Tech+4+Change

toc As a teacher, you can inspire students to become global citizens. There are many ways to incorporate service learning and global citizenship into your lesson plans. Here are some technology tools and websites to help you get started in your efforts to change the world. Also, read, "Social Media a Cause: Learning Activity."

** Students Can Make a Difference **

 * **Website** || **Description** ||
 * Ryan's Well || Ryan was inspired to build wells in Uganda in first grade. Since then, Ryan’s Well has helped build over 720 wells and 910 latrines bringing safe water and improved sanitation to over 760,500 people. ||
 * BeStrawFree || At 9 years old, Milo organized a campaign to convince people to be straw free to reduce the amount of plastic wasted every year manufacturing straws. His campaign is now hosted by Eco Cycle. ||
 * 20 under 20 || The 20 Under 20 project recognizes students who have passion and take initiative to help others in the community. ||



** Finding a Cause **

 * **Website** || **Description** ||
 * Do Something || A site empowering teens to make a difference ||
 * Causes.com || Learn about the various causes people are contributing to around the world ||
 * Arlington Institute || List of the world's biggest problems ||
 * Worldometers || Real time world statistics (environment, food, water, energy, population, etc...) ||
 * Heifer International || Heifer's classroom resources give teachers the resources to educate their students about their world neighbors, hunger and poverty and sustainable development while inspiring students to help Heifer build a better world. ||
 * Make a Difference Day || Learn how your students can make a difference and support this day of community service. ||
 * Kicker || An overview of the most pressing news issues of the day ||

** Microloans **
uses Kiva to teach his students about various countries around the world. ||
 * **Website** || **Description** ||
 * One Tweet Can Change the World || Bill Ferriter and his students have loaned over $6,000 to 146 entrepreneurs all over the world. ||
 * Kiva.org || Lesson plans and class activities for using Kiva's microloan program ||
 * Microloans || Mini lessons, rubrics, and a lending packet designed by a teacher who
 * MicroFinance || Free e-course on microfinancing ||
 * Kiva in the Classroom || List of ideas for using Kiva in the classroom ||

** Spreading Awareness Through Media* **

 * **Website** || **Description** ||
 * 25 Days to Make a Difference || In 4th grade, Laura blogged about her efforts to do simple things to change the world. The blog has become a popular site around the world. ||
 * PSA to end Bullying || Sweetwater students make public service announcement video to stop bullying ||
 * Creating PSA's and Commercials || List of websites for creating PSA's ||
 * PSA Projects || Examples of high school students' PSAs ||
 * Visit the Build a Classroom Website page or Video/Photo Tools page to learn more about the free tech tools available for making digital media projects.

** Fundraising **
efforts to clean up the Gulf Coast oil spill. She has raised over $200,000. || (Elementary School) || List of ideas for raising money at an elementary school ||
 * **Website** || **Description** ||
 * Olivia Bouler || At 11 years old, Olivia Bouler offered to sell her paintings to raise money for the Audubon Society's
 * Butterfly Garden Buttons || Middle school students design and sell buttons to raise money for a butterfly garden. ||
 * Jewelry Sales || 5th Grade Students sold jewelry to raise money to donate to the American Red Cross ||
 * Penny Wars || Raise money by collecting pennies ||
 * Fundraising Ideas
 * Kid Friendly Fundraising from A-Z || PowerPoint slideshow that highlights multiple ways to fundraise ||

**Random Acts of Kindness**

 * **Website** || **Description** ||
 * Birthday Money || Mary, a middle school student, uses birthday money to create kindness counts charity ||
 * Positive Tweets || Osseo high-schooler battles taunts with tweets ||
 * Random Acts of Kindness || Random Acts of Kindness classroom lesson plans and resources ||
 * Kids Activities || Resources and ideas for inspiring students to do random acts of kindness ||

**Social Networks**
**(Crowdfunding, Spreading the Word)**
 * **Website** || **Description** ||
 * Change.org || Start petitions to support a cause and spread the word through social networking sites ||
 * Kickstarter || Popular crowdfunding site ||
 * IndieGoGo || International crowdfunding platform ||

Share Your Story
How are you inspiring students to change the world? Share your story and it will be posted on this website for teachers to learn from.

media type="custom" key="21333884"