Planting the Seed of Social Activism

by Zarah Patriana

Published January 07, 2009 @ 05:38PM PT

It was my Civics teacher in High School that opened my eyes to Fair Trade. It was the lessons he taught me and the idea that I could make a difference that has made me into the activist and Fair Trade advocate I am today.  I even gave up chocolate for a little while because I was so upset at the corporate chocolate industry. It was my chocolate hunger strike. Then I found out about my Fair Trade options. LUCKILY.

The impact of learning about social justice issues in the classroom is why I am such a strong advocate of teaching Fair Trade in the classroom. TransFair offers a curriculum as well as Equal Exchange and the Fair Trade Resource Network has a handy dandy list of 'changing the world in the classroom'.  Now I just received word from my colleague, Adrienne Fitch-Frankel that Global Exchange has just released our new and improved Fair Trade curriculum.

I know she has been working hard in partnership with teacher candidates at Evergreen State College's Master in Teacher program to put this together, so the fruits of their labor are ready for the minds of our youth.

It's downloadable!

Features!:

• ready-to-use lesson plans
• inquiry- and experiential-based learning consistent with best practices in teaching
• satisfies state teaching standards in every discipline
• kids learn they have the power to make a global impact AND
• it’s fun! Fair Trade cocoa will stimulate your students’ interest in learning!

The fun doesn't end there. Educators, listen read up.

Teach the curriculum in your classroom anytime between now and Valentine’s Day and you will be entered into a prize drawing to win over $75 worth of Fair Trade chocolate and educational materials!*

Receive real Fair Trade Organic cocoa beans! Teachers who sign up to participate in the National Valentine’s Day of Action will receive cocoa beans to use during the unit….only while our limited supplies last, so sign up soon!**

*To be entered, email the following information to fairtrade@globalexchange.org by February 13.

Include in the body of your email:

• Your name
• School name
• Mailing address (please indicate whether it is your mailing address or the school’s)
• Phone
• Number of children in your classroom
• Grade level
• Dates that you plan to teach the curriculum

*In order to be eligible, participating educators must also postmark or email the curriculum evaluation at the end of the unit by February 21.

**Due to limited supplies, teachers who received cocoa beans last year – please reuse your cocoa beans again this year.

By teaching Fair Trade in the classroom before Valentine's Day, you will be participating in the Second Annual National Valentine's Day of Action. Last year, the action reached nearly 2,000 kids and this year, we're trying to bump it up to 3,000. Interested? Join the movement today.

Happy teaching.

[photo: International Labor Rights Fund]