This unit covers topics related to globalization, including the global economy, the growing world population, and global health.
Globalization unit contains 6 learning experiences.
Learning Experiences (Lessons) in Globalization Each learning experience takes about 45 minutes to teach in the device-enabled classroom.
Globalization in the 21st Century
Students are introduced to the concept of globalization. First they infer what the term globalization means. Then they watch a video and read an article to learn about the concept. Next they create a chart of the positive and negative impacts of globalization. Finally they create a poster showing ways that globalization affects their daily lives.
The Global Economy
Students first learn about exchange rates. Then they examine the elements that make up the global economy. Next they learn about the factors in creating a new t-shirt: resources, technology, producers, transportation and technology, and consumers. Finally they analyze the importance of a diversified economy.
International Organizations and Treaties
Students recall the role of military alliances in the World Wars and make a preliminary evaluation if alliances are positive or negative. Then they learn about three types of international organizations—military, economic, and humanitarian—and create a concept map. Next they write a brief report about an international organization. Finally they compare different treaties between the United States and three other countries, and write an opinion about the United States’ responsibility to be a leader in international organizations and treaties.
The Growing World Population
Students study a chart of years in which world population added another billion and predict when the population will reach nine billion. Then they review terminology related to population and compare population density of different countries. Next they learn about population pyramids and draw conclusions from a comparison of pyramids for world population in 1950 and 2023. Finally they read about China’s one-child policy, summarizing the unintended consequences and drawing population pyramids for the Chinese population before the policy and after it was ended.
Competition for Limited Resources
Students watch a video about the state of the world’s agricultural resources and pose questions. Then they summarize key information about fires and deforestation, water stress, food insecurity, and global waste. Next they write an analysis of one of those topics as a potential source of global conflict. Finally they describe an organization that is using global cooperation to combat limited resources.
Global Health
Students brainstorm diseases that have changed the course of world history. Then they examine components of world health and focus on infectious disease (smallpox), indirect human health issues (avian flu), and environmental problems affecting global health (access to clean water). Next they describe international health organizations as examples of global cooperation. Finally, they create a primary source artifact about life during the COVID-19 pandemic.
