The Global Studies Center has developed the following curriculum resources for K-16 Educator professional development and classroom use.
Global Issues through Literature (GILS)
The curriculum in this section has been designed for K-12 educators seeking to deepen their understanding of global issues through the use of various themes in literature.
The theme of Graphic Novels in Global Context: Social Justice through Illustration and Text is explored in the novel, A Blue Moon in Poor Water by Cathryn Hankla. This coming-of-age novel is set in the small Appalachian mining town of Poorwater, Virginia.
The theme of Graphic Novels in Global Context: Social Justice Through Illustration and Text is explored through the novel, Banned Book Club, by Kim Hyun Sook and Ryan Estrada. The book recounts the experience of Kim Hyun Sook, a young student who joins a group that meets in secret to read and discuss banned books, while living under the military dictatorship in South Korea during the 1980s.
The theme of Graphic Novels in Global Context: Social Justice Through Illustration and Text is explored through All Rise: Resistance and Rebellion in South Africa by Richard Conyngham. This graphic anthology tells six true stories of resistance by marginalized South Africans against the country's colonial government in the years leading up to Apartheid.
Race to Incarcerate: A Graphic Retelling Curriculum
The theme of Graphic Novels in Global Context: Social Justice Through Illustration and Text is explored through the book Race to Incarcerate: A Graphic Retelling, a complex story of four decades of prison expansion and its corrosive effect on generation of Americans and its implications for American democracy.
Threads: From the Refugee Crisis Curriculum
The theme of Graphic Novels in Global Context: Social Justice Through Illustration and Text is explored through Kate Evans' Threads: From the Refugee Crisis, a full-graphic novel of the refugee crisis. This book addresses one of the most pressing issues today to make a compelling case for the compassionate treatment of refugees and the free movement of peoples.
They Called Us Enemy Curriculum
The theme of Graphic Novels in Global Context: Social Justice Through Illustration and Text is explored through George Takei’s They Called Us Enemy, a full-graphic novel about Japanese individuals in relocation centers after President Roosevelt's 1942 order.
Go Curriculum
The theme of Marginalized Voices in Global Context: Centering Overlooked Narratives in Literature is explored through Kazuki Kaneshiro's novel Go. The novel tells the story of a Korean boy and a Japanese girl who fall in love and is a modern nod to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Kaneshiro examines the ideas of fate and love at first sight, friendship and violence.
The theme of Marginalized Voices in Global Context: Centering Overlooked Narratives in Literature is explored in the novel Halal if You Hear Me: The BreakBeat Poets Vol. 3 by Fatimah Asghar and Safia Elhillo. The discussion is facilitated by Yasmine Flodin-Ali, an Islamic Studies PhD Candidate in the Religious Studies department at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and is co-sponsored by the Consortium for Educational Resources on Islamic Studies (CERIS).
Home Is Not a Country Curriculum
The theme of Marginalized Voices in Global Context: Centering Overlooked Narratives in Literature is explored in the novel, Home Is Not a Country by Safia Elhillo. This discussion is facilitated by Dr. Filipo Lubua, Swahili Instructor, Department of Linguistics, University of Pittsburgh.
The Roads of the Roma Curriculum
The theme of Marginalized Voices in Global Context: Centering Overlooked Narratives in Literature is explored through the book The Roads of the Roma: A PEN Anthology of Gypsy Writers.
The theme of Globalizing Marginalized Voices is explored through the book Hunter School by Sakinu Ahronglong. This curriculum resource shares strategies for teaching about this theme through Ahronglong's recollections, folklore, and autobiographical stories from the perspective of an Indigenous Taiwanese man trying to reconnect with his lost tribal identity.
The theme of Global Migrations invites participants to learn about ways to teach about the topic of migration and diaspora through the true story of To Swim Across the World by Frances and Ginger Park. The book depicts the struggles and triumphs of the authors' parents, Sei-Young and Heisook Park.
The theme of Imagining Other Worlds: Globalizing Science Fiction and Fantasy is explored through the book Want by Cindy Pon. This curriculum resource shares strategies for incorporating the history of Taiwan and themes related to the science fiction fantasy genre.
Shadow and Bone Curriculum
The theme of Imagining Other Worlds: Globalizing Science Fiction and Fantasy is explored in the novel, Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo. This workshop is facilitated by Professor Sabrina Robinson, Instructor in Slavic Languages & Literatures, University of Pittsburgh.
The theme of Imagining Other Worlds: Globalizing Science Fiction and Fantasy is explored through the novel, The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper.
The theme of Global Conflicts is explored through the book book The Lemon Tree by Sandy Tolan. This curriculum resource shares strategies for teaching about two families seeking peace and understanding during the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The theme of Conflict and Migration is explored through the book The Day of the Pelican by Katherine Paterson. This curriculum resource offers strategies that contextualize and discuss the journey of a Muslim, Albanian family as they flee Kosovo and land in Vermont just before the events of 9/11.
The theme of Conflict and Migration is explored through Kiffe-Kiffe Tomorrow by Faïza Guène, a novel that describes a year in the life of Doria, a teenager who lives with her Moroccan immigrant mother in France.
The theme of Global Health is explored through the book Shipwrecks by Akira Yoshimura. This curriculum resource provides geographical, historical, economic, and cultural context about Japan and explores the novel as well to support classroom discussion.
This curriculum resource provides strategies to teach about the novel One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, which depicts one day in the life of a prisoner, Ivan Denisovich Shukhov, who is serving time in a Soviet labor camp in the early 1950s.
Little Princes Curriculum
The theme of Nepal is explored through the book Little Princes by Conor Grennan, which chronicles Nepal's issue of child labor. This curriculum resource provides strategies for incorporating the book's themes and topics through a global lens.
Enrique's Journey Curriculum
The theme of Migration, Gentrification, and Displacement is explored through the book Enrique's Journey by Sonia Nazario. This curriculum resource provides strategies for using a global lens to incorporate the historical, geographical, economic, and cultural factors that shape this story.
The theme of Global Labor is explored with the book The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis, which tells the story of a young girl in Afghanistan who becomes her family’s breadwinner amidst political upheaval, highlighting gender roles and resilience in the face of adversity.
Hope against Hope Curriculum
Set in 1920s Ireland, this historical novel explores the theme of Global Labor by focusing on topics in the novel Hope against Hope by Sheena Wilkinson such as labor struggles, class divisions, and the courage of young people navigating societal expectations. The workshop was led by Professor Jennifer Keating, Department of English, University of Pittsburgh.
Summer Institute for Global Educators (SIGE)
This week-long, online professional development opportunity for K-12 educators provides pedagogical content, strategies, and resources for globalizing curriculum across different themes.
Summer Institute for Global Educators Participant Curriculum Projects 2022
AP World History lesson plans/unit plans/modules on Communication Technology and Globalization in the 20th and 21st Centuries by Jennifer Sayed.
English Language Arts and Social Studies lesson plans/unit plans/modules on Global Climate Resilience Project by Kailana Durnan.
French lesson plans/unit plans/modules on Global Issues (les Défis Mondiaux) by Roberta Morgan.
World Languages, History, and Science lesson plans/unit plans/modules on Global Studies - Tiger Interdisciplinary Institute by Jacklyn Prepelka.
English Language Arts lesson plans/unit plans/modules on Historical Fiction around the World by Erin Whyte.
High School Spanish classroom lesson plans/unit plans/modules by Renee Serencsits.
World Languages and Cultures lesson plans/unit plans/modules on language diversity by Umida Hikmatilla.
Art lesson plans/unit plans/modules on Mapping Art in the Early 20th Century by Nicole Schalk.
High School Spanish classroom lesson plans/unit plans/modules on protecting Equatorial Guinea's rainforest by Michelle Geaghan.
French lesson plans/unit plans/modules on The World as a Global Village in Different Aspects of Thinking by Regis Kimwanga.
World Cultures lesson plans/unit plans/modules on the impact of culture on who we are and our lives by Larissa Sturm.
Summer Institute for Global Educators Participant Curriculum Projects 2024
This resource is a collection of lesson plans and modules by Emily D'Amico to introduce the book, The Beekeeper of Aleppo. The materials include vocabulary lists for refugees, relevant children's book worksheets, and more.
A unit plan by Maura Doyle of Oakland Catholic High School intended for honors and AP world history courses to inform students on border crises and global migration.
This lesson plan is by Nanette Fandino-Diaz and is intended to encourage students to understand Spanish-speaking immigrants in the U.S. in a culturally and socially aware capacity.
A lesson plan by Taryn Windheim to inform students about the Israel/Palestine conflict and the resulting protests on campuses.
Lesson plans/unit plans/modules created by Maria G. Blake, Sophomore/Senior in Tuscon, AZ.
This resource is a unit plan by Maura Doyle of Oakland Catholic High School. This plan is intended for honors and AP world history courses to inform students on border crises and global migration.
An outline for a classroom activity by Sarah Sudar.
This resource was created by Jacklyn Prepelka of The Ellis School to inform students about their school motto and to help them better understand themselves and their place in their communities.
This material was created by Beth Smith from Frank Elementary School to help students learn the importance of their role in our classroom community and how we are also a part of the bigger world.
This resource is from Amy Palo of Cornell High School. This module informs students about current events pertaining to China and Taiwan.
This resource is a curriculum plan created by Christine Gameos. It utilizes the six C's of Positive Youth Development framework to teach students the refugee experience, utilizing female role model stories and age-appropriate discussion.
This resource is by Sandra Danielle Thomas of Chesnee Middle School.
A YouTube playlist of the 2024 Summer Institute for Global Educators discussions.
Professional Development for K-16 Educators around Themes and Topics to Globalize Curriculum
The lectures from this faculty development workshop provide an opportunity to learn about issues related to Amazonia, particularly development, sustainability and conservation.
This online K-12 educator workshop explores the topic of migration today through the global lens of politics, economics, and climatic changes. Using modern-day migration case studies, the presenters share content and pedagogical strategies to help introduce or extend current study of the topic of migration in the classroom.
This faculty professional development conference explores the topic of migration today through the lens of politics, economics, and climatic changes.
Africa-China Relationship and its Global Impact K-12
These resources explore the history, current status, and future of Africa and China's relationship through a global lens, providing examples of not only Chinese investments in infrastructure in Africa, but from other regions such as Europe, as well. The resources offer teaching strategies and resources for K-12 classroom use.
Africa-China Relationship and Its Global Impact
This faculty professional development conference explores the history, current status, and future of Africa and China’s relationship through a global lens, providing examples of not only Chinese investments in infrastructure in Africa, but from other regions such as Europe, as well.
A Shifting Global Order: Unpacking U.S.-Canada Relations in Uncertain Times
In an era marked by geopolitical friction and economic uncertainty, the relationship between the United States and Canada stands at a critical juncture. Join Dr. Andrew Holman and Dr. Laurie Trautman for a thought-provoking discussion of the historical foundations and contemporary tensions shaping this complex bilateral relationship through a global studies lens. By situating this dialogue within a global studies framework, the discussion offers essential insights into how international dynamics, economic policies, and historical contexts intersect to shape bilateral relations. Scholars, students, educators, and curious minds alike will find this an essential forum for understanding the stakes of cross-border diplomacy.
Interdisciplinary Global Educators (IGE) Working Group Curriculum Projects
These educator-created resources from the IGE working group provide strategies for educators to working across disciplines with fellow colleagues to globalize a unit, lesson, or curriculum module. This model invites students to examine political, economic, social, cultural, and ecological questions from multiple lenses.
A resource to get you started on learning about Global Studies.
In January 2018, the University Center for International Studies (UCIS) at the University of Pittsburgh invited faculty from two and four year institutions of higher education to attend a one-day workshop on internationalizing across the curriculum. For the past five years, UCIS has partnered with the Nine University and College International Studies Consortium in Georgia and with the Community College of Beaver County and other local community colleagues to provide multidisciplinary faculty development workshops on incorporating global and international themes into syllabi. This workshop was the culmination of five years' worth of collaborations where the past participants of faculty development workshops gave presentations on how they globalized their classes.
Video presentation by Holly Mawn of Ellis School on how she and her colleagues developed a multi-year project to teach students grades 3-4 about immigration.
Other Resources
This online journal publishes new research in the field of global studies and globalization studies.
This website hosts video and audio resources from current and past CCA International Marketing Competition events. In addition it informs about the current CCA International Marketing Competition.
