Classroom Visits
Big Village provides interactive workshops for grades 2-12 that tie in with Ontario Curriculum across the disciplines of Geography, and Social Studies. We introduce students to Global Citizenship and Responsibility through our Global Communities, Fair Trade, Sustainable Development Goals, Ethical Consumerism and Ghanaian culture presentations. Workshops can range from 60-90 minutes and are customized for your classroom needs.
Grades 2-3
Our primary grade workshop focuses on Ghanaian culture and includes an interactive power point presentation showing our differences and similarities in a geographical context. Discussing weather, housing, food, water, and transportation, we give students an understanding of why things are different. Included in this "field trip in a classroom" is an opportunity to build a bracelet using our beautiful recycled glass beads as a take home for students. Students develop an understanding of who they are in global context and develop an understanding diversity in a global context.
Grades 5-6
Our workshops for intermediate students focus on fair trade, sustainable development and ethical consumerism. Students learn the basics of fair trade principles and how Big Village operates within them. Students develop an understanding of being responsible stewards of the earth as well what it means to be a global citizen. Using our beads as a platform we discuss the importance of a focus on the environment, no child labour and how fair trade benefits disadvantaged workers. These workshops include an opportunity to work with our beautiful recycled glass beads while building a bracelet as a take home for students.
High School
Our high school workshops work well across grade 9-12 Geography, Social Studies and Business disciplines. We offer a range of topics including fair trade, ethical consumerism and the Sustainable Development Goals. Students learn about social enterprise and business, global responsibility and how Canadians can make a difference in this world. We include an opportunity to build a bracelet with our beautiful recycled glass beads as a take home. We also offer a unique fundraising program where students can build bracelets at a reduced cost and sell them at a profit of 40-50%.
"Big Village came to my school and did a wonderful job presenting to my Grade Six students about fair trade. Liz Blaauwendraat did an amazing job explaining working conditions in different parts of the world and how it impacts the producer in that country and the purchaser at home. My students had a greater understanding of the large world and how various types of trade can have global impacts. Her experiences in Africa were of great interest to my students and they were excited to see the handmade glass beads and select their favourites to make a beautiful bracelet for themselves or a loved one. They cherished these bracelets even more knowing that they hard working artists received a fair wage. A great experience for your students to help them understand sustainable global trade."
Liz C -Grade 6 Teacher
"I recently had Big Village visit my Grade 6 classroom to facilitate a workshop on Fair Trade and Sustainability. My students were given an informative and engaging slideshow presentation. They also made bracelets using recycled fair trade glass beads from Ghana. My students loved the hands-on experience and were so excited to take their bracelets home. The presenters, Liz and John, were excellent speakers and worked very well with my students. I would highly recommend this global citizenship presentation for any grade. It was a fabulous way to bring a little piece of Africa and an awareness of fair trade to the classroom!"
Katie F -Grade 6 Teacher
