SDG 1: A World Free from Poverty – Our Collective Goal 🌍💷

Goal-Problem-Solution Scenario 🎯

The Goal Problem Solution (GPS) method is a three-part structured summary:

• Goal: The goal you are trying to achieve
• Problem: The problem that is preventing you from reaching your goal
• Solution: What I/we/you are going to do to solve the problem

Here is a simplified GPS framework designed to make these concepts accessible and actionable for students in Stages 2 and 3 investigating SDG 1 "No Poverty”.

Goal: Eliminate Poverty in All Its Forms Everywhere

Problem: Understanding Poverty

• What is Poverty?
  • Poverty means not having enough money to meet basic needs such as food, clothing, and housing. But it's more than just not having enough money. It's also about not being able to go to school, see a doctor when you're sick, or have a safe place to live.
• How Does Poverty Affect People and Communities?
  • For a child, poverty might mean not having pencils, books, or a uniform to go to school. For a family, it could mean not having enough food to eat or a safe home. Poverty makes life very difficult and can stop people from achieving their dreams.
• Where Does Poverty Exist?
  • Poverty exists in every country, from big cities to small villages. Some places have more poverty than others, but it's a problem that affects every part of the world.

Solution: Taking Action Against Poverty

Actions for Stage 2

1. Education and Awareness:
   • Learn: Talk about poverty in class. Read stories or watch videos about how children live in different parts of the world.
   • Share: Create posters or drawings about what you've learned and share them with your school or community.
2. Community Engagement:
   • Support Local Food Banks: Organise a food drive at school to collect non-perishable food items for local food banks.
   • Clothing and Toy Drives: Collect used clothes and toys to donate to local shelters or charities that support children in need.
3. Empathy and Understanding:
   • Reflection: Write letters or diary entries imagining a day in the life of a child experiencing poverty. Discuss how gratitude and kindness can make a difference.

Actions for Stage 3

1. Advocacy and Awareness:
   • Campaigns: Start a campaign to raise awareness about poverty in your school. This could involve presentations, newsletters, or social media posts.
   • Educational Events: Organise or participate in events like poverty simulation experiences or guest speaker sessions to learn more about the issue.
2. Direct Action:
   • Volunteering: Spend time volunteering at local shelters, food banks, or other organisations that help people experiencing poverty.
   • Fundraising: Organise bake sales, charity runs, or other fundraising events to raise money for organisations working to end poverty.
3. Global Connection:
   • Pen Pals or Global Classrooms: Connect with students from another part of the world to learn about their lives and share experiences. This can build empathy and understanding across cultures.

Conclusion:

By learning about poverty, spreading awareness, and taking action, students can contribute to the global effort to end poverty. Every small action counts, and together, we can make a big difference in the lives of those who are struggling. Engaging in these activities can help students develop empathy, leadership skills, and a deeper understanding of the world around them.

Gamification Options 👾

Gamification can significantly enhance students' engagement and understanding of complex issues like SDG 1 "No Poverty". Here are some gamified project ideas designed specifically for students in Stages 2 and 3, which aim to investigate the various aspects of poverty and inspire action through interactive and fun learning experiences.

Stage 2

1. Poverty Awareness Board Game:
   • Concept: Create a board game where players navigate through different scenarios related to poverty, such as earning enough to buy food and pay for education. The game can include challenges like natural disasters or losing a job, and opportunities like community support or scholarships.
   • Objective: Teach empathy and understanding by showing the hurdles people face in escaping poverty.
2. Digital Storytelling Quest:
   • Concept: Utilise storytelling software or apps where students create interactive stories or quests based on real-life stories of people experiencing poverty. The narrative can include choices that lead to different outcomes, showing how decisions and external factors can impact lives.
   • Objective: Foster empathy and critical thinking about the causes and effects of poverty.
3. Poverty Simulation with Virtual Currency:
   • Concept: Implement a classroom economy with virtual currency where students can experience earning, spending, and saving. Introduce random events where students might face unexpected expenses (like healthcare or repairs) or receive bonuses (like scholarships).
   • Objective: Illustrate the financial challenges people face and the importance of community support.

Stage 3

1. "Change Maker" Challenge:
   • Concept: Students embark on a mission-based challenge where they earn points by completing tasks related to understanding and acting on poverty. Tasks can range from research assignments, creating awareness content, to volunteering hours. Points unlock donations to real-world poverty alleviation programs.
   • Objective: Motivate direct action and deeper learning about poverty through real-world impact.
2. Interactive Poverty Map:
   • Concept: Using mapping software or a web-based platform, students create an interactive map highlighting poverty statistics and stories from around the world. Gamification elements include quizzes, scavenger hunts, and unlocking hidden content by learning about different regions.
   • Objective: Encourage global awareness and understanding of the scale and diversity of poverty.
3. Role-Playing and Simulation Games:
   • Concept: Develop a role-playing game (RPG) setup where students take on roles of various stakeholders in a community (e.g., government officials, farmers, business owners, educators). Through guided scenarios, they make decisions to address poverty in their community, facing realistic trade-offs and consequences.
   • Objective: Teach problem-solving, the complexity of economic systems, and the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing poverty.
4. "Build a Better World" Minecraft Project:
   • Concept: Using Minecraft or similar sandbox games, students design and build virtual communities that address specific aspects of poverty, such as sustainable housing, community gardens, or education centres. Each project phase can earn resources or support from virtual NGOs.
   • Objective: Stimulate creativity and understanding of sustainable development principles in combating poverty.

Implementing Gamification

• Integration with Curriculum: These projects can be integrated with various subjects, such as geography for the interactive map, art for the board game design, or IT for digital storytelling, making learning more interdisciplinary.
• Showcasing Work: Allow students to showcase their projects to the school or community, encouraging pride in their work and raising awareness about poverty.
• Reflection and Discussion: Following the completion of these projects, hold class discussions to reflect on what students learned about poverty and how they feel about the issues. Encourage them to think about how they can continue to make a difference.

Gamification not only makes learning about serious topics like poverty more engaging for young students but also empowers them to become active participants in seeking solutions and fostering empathy towards others.

Cross-Curricular collaboration 🖇️

Here are two cross-curricular collaboration projects for students in Stages 2 and 3 of the Australian Curriculum to explore and address SDG 1: No Poverty:

1. Community Food Security Project:
   • Objective: Investigate the issue of poverty-related food insecurity in the local community.
   • Subjects Involved: Mathematics, Geography, and English.
   • Steps:
     1. Research and Data Collection:
        • Students collect data on food insecurity rates in their community (e.g., through surveys, interviews, or local government reports).
        • They analyse the data to identify vulnerable groups and areas with high poverty rates.
     2. Mapping and Analysis:
        • Students create maps showing food deserts (areas with limited access to affordable, nutritious food).
        • They analyse the correlation between poverty, food availability, and access.
     3. Action Plan:
        • Students propose solutions to address food insecurity, such as community gardens, food banks, or awareness campaigns.
        • They collaborate with local organizations to implement their ideas.
     4. Communication and Advocacy:
        • Students write persuasive essays or create multimedia presentations advocating for policies that reduce poverty and improve food security.
2. Financial Literacy and Microfinance Project:
   • Objective: Explore financial literacy and microfinance as tools to alleviate poverty.
   • Subjects Involved: Mathematics, Economics, and Personal Development, Health, and Physical Education (PDHPE).
   • Steps:
     1. Understanding Poverty and Microfinance:
        • Students learn about poverty, its causes, and the role of microfinance institutions in supporting low-income individuals.
     2. Budgeting and Saving Workshops:
        • Students participate in budgeting workshops, learning about income, expenses, and saving strategies.
        • They create personal budgets and savings plans.
     3. Microfinance Simulation:
        • Students simulate microfinance lending by allocating small amounts of “virtual” money to classmates’ business ideas.
        • They track repayments and discuss the impact of microloans.
     4. Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprises:
        • Students explore social enterprises that address poverty (e.g., fair trade businesses, community cooperatives).
        • They develop their own social enterprise ideas.
     5. Community Awareness Campaign:
        • Students create posters, videos, or presentations to raise awareness about poverty and the importance of financial literacy.
        • They share their knowledge with peers, parents, and the wider community.

Remember, these projects encourage collaboration, critical thinking, and real-world problem-solving while addressing SDG 1. Feel free to adapt or expand upon these ideas based on your students’ interests and local context! 🌍🌱

Sustainable Development Goal Resources 📚

For educational materials focusing on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the following websites are highly recommended: