At-home and at school learning resources from Learning for a Sustainable Future
Week 4: Introduction to the SDGs
This week's theme focuses on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN SDGs, also known as Global Goals, are a global plan of action for people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnerships.

Each of the 17 SDGs provides a doorway into addressing the economic, social and environmental implications of the particular goal. It soon becomes apparent that in addressing poverty, for example, we must look at reducing gender inequalities, attaining quality education, and securing clean and affordable energy. Action and progress in one area will have a great impact on the outcomes of another.

The SDGs recognize the importance of acting together, and this universal call to action requires every one of us to come together in order to achieve a better and more sustainable future for our planet!
Get outside and try the Global Goals Impact Games. This resource blends The Global Goals perspective with known soccer drills and games. The Global Goals Impact Games are about togetherness and understanding the Sustainable Development Goals while playing outdoors. Pick your SDG and play for the world you want. The drills and games can be adjusted to fit any grade in the school.

Explore the Global Goals Impact Games here!
What did you think of the Global Goals Impact Games?
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This adventure activity pack allows younger students the opportunity to explore simple concepts around global issues. The activities in the resource introduce students to the Global Goals through guided discussions and shared learning experiences based on play. The activities incorporate multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate their creativity while exploring concepts like peace, nature and home. Many of the activities encourage children to engage with nature, to foster an appreciation of the natural world and the importance of protecting it. The learning space can be the classroom, playground, local community or all three. 


Activities
  • Introduce students to the Sustainable Development Goals and brainstorm basic needs using these discussion starters
  • Use these visual supports to present the SDGs to students and place them on the bulletin board as a visual reference tool
  • Use the colouring sheets to introduce the students to the five explorers of the Global Goals before completing the activities in the resource
  • Have students identify what visions they see using the Global Goals Glasses. Have students draw a picture of their vision
  • Watch All Aboard for the Global Goals to help explain why achieving these goals is essential for everyone. Use the Teacher Tips for discussion ideas
  • Explore outdoor areas and create a peaceful and safe path with the Peace Path activity
  • We Love Our Planet has students use natural resources to show their love of nature
What did you think of Explorers for the Global Goals ?
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Motivate and inspire your students to unleash their "I Can" Superpower! This one-week lesson plan enables teachers to bring Design for Change into their classrooms. Students use a design thinking formula of Feel, Imagine, Do and Share to bring change in their schools and communities, and in the process, build 21st century skills of empathy, collaboration and critical thinking. Students articulate their ideas for a better world and put them into action to become real-life superheroes. 



Activities
  • Use the SDGs for Children Videos to introduce your students to the Sustainable Development Goals
  • Read the Heroes for Change Comic Book and bring the SDGs to life. Invite students to become superheroes themselves
  • Have students listen to We Love the SDGs song and learn the lyrics. Interpret the words with the students or create an interpretative dance to accompany the song 
  • Brainstorm what students would like to change either in their personal life, school or community. Have them create a plan of action to implement their change
What did you think of Design for Change: One Idea: One Week?
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Imagine a world where the Global Goals have been achieved? This resource has students draw connections between the Global Goals and their own lives. Students complete a group learning activity where they draw their vision of what a country would look like in 2030 if the goals are achieved. Using the analogy of a jigsaw puzzle in this activity helps students understand the Global Goals' interdependence. Students turn their learning into action by taking the personal pledge and sharing it with family and friends. 


Activities
  • Watch this short video, The SDGs Action Towards 2030, to learn about the Global Goals
  • Try this Global Goals String Activity – a short, interactive activity to learn how the Global Goals are interconnected
  • Set up an SDG Club in your school, which meets virtually every week. Use the meeting times to conduct activities, and discuss student ideas to improve the sustainability profile of the school 
  • Take a walk in your community or search online to find people, places, and organizations working towards these goals. Use these connections as you plan your SDG projects for the year
  • Play Quiz and Swap and get an overview of the 17 goals. Use the reflection sheet to ponder which one of the goals you find most important and why
What did you think of What World Do You Want in 2030?
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Based on the United Nations 2030 Agenda of Sustainable Development Goals, this lesson introduces students to some of the core challenges created by globalization and the need to respond as a 'Global Citizen.' Students visit three stations, each composed of activities to promote thought and discussion on a different aspect of global citizenship. The second component of the resource is organized around student action. The resource identifies several organizations that students may support through individual or collective action as part of their journey as global citizens.



Activities
  • Review the SDGs by watching this short video. Check your knowledge of the SDGs with this Quiz or play the Go Goals Digital Game
  • Explore the local in the global by carrying out a survey in your local community. Take photographs or draw rough sketches that identify needs and challenges linked to SDG themes. Discuss and decide what the priorities for your community are before considering possible approaches for making positive changes 
  • Use the SDGs in Action App to share thoughts and action ideas about the SDGs as well as virtual classroom tools to connect with young people in other parts of the world
  • Write a leaflet or create a poster that persuades others to take action to protect life on land or below water. Students should make their case using concrete examples and supporting evidence. Alternatively, they could write and submit newspaper articles or send letters to a local business or their local government representative
  • Take action and help achieve one of the Sustainable Development Goals on the list by taking action yourself! Check out the link and see how you and your students can help by just doing simple things
What did you think of Global Citizenship Lesson Plan?
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About Learning Inside Out

Above you will find a selection of activities, broken down by various grade levels. These guides will be released weekly and archived on our Learning Inside Out page, so you can always access the full catalogue.

All activities have been modified from resources on our R4R database, simplified and adapted for both outdoor learning in the school yard or at-home as needed. The activity descriptions above should contain all the information and links that you need!

If you'd like to view the full original resource on R4R, including curriculum connections for every province/territory, click the activity title.

We want this guide to work for you, so your feedback is invaluable to us.
Use the feedback button at the bottom of this Guide, or email us at info@LSF-LST.ca. We would also love to see photos of students engaging in the activities, please e-mail us any pictures or videos you have!
Let us know how this helped your learning and teaching from home or at school indoors and (hopefully) outdoors and what you'd like to see more of by filling out our brief feedback form!
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Please share widely with any parents and teachers in your life!
Learning for a Sustainable Future (LSF) is a Canadian charity with over 25 years of experience working within the education system. Our Resources for Rethinking (R4R) database is an award-winning collection of resources that are peer-reviewed by certified teachers and connected to curriculum in all provinces and territories. R4R is recommended on many Ministry of Education websites.
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