Nautilus Gold Award Winner (Books for a Better World) in Social Sciences & Education Create inclusive, democratic classrooms that prepare knowledgeable, compassionate, and engaged global citizens. Today’s global challenges—climate change, food and water insecurity, social and economic inequality, and a global pandemic—demand that educators prepare students to become compassionate, critical thinkers who can explore alternative futures. Their own, others’, and the planet’s well-being depend on it. Worldwise Learning presents a "Pedagogy for People, Planet, and Prosperity" that supports K-8 educators in nurturing "Worldwise Learners": students who both deeply understand and purposefully act when learning about global challenges. Coupling theory with practice, this book builds educators’ understanding of how curriculum and meaningful interdisciplinary learning can be organized around local, global, and intercultural issues, and provides a detailed framework for making those issues come alive in the classroom. Richly illustrated, each innovative chapter asserts a transformational approach to teaching and learning following an original three-part inquiry cycle, and includes: Practical classroom strategies to implement Worldwise Learning at the lesson level, along with tips for scaffolding students’ thinking. Images of student work and vignettes of learning experiences that help educators visualize authentic Worldwise Learning moments. Stories that spotlight Worldwise Learning in action from diverse student, teacher, and organization perspectives. An exemplar unit plan that illustrates how the planning process links to and can support teaching and learning about global challenges. QR codes that link to additional lesson and unit plans, educational resources, videos of strategies, and interviews with educators and thought leaders on a companion website, where teachers can discuss topics and share ideas with each other. Worldwise Learning turns students into local and global citizens who feel genuine concern for the world around them, living their learning with intention and purpose. The time is now.

Table of Contents:
Foreword Preface The Purpose of This Book The Worldview and Beliefs That Frame This Book An Invitation to the Reader Acknowledgments About the Authors About the Illustrator INTRODUCTION: THE IMPERATIVE Global Competence: Transforming Learning to Action Pedagogy for People, Planet, and Prosperity Book Features and Structure PART I: CREATING THE CONDITIONS FOR TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATION CHAPTER 1: THE WORLDWISE LEARNING FRAMEWORK Learning in a Globalized World Curriculum Design for Understanding and Action The Learning Process: Inquiring Into People, the Planet, and Prosperity CHAPTER 2: CREATING INCLUSIVE, DEMOCRATIC CLASSROOMS The Democratic Classroom Student-Centered Planning in the Democratic Classroom The Worldwise Learning Planning Process Strategies for Democratic Classrooms CHAPTER 3: COMPLEX ISSUES KNOW NO DISCIPLINES Understanding Issues Using Interdisciplinary Learning The Role of Disciplinary Knowledge A Fruitful Exploration of Interdisciplinary Learning “Up and Out” Transfer The Interdisciplinary Learning Continuum Strategies for Interdisciplinary Learning PART II: CONNECT: ENGAGING THE HEART, HEAD, AND HAND CHAPTER 4: PERSPECTIVE-TAKING AND PERSPECTIVE-GETTING Perspectives as Lenses for Understanding Complex Issues When Perspective-Taking Is Not Appropriate Looking Inward: Understanding the Self Looking Outward: Understanding Others Perspective-Getting: Seeking Out Diverse Perspectives Strategies for Perspective-Taking and Perspective-Getting CHAPTER 5: THE POWER OF STORY TO BUILD CONNECTION Stories Are All Around Us The Storytelling Brain Storytelling as a Pedagogical Tool for Worldwise Learning Stories as Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors Beyond Words: Art, Map-Making, and Data Visualization Strategies for Storytelling PART III: UNDERSTAND: DEVELOPING “BIG PICTURE” THINKING CHAPTER 6: SYSTEMS, SYSTEMS EVERYWHERE Understanding Issues Using a Systems Approach What Is a System, Really? Developing Systems Thinkers Strategies for Systems Thinking CHAPTER 7: UP TO THE CONCEPTUAL LEVEL Conceptual Thinking to Understand Complexity Levels of Conceptual Thinking Level 1: Concept Formation Level 2: Generalizing Level 3: Transferring Understanding Clearing Roadblocks to Conceptual Thinking Developing Conceptual Understanding Through Case Studies Strategies for Conceptual Thinking PART IV: ACT: PARTICIPATING AS GLOBAL CITIZENS CHAPTER 8: CITIZENSHIP WITHIN AND BEYOND THE CLASSROOM Big Ideas of Global Citizenship What Global Citizenship Is Not Big Idea #1: Global citizens develop global citizen identities. Big Idea #2: Global citizens interrogate and draw connections between the structures, systems, and perspectives that underpin issues, including at different scales. Big Idea #3: Global citizens engage in purposeful, informed action with others. Strategies for Global Citizenship CHAPTER 9: BEING A WORLDWISE EDUCATOR Global Competence as an Ongoing Journey Connect Phase for Worldwise Educators Understand Phase for Worldwise Educators Act Phase for Worldwise Educators Strategies for Worldwise Educators Appendix A: Sample Unit Planner: Pollinator Power! Glossary References Index