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Latest
news and updates
August 2007
Cool Planet is changing! A new website for a new term!
Coming soon: a new Oxfam website for teachers!
 Oxfam Education will still offer your favourite Cool Planet resources, but with a new look, and new search options, it will be much easier to find what you need.
We know you lead busy lives. That’s why we’re creating a new site that makes teaching about global issues as easy and accessible as possible.
The website will feature hundreds of lesson plans, assembly ideas, case studies and photo stories, giving you all the support and materials you need to take a global citizenship approach.
> To be notified when the new site launches, email coolplanet@oxfam.org.uk
July 2007
Nelson Mandela’s birthday: 19 July
  Nelson Mandela – one of the world’s most respected public figures – will celebrate his 89th birthday on July 19.
As a leader of the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, he helped to make history by creating a multi-racial democracy in the country. He won the Nobel Peace prize in 1993 and was also the country’s first black president.
Find out more about Nelson Mandela’s life and achievements with our resources. They help you to explore the events of his life through the differences between his own autobiography, and biographies written about him. This is also a great opportunity explore the history of apartheid and segregation, and to cover rights and diversity topics in your classroom.
> Resources about Nelson Mandela
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Resources about rights and social justice
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Resources about diversity
July 2007
Live Earth: 7 July
 The Live Earth concerts are nearly here! On July 7 there will be 24 hours of music dedicated to raising awareness of climate change. The concerts will take place in over eight countries, and are estimated to reach some 2 billion people worldwide.
Many of the 150 acts playing at Live Earth will be popular with your students. The Black Eyed Peas, Kelly Clarkson, Madonna, Razorlight, Kanye West, and Snow Patrol have all added their names to the Live Earth bill. What better time to start teaching about climate change?
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Oxfam resources on climate change
> More information about Oxfam’s work to prevent climate change and protect the world’s poorest people
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Practical Action resources about climate change
June 2007
Make Poverty History: two years on
 In July 2005, millions of people united to demand an end to global poverty. Over 36 million people from 70 countries – including 250,000 people at the UK’s march in Edinburgh – called on world leaders to make poverty history.
It’s now two years later, and there’s still a lot to be done. You can teach about this historic moment, the progress since 2005, and what’s needed to tackle global poverty today with our materials on the Make Poverty History campaign.
> Teaching materials on the Make Poverty History campaign
> Information for children on Make Poverty History
> Teaching materials from the Make Poverty History website
June 2007
MDGs mid-point: 7 July COMPETITION
 7 July will be the mid-point of the Millennium Development Goals. World leaders have promised to halve world poverty and provide universal access to primary education by 2015. They need to work much harder to keep on track and ensure the goals are achieved on time.
Our poster competition is an ideal way to bring the key global issues around the MDGs into your classroom. Help your students to design posters about the goals and they could win some fantastic prizes! Every school that enters will receive free resources, and winners have the chance to visit Oxfam’s headquarters – and have their work displayed on Cool Planet!
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Enter the competition!
> Find out more about the MDGs
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Explore education in Africa with materials from Teachers TV
June 2007
Refugee Week: 18-24 June and World Refugee Day: 20 June
 Across the UK there will be arts, cultural, and education events to mark Refugee Week 2007. By celebrating the huge cultural, social and economic contributions made by refugees, Refugee Week is a powerful positive message about the diversity of our society.
Many young people struggle to fully understand the reasons why people have to leave their countries. We’ve brought together resources to help you explore these issues in your classroom. By promoting positive educational messages about refugees you’ll be helping to dispel the fear and prejudice that sometimes surrounds them.
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Oxfam resources on rights and social justice
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Life as a refugee on Cool Planet for Children
> Find out more about Refugee Week
> Find out more about Oxfam’s work with asylum seekers in the UK
May 2007
Teach about climate change!
Climate change is happening, and it’s increasingly part of our lives. Oxfam’s new free online resource will help you teach about this complex topical issue.
Exploring both the causes and effects of climate change, Climate Chaos highlights the impact that climate change might have on the world’s poorest people. Using activities based around pupils’ everyday lives – such as what it takes to produce a packet of cereal – pupils can explore their own use of fossil fuels and what they might do to reduce it.
You can also use the resource to run an excellent active citizenship project , with ideas to help pupils draw up an action plan for reducing the whole school’s use of fossil fuels. . The cross-curricular activities are useful for teaching Geography, Science, English S&L, PSHE/Citizenship, Art & Design and ICT.
Climate change is probably the most important issue
affecting the world in the lifetime of our pupils. June 5 is World
Environment Day making this the perfect time to teach about climate
change with our new resource.
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Visit Climate Chaos, our week of climate change activities
> Find out more about Oxfam’s work to combat climate change
May 2007
Don't miss your chance to JOIN UP!
From Aberystwyth to Addis Ababa, pupils from around the world are busy JOINING UP. You can read some stories from UK schools on the Send My Friend website.
There was disappointment at the outcome of a special conference held in Brussels on 2 May to discuss how much money rich countries will pledge for education. World leaders came with their notebooks but not their chequebooks.
A group of children from Kenya, Uganda, India, Colombia and Germany did a brilliant job making the case for education, with a powerful video and by speaking directly to delegates at the start of the meeting.
We still need your help to persuade the G8 to go further at this year’s summit in Germany. Please make sure that any chains you have made get sent to Chancellor Angela Merkel before the summit opens on 6 June.
> Find out how to make your chain and where to send it
> Lesson plans to help you teach about the issues are also available
May 2007
Design posters – win prizes!
 To mark the mid-point of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) we’re giving away some fantastic prizes in our new MDGs competition. Help your students to design a poster about the MDGs and they could win the chance to come to Oxfam House and have their work displayed on Cool Planet. Every school that enters will also receive a free poster set.
By 7 July 2007, world leaders should be halfway towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals – goals they've set to halve poverty by 2015 – but there’s a still lot to do. It’s vitally important that we keep pressure on world leaders to ensure they deliver their promises.
Entering the competition offers your students the chance to have their say about why overcoming poverty and suffering is important. They will also get the chance to explore key global issues such as the right to education, the need to protect our environment, and the fight against malaria, HIV and AIDS.
> Read more and enter the competition
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Find out more about the MDGs
May 2007
G8 2007: teach about the issues
 Did you get involved in Make Poverty History in 2005? Would you like to teach about whether world leaders are delivering on their promises to the world’s poor? This year’s G8 meeting provides a great opportunity to use a current event to tackle important global issues like the right to education and the importance of fair trade rules.
The leaders of the G8 countries made some big promises about ending poverty in 2005. Though some of these promises were kept, most have gone unfulfilled. On June 6th 2007, the G8 leaders are meeting again in Germany. They must do more to: make world trade rules fair; provide more and better aid; deliver debt cancellation; improve global healthcare and education provision; and prevent the world’s poorest from suffering most from the world’s changing climate.
We have pulled together a collection of resources on the key issues concerning the G8 meeting this year to help you teach about the continuing fight against global poverty, and important global issues.
> Oxfam teaching resources on the G8
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Information from Oxfam GB on this year’s G8
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Add your voice against poverty
May 2007
Have your say about the future of education in England
The National Council for Educational Research want to hear your thoughts about the issues in education that matter to you. As part of a pilot survey project, they want to hear from Primary and Secondary teachers in England, and gather views and opinions about the future of education. If the pilot is successful, NFER hope to roll out the omnibus survey across the whole of the UK.
The pilot project will run through June 2007 and offers you the chance to have your say about the important issues affecting education and the teaching profession.
> More details about the NFER omnibus pilot survey
> Read what Oxfam's Moira Faul thinks about the purpose of education
May 2007
World Fair Trade Day: 12 May
Saturday the 12th of May is World Fair Trade Day 2007. Not only is it a great opportunity to organise an event in celebration of Fair Trade, but it also provides a great way to get the issues surrounding world trade into your classroom.
This year’s theme is ‘Kids Need Fair Trade’. Fair Trade helps low-income households earn a decent living, so they don’t have to send their children to work. It allows children improved access to clean water, sanitation, health care, and education.
Becoming a Fairtrade school is just one way to celebrate the benefits of Fair Trade. It involves just five simple steps, and allows your students to make a real difference to the lives of farmers and workers in developing countries. Oxfam also has lots of resources to help you teach about Fair Trade and its impact.
> Oxfam teaching resources on Fair Trade
> Information about World Fair Trade Day 2007
> Information about becoming a Fairtrade school
> Information about Oxfam's work on world trade
April 2007
Global Campaign for Education Week of Action: 23-29 April
 Everyone has the right to education. By forming a human, virtual, or paper chain in support of the Global Action Week for education, you’ll be ensuring world leaders know they need to do more to make education for all a reality.
80 million children across the world cannot go to school, the majority of whom are girls. Education is a basic right, and also plays a crucial role in reducing poverty and promoting gender equality.
The Global Action Week is nearly here. The GCE website has lots of classroom resources - designed by Oxfam experts - to help you teach about the issues involved. Generation Why, Oxfam’s website for young people, also has a fantastic quiz to test your pupils’ knowledge of access to education around the world.
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Teaching resources on the GCE website
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The Oxfam education quiz on Generation Why
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More about Oxfam’s education programme
April 07
Mapping our World wins a GA Gold Award!
 The Geographical Association has presented Oxfam with a Gold Award for our free website, Mapping our World!
The GA Awards recognise a significant contribution to the teaching of geography, and the esteemed Gold Award is given to the best entrant across all award categories.
The site was a big hit with the GA judges who praised it for superb use of ICT, being easily understood by students of all abilities, and uniquely contributing to pupils’ understanding of the differences between maps and globes. They were unanimous in their support of Mapping our World, recommending that “every geography teacher uses and enjoys this site today!”
 Mapping our World is a free online resource that helps pupils aged 8 and above to explore the difference between a map and a globe, learn the names and locations of continents and countries, and understand how different map projections affect our perceptions of the world. Designed for use on interactive whiteboards, it is also suitable for use on PCs.
We’re thrilled to be able to add a GA Gold Award to the BAFTA received for Mapping our World in November. If you haven’t had a chance to do so already, why not see what everyone’s talking about?
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Visit Mapping our World
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Find out what the GA judges had to say in their own words
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Find out more about the GA Awards
April 07
Want to get more involved with Oxfam? Throughout April and May there are lots of ways you can!
 From the 18 th of April, Oxfam will be touring the country and offering you the chance to find out more about our work to end poverty and suffering. Come to one of our many Oxfam Live roadshows where you can find out firsthand what Oxfam does and why we do it. Have your say about issues that matter to you, question one of Oxfam’s Directors, and hear inspiring speakers from around the world. It’s a great chance to meet other Oxfam supporters, and get more involved.
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Find your nearest event and book online
The Oxfam Change programme offers 35 young people (aged 18-25) the opportunity to receive specialist training for campaigning on development issues. If you’re a teacher under the age of 25, or if you think your sixth-formers might like to get more actively involved with Oxfam, the Change programme is a great way to find out more about our campaigns and learn some useful new skills. At our specially designed 5-day residential training course in Bristol from 03 – 07 September 2007, you’ll learn everything you need to know to make an impact in the fight against poverty and suffering.
> Find out more and download an application pack
April 07
Our Food, Our World – free resources now online!
Pupils will love learning about food by exploring the lives of two children: Yamini, from India, and Luis, from Mexico. Our new free online resource for 5 to 9 year olds is a great way to explore core food-related topics such as healthy eating, whilst also bringing the global dimension into your classroom.
Using vibrant photographs, cross-curricular activities, recipes and country profiles, these free activities draw out the connections between pupils’ own lives, and those of children from around the world. By helping pupils to recognise similarities with their own experiences, the activities help to build pupils’ empathy and to combat prejudice.
These activities have been adapted from Oxfam’s new print publication, Our Food, Our World. This photopack introduces Jordan, AA, Thembe, Luis and Yamini, five children from very different parts of the world (France, Thailand, South Africa, Mexico and India). Comprising a 64pp teachers booklet, 32 full-colour photocards, a CD-ROM, an A1 poster, and full curriculum links, this pack gives you everything you need to teach about food at ages 5 to 9.
Why not bring the world into your classroom with Oxfam's newest resources today?
> Free online teaching materials
> Order a print copy of Our Food, Our World online
April 07
World Health Day: 7 April
The theme of World Health Day 2007 is ‘global health security’. In an increasingly interconnected world, threats to health know no borders. Diseases such as HIV and AIDS cause untold suffering to those affected whilst also threatening the stability of regions and countries. Only by collaborating can governments hope to safeguard the health and security of all peoples around the world.
World Health Day 2007 is a great opportunity to educate your students about the serious threats to global health posed by diseases such as HIV, AIDS and malaria. Access to safe drinking water, sanitation and health care also pose considerable barriers to health in developing countries.
Oxfam has resources on health topics such as maternal mortality, childhood disease, and the fight against HIV and malaria, to help you get involved with this year’s World Health Day.
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Global health resources
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Health resources in Oxfam’s Catalogue for Schools
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Information about Oxfam’s health programme
March 07
Looking to develop your school's approach to Citizenship?
 An innovative project called Developing Citizenship has lots of great ideas for helping you develop the global dimension in Citizenship, both in the classroom, and across the whole school and wider community.
The result of collaboration between Oxfam GB, UNICEF UK, Save the Children UK and three Development Education Centres across England, this project worked with five Local Authorities and 16 Secondary Schools between 2002 and 2005. The project supported schools to develop concrete ideas to make the most of a global dimension.
The results are now on the Teaching Expertise website, and provide fantastic ideas about how to bring the global dimension into your classroom, along with ideas for developing students’ participation. There are case studies and benchmarking materials to inspire and support your work - and ensure your pupils are equipped with the knowledge, skills and values they need for life in the 21st century.
> Developing Citizenship materials on the Teaching Expertise website
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Information about the Developing Citizenship Project
March 07
Bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade: 25 March
 On the 25 th of March 1807, the slave trade was legally abolished in Britain and its colonies. The injustice of slavery inspired an unprecedented public outcry, and the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act was the result of years of hard work by campaigners. Through lobbying, boycotts, petitions, and judicial challenges, abolitionists achieved this important step toward the total abolition of slavery in 1833.
The bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade can be readily incorporated into curriculum areas such as History, Geography, English, PSHE and Citizenship. You can use this opportunity to teach about the history of the slave trade, the abolitionist movement, the legacies of the slave trade that remain today, and the persistence of slavery in the form of forced and child labour.
There are lots of ideas about how you can mark this historic event on the Global Dimension website, and Anti-Slavery International, which formed in 1839, has an excellent resource about the history and legacy of the slave trade. Oxfam also has a range of resources for teaching about human rights and social justice.
> Global Dimension resources on slavery
> Anti-Slavery International resources
> Oxfam resources on rights and social justice
March 07
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: 21 March
 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination reaffirms the importance of combating racism. Established in honour of 69 South African protestors killed at a peaceful anti-apartheid demonstration in 1960, this day reminds the international community of the need to work harder to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.
Education is one powerful way of tackling discrimination and prejudice. By promoting values such as equality and respect, and encouraging understanding in your classroom, you will be helping to teach your students about the importance of diversity. Oxfam has lots of resources to support you in doing this.
> Resources on Diversity
> Resources on Rights and Social Justice
> Resources from Oxfam's Catalogue for Schools
March 07
Red Nose Day: 16 March
 Every other year, Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day activities help to focus attention on poverty and social injustice in both the UK and Africa. This national extravaganza provides a great opportunity to get global issues into your classroom.
Red Nose Day will undoubtedly excite your students. This is a fantastic opportunity to introduce them to important global issues such as aid, trade and debt, whilst also helping them to understand some of the causes of poverty and injustice. No matter which age group you teach, the Red Nose Day website has some great ideas for lessons on the issues involved. We’ve also collected some of Oxfam’s best resources for teaching about aid, trade and debt in the classroom.
> Teaching resources from the Red Nose Day website
> Teaching resources from Oxfam
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For information on Oxfam’s work on poverty around the world
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For information on Oxfam’s work on poverty in the UK
March 07
Global Campaign for Education Week of Action: 23-29 April
By 2015, world leaders have promised that all children will have access to primary education. By joining the Global Campaign for Education (GCE) and asking world leaders to Send My Friend to School, your students will be helping to ensure that world leaders deliver on their promise.
This year, the GCE hopes to create the world’s longest chain in support of primary education for all. Send your paper or online chains to Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor and Chair of this year’s G8. JOIN UP! and show world leaders just how many children and teachers want every child to go to school.
Taking part in the JOIN UP – Send My Friend to School campaign is also a great opportunity to explore global issues in your classroom. Oxfam education experts have created over 30 free lesson plans and activities to help you examine the issues and explore the actions that are needed.
> Download the JOIN UP! lesson plans
> Find out more about the Global Campaign for Education
> Find out more about Oxfam’s work on Education
February 07
Stop Climate Chaos is 1
 On March 1st 2007, the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition will celebrate its first birthday. This organisation is committed to creating a public mandate for political action on climate change.
Oxfam is part of this coalition because rising world temperatures put hundreds of millions of the world’s poorest people at even greater risk of severe drought, flooding, starvation and disease. Developing countries will be affected by climate change out of all proportion to their contribution to it. They are feeling the effects now.
As a teacher, you can play a central role in the creation of this mandate for change. By educating young people about the causes and consequences of climate change, you will be helping to empower a generation to act for a more just, secure and sustainable world. Oxfam has resources to help you do this.
> Stop Climate Chaos Coalition
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Oxfam resources on sustainability
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Resources on climate change from Oxfam’s Catalogue
> Information about Oxfam's work on climate change
February 07
Fairtrade Fortnight 2007
 Simple changes to what you buy can make a huge difference to peoples’ lives. Fairly traded products improve livelihoods and strengthen businesses; they benefit whole communities and offer producers in developing countries security and justice. Fairtrade Fortnight provides a great opportunity to teach about unfair trade rules and to get the issues surrounding global poverty into your classroom.
You can also join the global struggle against poverty by helping your school to become a Fairtrade school. With five simple and inspiring steps, you’ll be helping your students to get their voices heard, and bringing important global issues into the heart of the school. And if you live in Wales this decision could be even more momentous - by becoming a Fairtrade school you’ll be joining a movement of people committed to making Wales the world’s first Fairtrade country!
Fairtrade Fortnight is sure to get your students talking. You can help them to take positive action too. Oxfam has been working on Fair Trade issues for 40 years and we have plenty of resources to help you to teach about Fair Trade issues this March.
> Oxfam’s Trade and Fair Trade teaching resources
> Information about becoming a Fairtrade school in the UK
> Information about becoming a Fairtrade school in Wales
> Oxfam’s work on Fair Trade
February 07
J8: Help your students to tell the G8 what they think!
 The J8 is a young people’s version of the G8. It gives young people a unique opportunity to come together and tell leaders of the G8 nations what they think about global issues.
By participating in the J8, young people have a chance to work with students from 15 countries, to develop their understanding of global issues, and to make their voices heard. Competition winners will represent the UK at the J8 summit in Germany this summer. Last year, the winners even had a special 45-minute audience with all the G8 leaders!
The J8 competition also provides a great opportunity to encourage your students to be active Global Citizens, and to teach about global issues in your classroom. The J8 website has fact sheets, exercises and games, and lesson plans with ideas on how to do this. And why not use Oxfam’s resources to help your pupils explore the issues?
> Information on the J8 competition
> J8 website’s resources
> Oxfam resources on active Global Citizenship
> Oxfam’s Rights and Social Justice resources
February 07
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History Month
 LGBT History Month celebrates the hidden histories of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. In doing so, the month breaks through the wall of silence that often surrounds those who don’t conform to conventional notions of sexuality and gender.
As a teacher, by bringing the history of the LGBT community into your classroom, you will be enacting a powerful message of tolerance and understanding. Educating for equality helps to foster a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere, into which all children will feel accepted, and able to celebrate the differences they will meet inside and outside of class.
Why not teach about the importance of diversity this February? The following resources will help you:
> Oxfam resources on identity and diversity
> Lesson plans designed especially for LGBT History Month
> Information on the Schools Out campaign
January 07
JOIN UP to Send My Friend to School!
 Every year, 80 million children miss out on school because of poverty. JOIN UP! the new initiative from the Global Campaign for Education, is calling for teachers and pupils to join up and form the world’s longest chain, so that world leaders can see how many people want every child to go to school.
Oxfam’s education team has developed a package of 30 teaching and learning activities for the campaign, to help you examine the issues in your classroom and explore how we can bring about change. Aimed at children aged 8+, these activities come with background information, photos, and children’s stories, and all take an Education for Global Citizenship approach.
Inspire and educate your pupils with these exciting activities!
> Download the JOIN UP! lesson plans
> Find out more about Oxfam's Health and Education campaign
January 07
New for 2007 – Catalogue of Resources for Schools
 Oxfam’s mail order Catalogue for Schools 2007 contains more than 400 excellent teaching materials, specially selected by Oxfam’s education experts. All the resources listed, produced by Oxfam and many other publishers, support a global approach to teaching and learning, and help teachers empower pupils to understand their world and make a positive difference.
This year, the Catalogue includes more than 70 new titles for early years, primary and secondary teaching, as well as two new sections containing resources about School Linking, and Active Global Citizenship.
> Find out more about the Oxfam Catalogue for Schools
For copies of the Oxfam Catalogue, teachers should contact Oxfam on 0870 333 2700 or email education@oxfam.org.uk.
You can also browse and order resources securely online at www.oxfam.org.uk/publications.
January 07
Request an Oxfam School Speaker
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Would you like Oxfam to help you to explore global issues with your pupils?
Oxfam School Speakers are available NOW to run inspiring workshops on the struggle against global poverty – in your own classroom! |
Our speakers can help pupils aged 8 to 18 explore a range of topics, including poverty, health, education, and the work of Oxfam, as well as the ways in which they can make a positive difference to the world.
Oxfam School Speakers can also advise you on resources and support for bringing a global dimension to your teaching – why not request a Speaker today and find out what they can do for you?
Find out more about how to request a School Speaker.
January 07
16-25 year olds wanted!
Oxfam is looking for six fun, creative, committed 16-25 year olds to join its Youth Board from April 2007.
As a Youth Board member, they will play an important role in advising Oxfam on the best ways to reach out to other young people around the UK and encouraging them to get involved with Oxfam.
 We ask for a two-year commitment from members to ensure the board can make a real impact, attending three Board meetings a year and undertaking small amounts of project work.
The closing date for applications is Wednesday 31 January 2007.
There will be an interview day at Oxfam’s head office in Oxford on Wednesday 28 February.
For more information and an application pack, please go to the Youth Board pages on the Generation Why website. You can also find out what it's like to be a member of the Youth Board from former member, Adam Askew (above).
December 06
Human Rights Day: 10 December 2006
This year, Human Rights Day is devoted to the universal right to freedom from poverty. Poverty afflicts more than one in six people worldwide, denying them the right to employment, education, basic healthcare, food and water. It also makes them more vulnerable to discrimination. As both a cause and consequence of human rights abuses, poverty is perhaps the greatest human rights challenge of our time.
As a teacher, you can help your pupils to understand that fighting poverty is a matter of justice, not charity. Why not teach them about the importance of human rights this December?
The following resources may help you:
Resources connecting poverty and human rights:
> Change the World in Eight Steps
> Developing Rights
> Classroom activities exploring the role of trade in causing poverty
> Information about Oxfam’s work on poverty
> Information on Human Rights Day 2006
November 06
Mapping our World wins a BAFTA!
Holey Moley! Mapping our World, Oxfam’s free online resource for teaching Geography, has won a BAFTA!
The award, in the Learning-Primary category of the Children's British Academy Film and Television Arts awards, recognises the best education materials produced in Britain to educate 4–11
year olds. Rachel Harrison, writer and producer of Mapping
our World, was awarded the accolade at a star-studded ceremony in London
on Sunday, 26 November.
Judges on the BAFTA panel included the Head of BBC Education, the Controller of BBC Children’s output, and the Chief Executive of the Children’s Film and Television Foundation.
Mapping our World helps pupils aged 8 to 14 explore the difference between a map and a globe, and understand how different map projections affect our perceptions of the world. Specially developed for use on interactive whiteboards, the resource is designed to support the Geography curriculum, and is also ideal for bringing a global approach to Citizenship, PSE and ICT studies.
> Visit Mapping our World
> See the list of BAFTA nominees and winners
November 06
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery: 2 December 2006
On 2 December 1949 the UN formally adopted the Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others. International Day for the Abolition of Slavery exists to commemorate the historical struggle against the transatlantic slave trade, and mark the trade’s abolition. Kofi Annan recommends we also use this day to “reaffirm the inherent dignity of all men, women and children.”
As a teacher you can use the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery to teach your students about the abolitionist movement, and the historical struggle against the slave trade. It is also a great opportunity to highlight the persistence of slavery today. While slavery is now illegal in every country, forced labour still affects more than six million children worldwide, denying them the right to education, rest and recreation.
The following resources may help you discuss the issues surrounding slavery in the classroom:
November 06
World AIDS Day: 1 December 2006
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World AIDS day is an opportunity to join in the global fight against the spread of HIV and AIDS. |
Around the world, some 40 million people are living with HIV - only 1.3 million of whom have access to treatment. A staggering 90% of those suffering are in the developing world.
As a teacher you can play a vital role in raising awareness about how HIV and AIDS are transmitted. In the UK such awareness is currently lower than it was 5 years ago. World AIDS Day also provides a way of highlighting how HIV is much more than just a sexual health issue – it is an economic, social, legal and political issue. Above all, it is an injustice which we can all prevent.
Oxfam has the following resources to help you teach about World AIDS Day in your classroom:
> HIV and AIDS as part of the Millennium Development Goals.
> For information on Teaching Controversial Issues.
> For more information on Oxfam’s international work on HIV and AIDS.
> Further resources can also be found at the Global Dimension website. (Just search on AIDS in the search box).
The World AIDS Day website also has some ideas about things to do in the classroom.
November 06
Universal Children's Day - 20 November 2006
On the 20th of November 1959 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. Since that time, November 20th has been observed as Universal Children’s Day – a day to encourage understanding between children, as well as understanding of the plight of children across the world. This plight is still urgent. In 2003 some 10.6 million children died worldwide before they reached their 5th birthday. Most of these deaths could have been prevented.
Teachers are encouraged to use the 20th of November as a day of activity devoted to ideas about children’s welfare. The Millennium Development Goals provide an excellent way to do this. Though they outline rights for the whole of humankind, the right to primary education and the drive to reduce child mortality have a huge bearing on children’s lives. The day is also a good opportunity to foster a spirit of understanding between the children in your own classroom.
Oxfam has the following resources to help you do this:
November 06
International Education Week
13-17th November is International Education Week. To help you get involved, we are highlighting a range of our most popular free teaching resources to help you bring a global dimension to your school or classroom, and join schools around the world celebrating the value a global outlook brings to pupils’ learning.
> View free resources for Primary teaching
> View free resources for Secondary teaching
> Find out more about International Education Week
Primary
| 1. |
Find your way through trade
Seven cross-curricular activities exploring the complexities of global trade using simple, active, participatory teaching methods to convey key concepts effectively.
Activities include: a trade card game, ‘the world in my shopping bag’, and ‘when sugar was just a stick’, and all are accompanied by clear curriculum links and advice for teachers. |
| 2. |
Go Bananas!
Adapted from our successful photopack, Go Bananas, this free resource contains everything your pupils need to know about where bananas come from and what they go through to get to their fruit bowl. The activities raise awareness of how food grown in other countries gets to the UK.
A photo-gallery and some starter activities about using photos and captions lead on to identifying banana-growing countries on maps, literacy work around a poem from Jamaica, and activities for use in science, art and many other curriculum areas. |
| 3. |
Seven assembly ideas for the whole school
These assemblies will help you to develop appreciation of diversity, ideas about cooperation, sustainable development and interdependence. Why not pick one for each assembly held during International Education Week, or choose one to kick the week off? |
Secondary
| 1. |
Water for All
This resource contains classroom activities and case studies on a range of water-related issues and their impacts, using Oxfam colour photographs. Ideal for teaching 9–13 year olds – try it on your interactive whiteboard! |
| 2. |
The Coffee Chain Game - case studies and activities from our simulation game
A game illustrating how coffee companies make huge profits, while the farmers who grow the coffee make barely enough to live on.
Role-play activities help participants explore why the money made from coffee is so unevenly distributed. Players take on the roles of participants in the coffee chain – from growers to retailers – and debate whether the amount of money they receive for their work is fair. |
| 3. |
Dealing with Disasters
Why do disasters happen? Can they be prevented? What can be done to help? Dealing with Disasters makes it easier for teachers to tackle and explore some of these questions in the classroom. It provides case study material, focussing particularly on Bangladesh. |
November 06
The theme of No More Landmines Day 2006 is the damage that landmines cause to schools in developing countries. While a third of all those killed and injured by landmines are children, minefields also deny thousands of children a safe route to school.
No More Landmines is the official Citizenship campaign of the National Union of Teachers, and can be helpful for English and Geography teaching. Use No More Landmines Day to explore the links between conflict and poverty, to highlight the importance of education, and enrich your students’ global awareness and sense of social responsibility.
Oxfam has the following resources to help you do this:
> Peace and Conflict Resources on Cool Planet
> Teaching Controversial Issues
Find out more about Oxfam’s Control Arms campaign, which achieved its goal this week of persuading the UN to begin work on an Arms Trade Treaty.
Check out the No More Landmines website for resources, case-studies and lesson plans you can adapt for use in your classroom.
October 06
And the award goes to...?
Oxfam’s hugely popular, free online teaching resource – Mapping Our World – has been nominated for a BAFTA.
The ‘Learning – Primary’ category of the Children’s British Academy Film and Television Arts awards recognises the best education materials produced in Britain to educate 4–11 year olds. Nominees can include TV programmes, websites, CD Roms, DVD Roms, DVDs, and interactive TV. This year's shortlist has four nominees, including a BBC 2 programme and two other websites. The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony on November 26.
Mapping our World helps pupils aged 8 to 14 explore the difference between a map and a globe, learn the names and locations of continents and countries, and understand how different map projections affect our perceptions of the world.
The nomination comes the day after it was announced that one in five British children cannot find the UK on a map of the world, and one in ten cannot name a single continent.
Oxfam’s Rachel Harrison, the writer and producer of Mapping our World, said:
“We’re thrilled at the response Mapping our World has received from teachers, and that the BAFTA Committee have recognised this. Mapping our World has huge educational value – it helps young people understand how they relate to the world around them, and that different people see the world in very different ways. It’s also great fun to use and children love it, especially the game Holey Moley.”
Mapping our World helps pupils to develop key geographical skills through a series of nine engaging activities for whole class participation, designed to suit all learning styles and abilities. Pupils can flatten a globe into a map, transform a map into a globe, merge different projections, and explore why there are different ways of seeing the world.
A host of colourful characters guide pupils through the activities, including Holey Moley, Bob the Pirate, and aliens from the Planet Famox.
> Visit Mapping Our World
> Find out more about the BAFTA categories and nominees.
October 06
Free global music for National Music Week
This National Music Week, why not inject a global flavour to your Music teaching?
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Our free lesson plans are written by an ex-Music teacher, and cover the key elements of the Music curriculum for both Primary and Secondary teaching. There are five lesson plans for each age range, and they all come with links to relevant music clips and easy to follow guidance for teachers. |
Music from around the world enables pupils to appreciate and learn about diverse cultures while gaining key skills.
> Check out our global music lesson plans.
October 06
White Band Day 4 and the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
Millions of people around the world took part in Make Poverty History in 2005, calling for fairer trade, freedom from debt, and more and better aid for the world’s poorest countries.
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on October 17 is also the fourth Global White Band Day, when people will continue to show that they stand in solidarity with the 1.3 billion people around the world who still live in absolute poverty. They will do this by wearing a white band and ‘Standing Up’ for those living in poverty.
In 2005, thousands of teachers and children taught and learned about the issues behind the Make Poverty History movement. This fourth Global White Band Day is an opportunity to remind pupils of their learning (and any actions they took) last year, and to help them think about what the campaign achieved and what more still needs to be done.
Teaching ideas from Oxfam:
> Teach about Make Poverty History
>
Information about Make Poverty History for pupils
> The Millennium Development Goals commit world leaders to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger by 2015. View posters, and download teaching activities and information about the Millennium Development Goals.
>
Teach about the goals with our poster pack.
>
More teaching resources on Make Poverty History’s schools pages.
> Information about the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
October 06
History Matters – One Day in History
 If your school is taking part in History Matters on October 17, it's a great opportunity to also talk to them about White Band Day 4. You could help them to think about why October 17 could be more than just ‘an ordinary day’ in history: it could be a day when History helps Make Poverty History...
> Find out more about One Day in History on the History Matters website.
> Find out more about White Band Day 4 in the article above.
October 06
Oxfam Helps to Promote Child-Centred Methodology
Oxfam and the Sapa District Department for Education have been working together to introduce Child-Centred Methodologies to schools in Viet Nam.
> Find out more about the project on the main Oxfam website.
> Find out more about Oxfam’s education programmes around the world.
> Your pupils can learn more about the history and geography of Viet Nam on Cool Planet for Children.
October 06
World Teachers' Day - 5 October 2006
This day provides the opportunity to draw public attention to the important role of teachers within society. The theme for 2006 is ‘Quality Teachers for Quality Education’ and is designed to raise awareness that more and better quality teachers are needed around the world.
There are many ways in which you can participate in World Teachers’ Day, for example, public meetings, lobbying political leaders, joint activities with Ministries, and media activities.
Teach your pupils about the importance of education. Oxfam has several resources to help you:
> Change the World in Eight Steps
> Developing Rights
>
Find out more about Oxfam’s education programmes around the world.
>
Check out the official World Teachers’ Day website for more resources.
October 06
Happy Birthday Oxfam - 5 October 2006
Oxfam sprang into life on 5 October 1942 but how much do your pupils know about Oxfam's history? For example:
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Where does the name Oxfam come from?
Which humanitarian crisis led to the creation of Oxfam?
Does Oxfam work with groups of people in the UK? |
Pupils can find the answers in the following articles:
> How did Oxfam start?
> What is Oxfam
> What we do
More information for teachers about how Oxfam started can be found on Oxfam GB’s main website.
September 06
International Day of Peace - 21 September 2006
The International Day of Peace provides an opportunity for people around the world to participate in practical acts of peace, and is also a good opportunity to discuss peace and associated issues like conflict resolution, with your pupils.
Oxfam has a number of resources to help you including:
September 06
International Literacy Day – 8 September 2006
Coinciding with the start of the school year, International
Literacy Day comes at an ideal time. Your class can play a part
in the celebrations that are taking place around the world.
International Literacy Day highlights how important the ability
to read and write and the opportunity to become literate is to individuals
and communities around the world.
Need some ideas of how you could get involved? Check out the idea starters from the International Reading Association.
September 06
Global Month of Action: 14 September – 17 October 2006
40 million people took part in action to Make Poverty History in 2005. This year, the momentum continues with a Global Month of Action starting on 14th September and culminating in a Global White Band Day on 17th October (World Poverty Day). The theme is Stand Up Against Poverty, and events will take place around the world to remind world leaders of their promises about dropping debt, making trade fair and providing more and better aid to developing countries.
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