Middle School Lesson Plans: Women and Globalization
From the Archives
Posted on September 15, 2006
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Bride Kidnapping and the Role of Women in Kyrgyzstan
In this lesson have students write in their journal for five minutes about marriage and the future. Will they marry? If not, why not? If so, how do they think they will meet the person they will someday marry? When the five minutes are up, ask for volunteers to share their ideas. Ask students what factors are important when choosing a spouse. How important is love when choosing the person to marry? In the discussion, point out that culture plays a key role in how families are formed and in the roles that are played by men and women.
Time needed for lesson plan: varies
To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit Frontline.
- A Woman's Worth: Examining the Changing Roles of Women in Cultures Around the World
In this lesson, students will consider what they already know about the role of women in various countries and professions, and prepare for the creation of a documentary highlighting the way traditional roles of women are changing in a variety of countries. They then "pitch" their documentary plans to potential "financiers" by explaining the value of such a film.
Time needed for lesson plan: 1-2 hours
To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit New York Times.
- The Role of Women in the United States and Kenya
While being sensitive to the family situations of your students, poll the class on how responsibilities are divided up at home between genders. For example, say to the class, "Raise your hand if a female takes out the trash at your house. A male? Both?" Continue polling students about common responsibilities needed to support a family in your area, including cooking, laundry, earning money, cleaning the home, repairing the home, yard work, caring for children's needs and so on. Record student responses in a simple chart on the board, composed of three columns labeled "Male," "Female" and "Both" and as many rows as are needed for the responsibilities used in the poll to be listed down the side. Analyze and discuss the results of this informal poll. What conclusion can be drawn about the roles and responsibilities of males and females in the students' homes?
Time needed for lesson plan: varies
To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit Frontline.
- A Newscast on Nigerian Women
Work with students to help them prepare a 10- to 15-minute newscast focused on the challenges women face in Nigeria when seeking an education, employment and legal protections. The newscast should include narrative pieces, one or two mock interviews and an editorial. Care should be taken to provide "viewers" with background on Nigeria and on issues presented in the stories. For example, how does Nigeria's oil industry influence the country's economy? What role does religion play in the position of women in Nigerian society and in overall relations between the northern and southern parts of the country?
Time needed for lesson plan: varies
To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit Frontline.
- Documenting a Historic Climb of Mount Everest
To the Sherpa people, Mount Everest is Chomolongma, "Mother Goddess of the Universe." To a team of Sherpa women, climbing the mountain is an opportunity to make history. Set the stage for this activity by showing students where Mt. Everest is on a map and pointing out regional political boundaries and physical geography features.
Time needed for lesson plan: varies
To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit Frontline.
- The Pickle Business
The Wide Angle episode "Pickles, Inc." chronicles the struggles of a group of Israeli Arab women who defy cultural and gender expectations to start a business making and selling pickled vegetables. As hard as they work to make their business succeed, the barriers to success prove daunting. At the program's end, Fatma, the leader of the venture, is working alone, from her own kitchen.
Through this lesson, students explore the limitations and restrictions placed on Israeli Arab women as well as the many barriers to succeeding in an entrepreneurial business venture. They identify and discuss the issues raised in the film, and learn more about women's cooperative businesses around the world. They also conduct a service-learning project in which they raise money to support a cooperative. As a culminating activity, they come up with their own ideas for small business ventures and write business plans.
Time needed for lesson plan: 4-8 hours
To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit Wideangle.
- Women and Globalization
Despite continuing United Nations and state government efforts to the contrary, women in many parts of the world remain disadvantaged when compared with their male counterparts. This phenomenon is truly global in nature, spanning nearly all the continents, the areas of life and levels of society. In this lesson, students will learn how globalization has helped lessen this phenomenon as well as in what additional ways globalization can be used to combat it. Students will prepare power point presentations about how one country is addressing these issues. Students will learn about the role of international and national policy in addressing the inequality of women.
Time needed for lesson plan: varies
To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit Globalization101. - A Woman's Worth: Examining the Changing Roles of Women in Cultures Around the World
To return to the main Global Envision lesson plan page, please click here.
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