1. ACADEMY OF FUTURE INTERNATIONAL LEADERS 29 APRIL 2010 SCOTT LASSITER LISA LOPEZ Increasing Cultural Awareness and Interaction in Middle School Children

2. Presentation Overview Background Purpose Lesson Plans Results Challenges Question and Answer

3. Background Jane Long Middle School INQUIRE Academy  6 th Grade Gifted and Talented Taught three class periods  World Geography April 14 th and 21 st

4. Purpose Expose students to other cultures and international events Encourage critical thinking Communicate the effects of globalization Diminish cultural barriers

5. Australia/New Zealand Canada Cultural Suitcases Australian Aborigine population  Ethical Issues Comparative Culture Maori population Effects of globalization Culture Introduction to international ethics  2010 Winter Olympics  Alberta Oil Sands Government Lesson Plans

6. Results Successfully introduced concept of globalization  Great Barrier Reef tanker grounding  Merging cultures Countered stereotypes and rumors  Origins of Australian society Fostered interest in international events Engaged critical thinking  Introduced the concept of ethics  Involved students in debates

7. Challenges Initial plan changed… several times Teaching about Australia, New Zealand, and Canada Teaching middle school students (short attention spans) Establishing communication

8. Question and Answer