Please download the complete lesson plan for the worksheets, resources and rubrics. Below is an overview of the lesson plan.

Lesson Objectives

Students will gain an awareness of international efforts being made to improve the quality of life in the developing world.
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

recognize how Canadian identity and influence are experienced worldwide;
interpret and synthesize data from the maps, graphs, and text;
demonstrate the value of the Human Development Index for directing attention to deficiencies in development, both regionally and in a specific country;
describe and assess the progress of the Millennium Development Goals;
Navigate a web-based interactive map.

Requirements

Canadian Geographic – CIDA World Map (Online Resources for link)
Computer Lab with Internet Access
LCD projector
Music player (cassettes, mp3s, CDs)
Copies of CAFOD fact sheet on MDG's (Online Resources for link)
On-line slide show at Miniature Earth Website (Online Resources for link)
Millennium Villages project material - fact sheet (Online Resources for link)
Millennium Promise website for Project overview (Online Resources for link)
The Work of Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief (Online Resources for link)
Student Activity worksheets attached in the appendices.

Instructional Plan

The Lesson

Teacher Activities

Play music from a Canadian pop star like Shania Twain or Nickelback as students enter the room. When the class has settled, acknowledge this personality or band as a “cultural ambassador” because they reflect our identity as Canadians at home and abroad.
List several others on the board (consider some of the personalities in CBC’s Greatest Canadian Contest if the class only focuses on the entertainment industry).

Student Activities

Students brainstorm about other Canadian personalities or groups, from all walks of life, who have global appeal

Lesson Development

Teacher Activities

Establish groups of three, and then distribute a map poster to each group. Distribute one Student Activity Worksheet to each student.
Assign to each group one of the following cultural regions (North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, North Africa and the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, Western Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, East Asia and the Pacific, and South Asia).
Make the point that Canadian influence in the countries surveyed ranges in nature from more serious examples to examples of entertainment, and that they are mere “snapshots” of Canadian influence.
Explain that the Canadian identity worldwide is also defined by our country’s role in international aid and poverty reduction, diplomacy, scientific research, and peacekeeping.
Explain the importance of the Millennium Development Goals as a way to chart progress in eliminating poverty.
Print out copies of CAFOD's Fact Sheet on Millennium Development Goals to assist students with their completion of worksheet B.
Circulate and facilitate during the lesson. Students may work independently or cooperatively, depending on computer lab facilities

Student Activities

Students should complete Section A (Canadian Influence in the World) of the Student Activity Worksheet.
Students proceed to Sections B and C of the Student Activity Worksheet, which are to be completed at the end of the first lesson. Students proceed to Section D for the second lesson.

Conclusion

Teacher Activities

Show the on-line slideshow, The Miniature Earth found at www.miniature-earth.com View the CPAR PowerPoint presentation on Canadian participation in achieving the MDG's – from www.cpar.ca

Student Activities

Students can record ideas on what types of projects can make a difference in reaching the MDG's.

Lesson Extension

Have the students research the terms “development assistance,” “humanitarian assistance,” and “emergency assistance,” compare the differences between them, and give examples. All of this information can be found on the Definitions Page of the map website at www.canadiangeographic.ca/worldmap
Students should look through "New Internationalist" 'Jargon Digester' for additional development terms like ODA, HDI, bilateral aid, multilateral aid.
Students can extend their understanding of how these goals can be achieved by studying the Millennium Villages Project http://www.millenniumpromise.org
Students can read the fact sheet and project overview.
Essay topics:

- Why is gross domestic product (GDP) not used to measure development, instead of the Human Development Index (HDI)?
- What are your predictions about meeting the Millennium Development Goals by the target date of 2015? Is international aid working? What are the biggest obstacles to the achievement of these goals? To what extent will the tsunami disaster in Asia have raised global consciousness to enable the achievement of these goals?
- How should Canada spend its aid dollars? Read over "Pulling the Plug" – what is the most effective way to help poor countries? Use some of the ideas explored in the CPAR power point presentation.

Ask students to create a “How to get involved in international aid” brochure for the school. Note: have students visit CIDA’s Youth Zone website at www.cida.gc.ca/youthzone.htm. It includes useful sections such as How to get involved, Youth speakers, Internship programs, Hot topics, and more.

Have students check out additional Canadian development organizations like Development and Peace www.devp.org and CHF http://www.chf-partners.ca. to gain an understanding of how non-government organizations are involved in development work. Include this research in the pamphlet.
Investigate what criticisms exist of Canada's development policy – read 'Pulling the Plug', "New Internationalist", 1996 (included with work sheets)
As a class, develop a Millennium Development Goals exhibit for the school. For details on the MDGs, visit these sites: www.un.org/millenniumgoals, http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2003/pdf/hdr03_MDC.pdf

***Download the complete lesson plan for the following appendices:

Student Activity Worksheets
-Section A: Canadian Influence in the World
-Section B: A Developing World and the Millennium Development Goals
-Section C: Measuring Progress, A Regional View – Population
          -Poverty and Hunger
          -Health
          -Education
          -Environment
          -HIV/AIDS-Section D: Measuring Development – A Country ViewAppendix One: The Jargon DispenserAppendix Two: Pulling the Plug

Please download the complete lesson plan for all activities, worksheets and detailed information of the lesson plan.

This is an overview of the lesson plan.