Connecting Your Students to the Local and Global

By. Craig Perrier

This summer I reacquainted myself with the Global Development Goals agreed to by nearly every nation, including the United States, on the planet.  The 17 global goals are “an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – in a global partnership.” With a 2030 timeline, a strong commitment by all stakeholders to implement the global goals is needed.

Additionally, the Global Goals have become part of the educational landscape in our schools.  Besides the abundance of resources made available on organizations’ websites, teachers I work with have integrated the goals in their classes.  Doing so adds relevance and authenticity  as students approach contemporary challenges.  Moreover, these challenges don’t only exist “over there” or in “another country.”  Addressing Global Goals, therefore, can happen in your community.  When this is done, the local and global intersect, resulting in deeper understanding of network, systems, and individual action.

In this post, I have explored how the Educator Marketplace  can support four of the Global Goals.  Below are just some of the opportunities inspired by the Global Goals.

• Goal 2: Zero Hunger: Nurture Life make it easy to get a variety of nutritious, ready-to-enjoy meals in balanced portions to offer the right nutrients at each stage of growth. Likewise, Purple Carrot’s healthyplant-basedmeals are great for vegans and vegetarians!

• Goal 3: Good Health and Well Being: Lucky Vitamin is one of the leading retailers of vitamins, nutritional supplements, herbs, body building, green living, organic and natural products. Apollo Neuro is a touch therapy that you wear on your ankle or wrist. Apollo’s silent, soothing vibrations speak to your nervous system, telling you that you’re safe and in control.

• Goal 4: Quality Education:  No surprise that there is a lot of options to meet this goal.  To start, check out the deals and possibilities from Moonshot, Highlights, Great Courses Plus, and Spangler Science Club.

• Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: Staples has great deals for the new school year including $200 Off Select Laptops, Desktops & 2-In-1s + Save 50% or more. Moreover, the company 1 Thrive is great for you organization and productivity needs and offers a teacher only discount.

It is interesting to note that the AP Human Geography curriculum includes the Global Goals in their curriculum. I challenge you to ask your colleagues about the Global Goals and discuss how they can incorporate them into their classes.  The Educator Marketplace can readily support that implementation.