For Educators
We make it easy for you to teach from a global perspective!
Help your students to look deeper at global issues.
Students will learn about the realities faced by rural communities in developing countries and their determination to build on their strengths to get out of poverty.
We offer free presentations, lessons, videos and student events to raise awareness and help you develop active global citizens. Student's actions will enable the rural poor to reach their aspirations by helping them to gain access to the tools, knowledge and resources necessary for a sustainable livelihood.
At CHF, in appreciation for the various responsibilities teachers have, we have worked to ensure these lessons meet the Ontario curriculum objectives and at the same time are easy to prepare and use.
All of our teaching resources can by found by using the tabs below.
Head, Heart and Hand Approach
Head, Heart and Hand Approach
A global education unit, typically, does more than just present facts. It strives to involve students at three different levels. Below is the Head, Heart and Hand Approach to teaching Global Education as adapted from Global Infusion: A Guide to Bringing the World to Your Classroom.
Intellectual (Head)
The "head" presents as many of the facts as possible, touching on aspects of development, environment, human rights, and peace education. The student is also made aware of many other sources of information, which can be accessed via the internet. These activities will help students to assimilate information, analyze it, practice critical thinking, undertake learning activities on a specific related topic and share this information with fellow students.
Involvement of Students (Heart)
The "heart" is a key part of any global education teaching strategy which is known as empathy training, or integrating caring into the classroom. This involves an examination of the basic human and ethical values found within these issues. Without these activities, a critical analysis remains simply a cold, intellectual exercise, which will not help the student integrate and act upon the knowledge he/she has gained.
Action Project (Hand)
The "hand" involves searching for, and examining possible solutions to the problems students have learned about, and ways they may become involved in these solutions. This stage of the unit is very important. As educators, we want to leave students with the impression that there is hope for resolution to some of the injustices they have learned about. We need to help students develop, not a sense of despair and hopelessness, but on the contrary, a sense of their power as consumers and as potential future participants in the quest for social justice.
Fortunately, there are a number of solutions to these problems, which students may explore and, ultimately, become involved in. Fundraising for communities in developing countries can provide an authentic learning activity for students, as well as foster a partnership between children in Canada and abroad and truly make a difference in communities living in poverty.
To sign up for CHF's Kids Helping Kids Around the World event or our Reality Race, contact our Global Education Coordinator, by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at (613) 237-0180 ext. 229 or 1-866-242-4243.
Assessment Tools
At CHF, we appreciate the various responsibilities teachers have with regards to their students, including the importance of assessing each student's skills and knowledge. To help you in this area, we have created assessment tools for each lesson.View any lesson and then click on Teacher Resources to find the appropriate assessment tool.
Lesson Summary
Each technology enhanced lesson is organized with an introductory description, listing of the subject areas that are covered in the lesson, list of materials needed, lesson preparation for tasks to be done before the lesson is started, teaching/learning instructions to ensure the lesson will run smoothly, extension activity ideas, teacher background notes to give further information, an assessment/evaluation tool and Black Line Masters/Student Sheets for reproduction.
To find the instructions on how to teach the lesson open the Lesson file.
To see the Student Sheets that are in various formats such as PDF, slideshow, audio clips, open the Student Sheet/Black Line Master (BLM) folder.
To find the French Student sheets open the French Student Sheet folder and finally to look at extra resources to enhance the lesson, look at the Extra Teaching Resource File.
A complete list of curriculum links is found under the curriculum area tab.
Acknowledgements
CHF wishes to acknowledge the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) for their support in producing these lessons.
CHF also wishes to thank Tim Bell, Romi Oshier and Carol Scott for their dedication in writing these lessons, Jennifer Perry for her valuable contributions in reviewing the lessons, Lesley Abraham, Leah Geller and Suzanne Kirk for editing the lessons and Sandra Kiviaho for final editing and coordinating the production of these lessons.
New Version April 2009
Scroll down to see lessons, videos and presentations offered by CHF.
Grade 1-3
Lessons
The following lessons are age appropriate for Grades 1-3:
Trees for Life
Students create a "tree" which shows the different ways in which trees can help people in developing countries.
Grass for Grazing!
Students learn about the need for plants and animals in different countries by navigating through four mazes.
Grains for Growth!
By engaging in the creation of a puppet show, students learn about how crops are used in countries around the world.
Friendship Fun
Students learn about life in rural Northern Ghana by making a plasticine model village.
Water Works!
Through participation in a water relay, students learn about what life is like for rural families in developing countries who have limited access to clean water.
Music to Farm By!
Students learn about farming in Africa, and specifically Ghana, through music and song.
What's Right With This Picture
By examining photographs, students identify the positive aspects and strengths of rural communities in different countries.
Guest Speaker Presentations
The following presentations are age appropriate for Grades 1-3:
Discover Rural Ghana: Clean Water
Students learn about rural life, education, farming, hunger, collecting water and how communities are working together to survive and thrive.
Explore Ethiopia: Life Beyond Emergency Food Aid
The Ethiopia case-study presentation will give students insight into this dynamic African country.
The Forgotten World Food Crisis
This workshop will focus on the reason behind the rising prices, its impact on the poor and how CHF's Sustainable Livelihoods approach is helping people to battle the food crisis.
Videos
The following videos are age appropriate for Grades 1-3:
Nalogu: Everyone Lends a Hand, Ghana ( including Teachers Guide)
(Includes Teachers Guide) Shot in Northern Ghana, NALOGU: Everyone Lends a Hand portrays a thriving rural African community where everyone works together to improve their quality of life.
Grade 4-6
Lessons
The following lessons are age appropriate for Grades 4-6:
Real Survivor
Through an interactive game, students are introduced to factors that contribute to the cycle of poverty for poor rural communities in developing countries.
Get your own class-set for only .00. Email our Global Education Coordinator at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to order your class set now! Each class set includes 5 packages of the game cards.
Changing the World - Plants and Animals
Students learn about the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals and how Canadian organizations are working to help achieve them.
Sustainable Solutions
Students use different scenarios and worksheets to examine the lives of people in other communities around the world.
Water Works!
Through participation in a water relay, students learn about what life is like for rural families in developing countries who have limited access to clean water.
Whose Decision is it Anyways?
Students participate in a debate on issues relating to cocoa bean production in a rural community in Ghana.
What's Right With This Picture
By examining photographs, students identify the positive aspects and strengths of rural communities in various countries.
Guest Speaker Presentations
The following presentations are age appropriate for Grades 4-6:
Discover Rural Ghana: Clean Water
Students learn about rural life, education, farming, hunger, collecting water and how communities are working together to survive and thrive.
Explore Ethiopia: Life Beyond Emergency Food Aid
The Ethiopia case-study presentation will give students insight into this dynamic African country.
The Forgotten World Food Crisis
This workshop will focus on the reason behind the rising prices, its impact on the poor and how CHF's Sustainable Livelihoods approach is helping people to battle the food crisis.
Videos
The following videos are age appropriate for Grades 4-6:
Nalogu: Everyone Lends a Hand, Ghana ( including Teachers Guide)
(Includes Teachers Guide) Shot in Northern Ghana, NALOGU: Everyone Lends a Hand portrays a thriving rural African community where everyone works together to improve their quality of life.
Student Events
Kids Helping Kids Around the World
Your school creates their own unique, colourful wall mural. As students bring in money from chores, they get to purchase the components of a community - animals, houses, wells and tools. They then colour them and add them to the school's wall mural to represent healthy community.
Media Arts Contest
Show what you know about global issues impacting the rural poor by developing a multi-media project. Win a camera package.
Grade 7-10
Lessons
The following lessons are age appropriate for Grades 7-10:
Global Citizenship
Students explore the concept of global citizenship through a bingo game and discussion.
Ecological Footprints from Around the World
Using an online tool, students calculate their "ecological footprint" and explore how their actions impact the earth.
Deforestation - What Do Trees Mean to Me
Students use mind-mapping and role-playing to explore issues around deforestation.
The Real Survivor
Through an interactive game, students are introduced to a range of factors that contribute to the cycle of poverty for poor rural communities in developing countries.
Get your own class-set for only .00. Email our Global Education Coordinator at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to order your class set now! Each class set includes 5 packages of the game cards.
A Deeper Look at Poverty
Students use case studies to explore the lives of people in development countries and the factors that may contribute to poverty.
What's Right With This Picture
By examining photographs, students identify the positive aspects and strengths of rural communities in different countries.
Guest Speaker Presentations
The following presentations are age appropriate for Grades 7-10:
Discover Rural Ghana: Clean Water
Students learn about rural life, education, farming, hunger, collecting water and how communities are working together to survive and thrive.
Explore Ethiopia: Life Beyond Emergency Food Aid
The Ethiopia case-study presentation will give students insight into this dynamic African country.
The Forgotten World Food Crisis
This workshop will focus on the reason behind the rising prices, its impact on the poor and how CHF's Sustainable Livelihoods approach is helping people to battle the food crisis.
Videos
The following videos are age appropriate for Grades 7-10:
Nalogu: A Sustainable Livelihood, Ghana ( including Teachers Guide)
Nalogu: A Sustainable Livelihood, Ghana : In Nalogu, a small village in Northern Ghana, we see how families work with CHF and our local partners to improve their livelihoods and end their cycle of poverty. Farmers become self sufficient through income generating projects and by applying new skills that increase their crop yields (25 min)
Biogas: Nothing Goes to Waste India (FREE - VHS only)
Features a question-and-answer handout for students. Everything you've ever wanted to ask about Biogas but were afraid to ask. Find out how this alternative energy source has dramatically changed the lives of people living in rural India. (12 minutes)
Diversify This! El Salvador (FREE - VHS only)
Features a question-and-answer handout for students. Everything you've ever wanted to ask about Biogas but were afraid to ask. Find out how this alternative energy source has dramatically changed the lives of people living in rural India. (12 minutes)
Student Events
Reality Race
Student teams in your school support rural communities by raising funds and participating in an activity-filled race which takes them around the school while also learning about different aspects of life in communities overseas!
Media Arts Contest
Show what you know about global issues impacting the rural poor by developing a multi-media project. Win a camera package.
Grade 11-12
Lessons
The following lessons are age appropriate for Grades 11-12:
International Development in Action
Students learn about non-governmental organizations (NGOs) by conducting independent internet research.
The Gender Divide
Students participate in a role-playing exercise and create a community map from their gender's perspective.
Giving Credit Where Credit is Due
Students investigate microfinance as an alternative economic approach.
Sustainable Livelihoods
Using tools such as the Human Development Index and an interactive card game, students examine the factors that contribute to the cycle of poverty.
Get your own class-set for only .00. Email our Global Education Coordinator at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to order your class set now! Each class set includes 5 packages of the game cards.
What's Right With This Picture
By examining photographs, students identify the positive aspects and strengths of rural communities in different countries.
Guest Speaker Presentations
The following presentations are age appropriate for Grades 11-12:
Power of Decision- Making
Through this presentation, students will explore the decisions they make in their own lives and learn about how poverty affects the ability of the rural poor in Bangladesh to make decisions that will improve their lives. They will also learn about how CHF is helping communities to create opportunities and to work towards gender equality.
An Innovative Path: Local Solutions to Global Environmental Changes
This workshop will focus on how the environment places significant pressures for rural communities who are deeply connected and reliant on the land for food and livelihoods.
The Forgotten World Food Crisis
This workshop will focus on the reason behind the rising prices, its impact on the poor and how CHF's Sustainable Livelihoods approach is helping people to battle the food crisis.
Videos
The following videos are age appropriate for Grades 11-12:
Nalogu: A Sustainable Livelihood, Ghana ( including Teachers Guide)
Nalogu: A Sustainable Livelihood, Ghana : In Nalogu, a small village in Northern Ghana, we see how families work with CHF and our local partners to improve their livelihoods and end their cycle of poverty. Farmers become self sufficient through income generating projects and by applying new skills that increase their crop yields (25 min)
Biogas: Nothing Goes to Waste India (FREE - VHS only)
Features a question-and-answer handout for students. Everything you've ever wanted to ask about Biogas but were afraid to ask. Find out how this alternative energy source has dramatically changed the lives of people living in rural India. (12 minutes)
Diversify This! El Salvador (FREE - VHS only)
Features a question-and-answer handout for students. Everything you've ever wanted to ask about Biogas but were afraid to ask. Find out how this alternative energy source has dramatically changed the lives of people living in rural India. (12 minutes)
Student Events
Reality Race
Student teams in your school support rural communities by raising funds and participating in an activity-filled race which takes them around the school while also learning about different aspects of life in communities overseas!
Media Arts Contest
Show what you know about global issues impacting the rural poor by developing a multi-media project. Win a camera package.
Coming Soon!
CHF's lessons meet various curriculum requirements for students across Canada. The lesson topics cover both school board and provincial ministry initiatives such as character education, global education, social justice, social responsibility and the environment.
This section outlines the links to the Ontario Curriculum for each lesson, including grade, subject, strand and overall expectation connections for grades 1 to 12. Links to the Language curriculum have not been specified; however, all lessons incorporate and satisfy part of the Language curriculum.
Extension activities can involve further strands in Science and Technology, Social Studies, The Arts, Mathematics, and Health and Physical Education, especially if the lessons are presented as a complete unit of study. These lessons also satisfy some of the Catholic Graduate Expectations.
CHF's lessons help you to meet your curriculum objectives. See how by viewing the following curriculum documents:
- Alberta - Grades 1-3, Grades 4-6, Grades 7-10 or Grades 11-12
- British Columbia - Grades 1-3, Grades 4-6, Grades 7-10 or Grades 11-12
- Ontario - Grades 1-3, Grades 4-6, Grades 7-10 or Grades 11-12
NEW LESSON UNIT: Global Environmental Changes Impact on the Rural Poor: Beyond Disaster Relief
- Alberta - Grades 6-9
- British Columbia - Grades 6-9
- Ontario - Grades 6-9
Revised April 2009
CHF's presentations also help you to meet your curriculum objectives. See how by viewing the following curriculum documents: Grades 1-3, Grades 4-6, Grades 7-10 or Grades 11-12.
