The Center for Global Studies

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K-12 Resources

Why Teach Global Issues?

The integration of global education is essential for K-12 students to develop the skills, knowledge, and dispositions needed for responsible participation in a democratic society and in a twenty-first century global community. The National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) believes that an effective school curriculum must include global and international education. Global education is important because the day-to-day lives of average citizens around the world are influenced by burgeoning international connections. The human experience is an increasingly globalized phenomenon in which people are constantly being influenced by transnational, cross-cultural, multi-cultural and multi-ethnic interactions.

Therefore, in accordance with state and national teaching standards, this page will provide teachers with strategies for engaging students with the following goals:

  • Gaining knowledge of world cultures;
  • Understanding the historical, geographic, economic, political, cultural, and environmental relationships among world regions and peoples;
  • Examining the nature of cultural differences and national or regional conflicts and problems; and
  • Acting to influence public policy and private behavior on behalf of international understanding, tolerance and empathy.

How do I Navigate the CGS’s Teacher Resources?

We are happy to offer curricular resources (lesson plans, unit plans, accompanying materials) and professional development resources (workshop materials and videos) for educators across all grade levels. You can explore our resources in three ways:

  • Search curricular materials by grade level (K-12 Curricular Materials)
  • Browse our thematic workshops (CGS Professional Development Workshops)
  • Click on resource pages developed by the CGS
  • Click on links to additional Penn State and external resources for global studies education

CGS K-12 Curricular Materials

CGS Professional Development Workshops

Resource Pages Developed by the CGS

Additional Penn State Resources

External Resources