International children's picture books provide windows and mirrors for children and allow them to consider issues of fairness, justice, equity, diversity, and the common good as they build their nascent citizenship skills. One powerful pedagogy that supports the use of rich curriculum and thoughtful discussions is critical literacy, a subset of…

This article bridges scholarship in global education with elementary classroom teaching by presenting a series of lessons that challenge the idea of national culture as fixed and stable. When teaching about another country other than the United States, teachers tend to rely on misappropriated generalizations around food, holidays, and folktales…

People all over the world relish the opportunity to count down the final moments of the year and welcome an exciting New Year full of opportunities and fresh beginnings. Different cultures have historical traditions of welcoming in the New Year, from eating black-eyed peas in the American South to creating geometric "Rangoli" (a form of…

In this article, the authors describe how a teacher (Carrie Hamilton) can scaffold and connect social studies concepts to a variety of students' experiences in meaningful ways. They draw on findings from Laura J. Quaynor's study about social studies education for immigrant students who are also refugees. Together, they discuss effective pedagogic…

By nurturing a sense of respect and value for self, others, and the world, teachers encourage children to become stewards of their school and home communities. Developing young children's sense of responsibility (understanding that their actions can have important and enduring impacts on others and on the environment) is a core value of Montessori…

Dr. Wangari Maathai--"environmentalist, human rights advocate, global peace worker, and community builder"--passed away in 2011. The first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, Dr. Maathai left a legacy even greater than the 47 million trees that her organization, the Greenbelt Movement, has planted across Kenya since 1977. As…

Linking to voices from the world is exciting for both students and teachers, but everyone needs to understand that global education is a form of citizenship education. The activities of the nation have a great effect on people in the rest of the world, whether in the realm of economics, diplomacy, the media, or the environment. Some states, like…

Presents an interdisciplinary unit for fourth-grade students that compares the Tokaido Road in Japan to Interstate I-75 in Michigan; students learned about the history and geography of the Tokaido Road, examined the travel prints of Ando Hiroshige, and created their own travel prints and haikus. Gives three accompanying handouts. (CMK)

Describes an interdisciplinary lesson consisting of seven activities for intermediate or middle level students. Focuses on calculating monetary exchanges between the United States and Japan, specifically the prices of real estate and other items, and comparing the economies and cultures of the two countries. Gives four activity sheets. (CMK)

Relates how children in Japan become members of Japanese society by learning the cultural and social norms from family, school, community, and the nation itself. Suggests four teaching activities that will help U.S. students understand Japanese culture and reflect upon their own lives and responsibilities. (CMK)

Describes three approaches (folk festivals, origin learning centers, and local/global inquiry) that help elementary students address issues of diversity, global studies, and social constructivism; these approaches grew out of a collaborative project between a local school district and a university called the Children's Center for Global…

Employs a summary of the story "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes" by Eleanor Coerr as an introduction to the city of Hiroshima's (Japan) quest for world peace, peace education, and strong opposition to nuclear warfare. Discusses various symbols of peace, such as paper cranes in Japanese culture, and offers five teaching activities.…

Describes the 1997 Keizai Koho Center Fellowship study tour of Japan in which a group of American, Australian, Canadian, and English educators visited two Japanese elementary schools. Compares the structure, classroom activities, and curriculum of each elementary school in detail and reflects upon the future trends in Japanese education. (CMK)

Explores the role of rice in Japanese culture by presenting historical background and teaching activities in a variety of categories, such as language, sociology, history, and contemporary politics. Suggests teachers create cross-cultural comparisons; for example, the role of corn in the United States. Provides a list of teacher resources. (CMK)

Lists a collection of Internet sites on diversity and Japan for social studies educators. Includes a variety of topics with hyperlinks to lesson plans and activities, teaching resources, and sites exploring aspects of different cultures. Recommends that teachers and students follow these links to hundreds of other sites. (CMK)