How to engage students in real-life activities?

I have written about Kiva before, encouraging teachers to look into this. Why not start by suggesting that your students help me out here? When you invest in Kiva, you get your money back and can continue to support new projects. Let me know what you decide, and I will support that project. Click on the picture below.

Lesson plan

Title: Kiva: A Global Microfinance Platform

Objective: Students will learn about microfinance and how it can help people in developing countries.

Materials:

• Computer with internet access
• Kiva website: https://www.kiva.org/
• Pen and paper

Objectives:

• Students will be able to define global poverty.
• Students will be able to identify the causes of global poverty.
• Students will be able to discuss the effects of global poverty.
• Students will be able to learn about Kiva.org and how it is working to address global poverty.
• Students will be able to create a Kiva loan of their own.

Procedure:

1. Begin by asking students if they have ever heard of microfinance. If not, explain that it is a way of providing financial services to people who are not served by traditional banks.
2. Show students the Kiva website and explain that it is a global microfinance platform that connects lenders with borrowers in developing countries.
3. Begin by reviewing the definition of global poverty.
4. Discuss the causes of global poverty.
5. Discuss the effects of global poverty.
6. Introduce Kiva.org and explain how it works.
7. Have students create a Kiva loan of their own.
8. Discuss the students’ loans and why they chose the borrowers they did.
9. Have students explore the website and find a borrower they would like to support. They should write down the name of the borrower and the amount they would like to lend.
10. Discuss as a class why microfinance is important and how it can help people in developing countries.
11. Have students write a short essay (1-2 pages) about their chosen borrower and why they chose to support them.
12. Find ways to fundraise to be able to support one or two projects.

Assessment:

• Students will be assessed on their ability to define global poverty, identify the causes of global poverty, discuss the effects of global poverty, learn about Kiva.org, and create a Kiva loan of their own.

Differentiation:

• For students who need more support, provide them with a handout that summarizes the key points of the lesson.
• For students who are ready for a challenge, have them research a specific country or region that is affected by global poverty and create a presentation about their findings.

Extension Activities:

• Have students track the progress of their Kiva loans and share their findings with the class.
• Have students research other organizations that are working to address global poverty.
• Have students create a fundraising campaign to raise money for Kiva.org or another organization that is working to address global poverty.

Assessment:

Students will be assessed on their participation in class discussion and their written essay.