Social Studies · Grade 1

Active learning ideas

Our Global Community

Young learners thrive when they connect new ideas to concrete objects and experiences. This topic works best with hands-on activities that let students see and touch the global connections in their everyday lives. By examining familiar items and routines, they begin to understand how people in other places are part of their community too.

• Ontario Curriculum Expectations
• ON: People and Environments: The Local Community - Grade 1

• 20–35 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Inquiry Circle
• 35 min · Small Groups

Inquiry Circle: The Global Backpack

In small groups, students look at the labels on their shoes, backpacks, or sweaters to see where they were made. They place a sticker on a large world map to show all the countries connected to their classroom.

Compare how children in other parts of the world are like you.

Facilitation Tip

During The Global Backpack, walk around and ask each group guiding questions like, 'Why do you think this shirt might come from another country?' to keep the investigation focused.

What to look for

Give each student a sticky note. Ask them to draw one thing they use every day that might come from another country and write its name. Collect these to see what connections students have made.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

Activity 02

• Think-Pair-Share
• 20 min · Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: Same but Different

Show photos of schools or playgrounds from three different countries. Students think about one thing that is the same as their school and one thing that is different, then share with a partner.

Explain how we get things from other countries.

Facilitation Tip

In Same but Different, circulate while pairs discuss and gently prompt with, 'What is one way you and your partner are the same?' to ensure meaningful reflection.

What to look for

Ask students: 'Think about a friend who lives far away. What are two things you both like to do, even though you live in different places?' Record student responses on chart paper to highlight shared experiences.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Activity 03

• Simulation Game
• 30 min · Whole Class

Simulation Game: The Global Snack

Students look at a snack (like a banana or chocolate) and act out the 'journey' it took to get to Canada, from the farmer to the ship to the store. They discuss how many people helped bring it to them.

Justify why it is important to be kind to everyone, everywhere.

Facilitation Tip

For The Global Snack, assign clear roles such as recorder or speaker so every student contributes to the simulation.

What to look for

Show pictures of children from different countries engaged in activities like going to school, playing a game, or eating. Ask students to point to the picture that shows a child who is most like them and explain why.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

A few notes on teaching this unit

Start with objects and experiences children already know, like toys or snacks, to build curiosity about where things come from. Avoid abstract explanations of global trade or geography at this age. Instead, focus on concrete comparisons of daily life. Research shows that when young students notice similarities with peers in other places, empathy grows naturally. Keep discussions simple and concrete to match their developmental stage.

Students will demonstrate growing awareness that their daily lives are connected to people and resources beyond Canada. They will describe at least two global links, such as food or clothing, and identify shared needs like friendship and play. Conversations will show empathy as they compare routines with children in other countries.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During The Global Backpack activity, watch for students who focus only on physical differences in objects and dismiss items from other countries as 'weird.'

  Use the Humanity Web activity to have students draw lines connecting common needs like food, love, and play across different countries, showing that all children share these regardless of where they live.

• During The Global Snack activity, watch for students who say Canada is the only country that matters to them.

  Have students hold up items from their backpacks or the snack table and ask, 'Where did this come from?' to make global connections visible and personal.

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Methods used in this brief

• Inquiry Circle
• Think-Pair-Share
• Simulation Game