WAC - Tips for Teachers

Integrating the World Affairs Challenge into classroom activities

Over the past seven years, World Savvy has gathered ideas from teachers around San Francisco on some of the methods they have used for integrating the WAC into their curriculum. We will continue to add to this as we gather additional information. If you are currently using the WAC in your classroom, we invite you to share that information with us by e-mailing regina@worldsavvy.org

Curriculum Integration

World Savvy encourages teachers to integrate the World Affairs Challenge into their curriculum and work with students in-class to prepare for the WAC. There are a number of ways teachers can do this. Some teachers have required all students to do a formal presentation in class and chosen which team goes on to compete in the challenge. Others have staged a pre-Challenge competition to determine which teams go on to compete. Still other schools require all students to do a presentation and poster board for class, but let students decide whether they want to participate in the Challenge. Of course, some teachers also require all students do the program in class and attend the WAC.

Example: River Middle School Project Night

Teachers at River Middle School have found a creative and multidisciplinary way to integrate the WAC into their curriculum in social studies, art and language arts. Every student at River Middle School participates in the World Affairs Challenge program; however, only students who choose to go on to compete on Challenge day.

Starting about 12 weeks before the Challenge, students are introduced to the Challenge and annual theme. Students then begin to discuss topics and form groups. A sheet of FAQs is also sent home to introduce parents to the Challenge. Over the next several weeks, students have approximately one day a week in social studies class to begin their research and start preparing their presentation.

About 6 weeks prior to the Challenge, students begin working on their poster in art class. A draft of their poster is due about a month prior to the Challenge.

Three or four weeks prior to the Challenge, students have a dress rehearsal with one other group and are graded on their performance. Two weeks later, the school hosts a ‘Project Night’ where all students present their work in front of parents, teachers and other students. Students who are unable to attend ‘Project Night’ have the opportunity to give their presentation during school in front of a panel. Those students who have decided to compete in Challenge day have this opportunity to receive feedback on their presentation and poster prior to the World Affairs Challenge competition.

In addition to preparing for the Challenge events, students at River Middle school are also required to write a research paper on their chosen topic for their Language Arts Class. This paper is written individually, but relies mainly on research students have done for their formal presentation and poster.

For more information about student assignments and grading, click here

Single Unit

Some teachers have taught the annual theme for the Challenge as a single 4-6week unit in their classes and had the final project be participating in the Challenge. If teachers choose this option, World Savvy suggests that the unit begin the unit at least 8 weeks prior to the Challenge so students have adequate time to conduct research, practice their presentation and prepare a poster before the Challenge. Even if the unit ends 3-4 weeks before Challenge Day, students will have the extra time to practice and prepare for the event. Teachers can require all students from a class to compete on Challenge day or make the competition optional or extra credit.

Extra Credit

Many teachers offer the World Affairs Challenge as an extra credit opportunity for students. As noted above, some use the program in class but make going to the Challenge competition extra credit, while others offer the program as an entirely out of class extra credit project. In the latter scenario, World Savvy encourages teachers to conduct at least one or two classroom exercises on the annual theme to introduce the students to the Challenge and the topic. While students can work out of class time to prepare for the Challenge, we suggest the teacher work with the students to develop a timeline for their project and provide space and time either in class or afterschool for groups to work on their presentation and poster.

Tips on coaching WAC after-school clubs or teams

Teachers who are not able to integrate the WAC into their curriculum may want to consider coaching one or more teams afterschool. The WAC is intended to be largely youth-led, however they will likely require some guidance from the coach to help them narrow their topic, understand the issues, and keep them on track.

Recruiting Students

• Make an announcement in-class about the formation of a new afterschool group
• Hold an information session afterschool to tell students about the program
• Tell parents about the program at conferences and ask them to encourage their students to participate
• Find one or two interested students who want to be team captains and have them lead the recruitment effort

Choosing a Topic

Students may already have a topic in mind, but it may be helpful to guide students though this process by providing them with some reading materials from the WAC Resource Guide on the different aspects of the annual theme. World Savvy also provides a list of sample topics students can use to guide them.

Setting Deadlines

Once students have chosen their topic, it is important that the coach and team leader work together to keep the group on task. At the first or second meeting, students should develop a timeline for their group that will help ensure they are prepared for Challenge Day. For a sample timeline, click here. Students should try to meet at least once a week, particularly in the weeks leading up to the Challenge. We have found that it is generally best if students start working no less than 8 weeks before the Challenge to ensure that they are adequately prepared.

Securing funding for WAC teams

The cost of participation in the World Affairs Challenge is $150 per team. A team consists of 5-12 students. Possible sources of funding for the WAC include:

• Social Studies Department Funds
• Principal Discretionary Funds
• Special Program Funds
• Gifted and Talented Funds
• Local businesses may sponsor a team or teams
• Parent Advisory Councils or PTAs
• Student fundraisers

Note: World Savvy provides a limited number of scholarships to schools that are unable to secure funding to support one ore more teams. Please contact World Savvy to inquire about scholarship availability.

Resource Guide

Each year, World Savvy compiles a Resource Guide for WAC Coaches on the annual theme. The Guide is designed to help coaches introduce the theme to students and provides fact sheets, activities and online resources, such as websites, links to online current events articles and videos. It also includes suggestions on how to connect this theme to relevant Social Studies Standards.

World Savvy Monitor

In addition to offering WAC coaches a Resource Guide on the annual theme, World Savvy also offers coaches a free subscription to the World Savvy Monitor, an online subscription-based current events publication. The Monitor focuses on a different country, issue or conflict each month and includes a classroom companion with suggested readings and discussion questions that encourage students to think critically about the issue.

Additional Resources for teachers

World Savvy is available to conduct in-class workshops to introduce students to the Challenge and the annual theme, meet with teachers to help them integrate the Challenge into their classes, or assist in recruiting students to participate. This program is designed to be flexible and World Savvy staff members are here to help you adapt the program to your specific school culture or curriculum.