Part of teaching students to think critically and to have real-world problem solving skills is helping them to see what kinds of social and economic problems exist and how they can be a part of the solution. That’s not to say they all must become activists or humanitarians, but it is good to get them thinking about some of the “big issues”, take a look at how those are affecting us globally, and see what organizations exist to help reduce or solve these problems, and how students can be a part of the solution.
Another of these “big issues” is womens’ and girls’ rights. One great book to read on this topic–or film to show–is about Malala Yousafzai and her experience fighting for girls’ right to primary and secondary education. You can find information about her film here, her book here, and discussion questions both here and here.
I absolutely love how well spoken Malala is, and how real she is. She recently addressed the Canadian Parliament in this speech:
Amanda M. Orozco 