Although the Borgen Project does not primarily focus on child poverty. They concentrate on preventing and making the issue of poverty extinct. The Borgen Magazine focuses on humanity and how the Borgen Project works to help the impoverished communities world wide. What I found particularly interesting is their childhood curriculum. It was amazing to me that then understood that the issue of poverty impacts children on a different level. The curriculum teaches the children about global poverty. The lesson plan introduces students to the issue of global poverty, governance, and civic engagement. The lesson plan is designed to teach students that the size of a problem does not necessarily correlate to the ease with which it is solved. In this manner, the lesson plan will emphasize what can be done to improve the human condition, thereby reducing social injustice, desperation, and hardship. The curriculum will also teach students how easy it is to communicate with their congressional leaders and influence the decision making process of congressional leaders. By communicating with their congressional leaders students will learn how to formulate and express their opinion about a particular issue. By the end of the lesson students will have a greater knowledge of global poverty and civic engagement.
This was particularly interesting to me because I cannot recall a time where I taught young children about poverty. Many of my colleagues stray away from teaching children about very serious issues. I would guess that it is controversial to teach children about global poverty. Children are very empathetic and want to help everyone. This issue can cause them sadness. Global poverty and its affect on children is an important issue.
The Borgen Project thinking enough of young children by creating this curriculum is telling of their dedication to educating the world about global poverty. This curriculum is age appropriate and teaches understanding and compassion. It helps children think about how they can help. It teaches them about government and policy. Children get to participate in their government with the goal of helping children who do not have their basic needs. The children learn so much in this curriculum such as understanding that many people lack basic necessities. The primary objective of this lesson is for students to understand that they can influence the legislative process. It is a lesson that I have not thought about before.
What I have learned from the Borgen Project is finding new and inventive ways to teach young children about government and policy. How important that we help them develop an understanding about differences and that not everyone has the same opportunities and resources as them.
Hope,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog. I glanced at the Borgen Project page when we started the research for resources.I agree with you, I think that creating a curriculum for the children is awesome. It definitely shows their dedication. I like your idea that we can find different ways to teach children about the government and helping them understand that we all don't have the same opportunities and resources. I think the Borgen project is doing an amazing thing and I look forward to see what other curriculum's they may create in the future.
Thanks for sharing,
Danielle
Hope,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing more about your resource. I think it is wonderful that they are teaching children about global issues. Part of early childhood is the importance of play and social interaction because it teaches empathy and problem-solving skills. By teaching them that we are all different and that not all children have the same opportunities, they will build on these skills. It's refreshing to hear that children can become more active members in society by learning the processes behind government and policy.
Trish