Global Citizenship in the Classroom

To teach your students about global citizenship in the classroom, you don’t need to be an expert on every international issue. What’s more important is having a willingness to explore the following ‘big ideas’.

To support this, Oxfam has developed the Global Citizenship Teacher Guide, which offers a comprehensive framework for educators to integrate global citizenship into their teaching programs. This guide aims to help students understand key international issues such as inequality, sustainability, and human rights, while also fostering essential skills like critical thinking, empathy, and collaboration.

The guide features seven key components:

1. Understanding Global Citizenship

Global citizenship education (GCE) empowers learners to become responsible and active participants in the worldwide community. It promotes awareness of the interconnectedness of local and international issues, encourages respect for diverse cultures, and cultivates a sense of shared responsibility for our world.

2. Core Themes

This guide focuses on social justice, sustainability, diversity, and peace. Each theme is explored through engaging activities, discussions, and projects that encourage students to think critically about their roles in the world.

3. Teaching Strategies

Educators will find practical strategies for integrating GCE into their existing curricula. These include creating a classroom environment that promotes dialogue and debate, using case studies and real-world examples to make global issues relatable, and fostering active participation through community projects and service learning.

4. Resources and Activities  

The guide provides a range of resources, including lesson plans, worksheets, and multimedia tools, to support the teaching of global citizenship. The activities are designed to be flexible and adaptable, enabling teachers to tailor them to their students’ needs and interests.

5. Assessment and Reflection  

Assessment in GCE goes beyond measuring knowledge; it evaluates attitudes, values, and behaviors. It also provides methods for assessing students’ comprehension of global issues and their ability to apply this knowledge in everyday life. Reflection is emphasized as a crucial part of learning, enabling students to internalize concepts and relate them to their own experiences.

6. Case Studies and Real-World Examples

The guide includes case studies and examples of successful GCE initiatives from around the globe. These examples demonstrate how global citizenship can be effectively integrated into various subjects and educational contexts, providing tutors with inspiration and practical ideas for implementation.

7. Challenges and Considerations

The guide acknowledges the challenges of implementing GCE, such as time constraints, limited resources, and varying levels of student engagement. It offers suggestions for overcoming these obstacles, including collaborating with other educators, seeking professional development opportunities, and adapting materials to fit the local context.

To learn more about this guide, you can download the PDF document here.