For Teachers

Welcome to the new teacher resource section of Students Helping Students. Teachers are extremely integral to fostering global awareness, philanthropy, and social entrepreneurship. As a result, we have partnered with The Learning Innovation and Technology Consortium (LITC) to provide two sets of lesson plans to engage your students in thought-provoking content: Cultural Awareness Lessons on Nepal and Lessons on Social Entrepreneurship. LITC is a non-profit expert in interactive learning for studuents and specializes in nurturing young social entrepreneurs worldwide.

The lessons can be used individually or as a set, and can be tailored for students in grades 4-10. Materials include background information for the teacher, suggested instructional procedures, video and audio clips, readings, online resources, and ideas for extensions to longer projects.

Lessons on Nepal

This set of lesson plans offers materials for learning more about one of the key countries where Room to Read has had significant impact-and hopes to have more. Learn about Nepal in these five lessons intended to offer insight into the country, its people and culture, and open a window onto the rooftop of the world. Learn how to greet someone from Nepal, what a school looks like, how people live, and hear their language and music! Recommended for grades 4-10.

  1. Introducing Nepal Through Music
    Hear music from the different regions of Nepal. Learn more about the instruments, and consider the rich heritage of music in this geographically small but diverse country.
  2. A Place Called Nepal
    Students become more familiar with Nepal, and begin to understand relationships between physical and cultural geography.
  3. Nepal - Diversity Under the "Roof of the World"
    Students study the different cultures of Nepal. Smaller groups of students can then study and create "a day in the life" montage representing one of seven or eight major Nepali cultures, and then compare the cultures and their own experience. Short video clips on religion and people enhance the learning experience.
  4. Stories of Nepal
    This lesson focuses on a beautifully illustrated Nepalese folktale that illustrates Nepali history and cultural values. Nepalese text is shown next to the English so students can see the language and how it translates to English. Complare folktales and fables, and consider the value of literacy.
  5. Literacy as a Force in the World
    This lesson describes why and how literacy is an essential force for change in the world. Students engage in comparative research and do some data mining while comparing literacy rates and other indicators in Nepal, United States, and other countries.

Lessons on Social Entrepreneurship

These lesson plans focus on the process of caring. What happens when one commits to making a difference and generates an idea that sets long-term solutions in motion? These four lessons will help students understand a compelling global trend that is beginning to shape social and environmental policies of support around the world-all started by people like you. Stories of individuals who have made a difference will provide students with ideas and concrete examples of what this kind of work looks like. These lessons provide activities and resources to help students recognize their own potential for making a difference as they make decisions about what to do in their futures, as well as what to do tomorrow!

  1. What is Social Entrepreneurship?
    This lesson introduces students to a major new approach to making a difference. This new worldwide trend is the act of creating a money-making enterprise in order to put the profits back into the efforts of solving important social, educational, or environmental problems. Students are introduced to other young social entrepreneurs and learn about what they are accomplishing.
  2. One to the Infinite Power
    Individuals are often the catalyst for big ideas and big impact. This lesson focuses on the significant impact one person can have, whether coming up with a powerful idea, leading support for a project, or simply raising awareness. Students learn about the many individuals who have made a difference, and discover the potential within them for changing the world.
  3. Moving Mountains: Big Ideas Start Small
    This lesson introduces young people to the story of three students who reacted to the tsunami in Asia with personal dedication and a will to make a difference. Their story serves to illustrate the potential for huge impact with a small effort and highlights a strategy for team brainstorming. Students will read the case study, conduct research, and team up to create their own idea.
  4. Communities Matter
    This lesson introduces young people to the idea of community. What do communities provide individuals? Students will consider how to support, sustain, and respect communities when engaged in solving community problems, whether they live in the community or send support from afar.

For more information on the Learning Innovation and Technology Consortium, please visit www.learninginnovation.org.