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.

• Grade 1
• Social Studies
• 3 activities
• 20 min–35 min

Learning Objectives

1. Compare how children in other parts of the world are like you by identifying shared activities and needs.
2. Explain how everyday items, such as clothing or toys, are obtained from other countries.
3. Justify the importance of treating people kindly, regardless of their location or background.
4. Identify at least two ways Canada connects with other countries through trade or shared resources.

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.

Prepare & details

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.

Setup: Groups at tables with access to source materials

Materials: Source material collection, Inquiry cycle worksheet, Question generation protocol, Findings presentation template

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

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.

Prepare & details

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.

Setup: Standard classroom seating; students turn to a neighbor

Materials: Discussion prompt (projected or printed), Optional: recording sheet for pairs

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

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.

Prepare & details

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.

Setup: Flexible space for group stations

Materials: Role cards with goals/resources, Game currency or tokens, Round tracker

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

Teaching This Topic

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.

What to Expect

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.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

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

What to Teach Instead

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.

Common Misconception

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

What to Teach Instead

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.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

After The Global Backpack, give each student a sticky note to draw and label one item they use every day that might come from another country. Collect these to assess which global connections students recognize.

Discussion Prompt

After Same but Different, ask students to think about a friend who lives far away and share two things they both like to do. Record responses on chart paper to highlight shared experiences and assess growing empathy.

Quick Check

During The Global Snack simulation, show pictures of children from different countries engaged in similar activities. Ask students to point to the picture most like them and briefly explain why, using the sentence frame, 'I am like this child because...' to assess their understanding of shared needs.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge advanced students to find another object in the classroom that connects to a different country and present it to the class.
• Scaffolding for struggling students: Provide picture cards of common items like a banana or a toy car with the country of origin labeled to support their thinking during The Global Backpack.
• Deeper exploration: Invite a family member or local business owner to share how their work connects them to people in other countries.

Key Vocabulary

Global Community	The idea that everyone in the world is connected and part of one large group, like a big neighbourhood.
Import	Goods or products that are brought into Canada from other countries.
Export	Goods or products that are sent out of Canada to other countries.
Culture	The way of life for a group of people, including their traditions, food, music, and language.