?

Directions: Use the bottom graph to answer the following questions

4. Look at the world map. On what continent are most of these places?

5. Summarize: By looking at the data on these two graphs and from the discussion, do you think that
the world will achieve the goal of an Education for All by 2015? Explain your answer.

Lesson 4 Reflection
Name_____________________________________________________________________________________

1. The name of your article:

2. What is the barrier to education, in other words, why are children having trouble going to school?
Circle all that apply.
a. Lack of money
b. Location
c. Natural disaster
d. War or violence in their country
e. Homeless

3. Explain what the article is about, especially what is being done to overcome the barriers to
education.

4. As other groups report, write 2 sentences that describe what their article is about.

Final Assessment
Name_____________________________________________________________________________________

Directions: Respond in writing to the following prompt:

As part of theMillennium Development Goalsthat the United Nations set in 2000, the world governments agreed
to support the right of an education for every child, and to have all kids in school by the year 2015. It is now
2013. Please discuss the following points.
Useinformationfrom the texts we read, the videos we watched, your Lesson Reflection sheets and the class
discussion to support your writing.
What is the difference between a right and a privilege?
Why is the right of education so important?
What has been the progress of the world overall to achieve this goal of an Education For All?
What parts of the world are having the most difficulty?
What are the barriers to meeting the goal?
What is being done to help?
Should education be free?
What do you think needs to happen to make an Education For All a reality for every child?

Unit Extension:
For extension on any of the lessons provided in this Unit or on other issues that affect the world, and action steps
you can take, visit some of our coalition members:
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
http://www.aft.org/about/world/resources-opportunities/resources.cfm
http://www.sharemylesson.com
Building Tomorrow
http://www.buildingtomorrow.org/zeta/happenings/sit-for-good/
Center for Global Development
http://www.cgdev.org/section/for_educators
Concern Worldwide US
http://gcc.concernusa.org/educator-resources/
Connect To Learn
http://www.connecttolearn.org/get-involved/schools
National Peace Corps Association
http://www.peacecorpsconnect.org/npca/news/worldview-magazine/lesson-plans/
New Global Citizens
The Nobelity Project
http://nobelityinschools.org/nobelity-in-schools/educational-resources/
http://webquest.nobelity.org/issues/education/
Open Equal Free
http://www.openequalfree.org/resources/education-resources
Plan International (Because I Am A Girl)
http://issuu.com/planyouth/docs/biaag_2012_educatorstoolkit_final/35
PlanetAid
http://www.planetaid.org/
TeachUNICEF
http://teachunicef.org/explore/topic/education

Website: www.gce-us.org
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Twitter: www.twitter.com/gce_us