Catholic Campaign for Human Development

This website contains a great deal of information about poverty in the United States.

• There are also lesson plans available.

K-5
6-12
adult

Poverty USA Student Action Project

This contains lesson plans for grades 1-8.  Each lesson plan includes three components: education, action and reflection.

Nick 2015 Campaign

This is a multi-platform campaign aimed at raising awareness to end poverty and get kids involved in the realization of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).  It is geared toward younger students. (Click on the Australian flag.)

Jubilee Kids

This is an interactive website which introduces the ideas of justice around the concept of God’s Kingdom.  Worth exploring the whole site after the introductory video. 

This section from Oxfam's Cool Planet website offers age appropriate lesson plans.  This lesson plan for students ages 8-14 includes teacher plans and reproducible student pages.

This website has loads of information about the effects of indebtedness on poor countries and how cancelling debt will affect the well-being of people in these severely indebted poor countries.  While most of the concepts are geared toward older children, there are activities even for primary school children with games. The one for younger children is "The Sticker Game"  for ages 7-10.  Resources include

• Background information and fact sheets
• Games and activities
• Drama and role plays
• Videos, DVD's and presentations
• Personal stories and quotes
• Displays and images

There is also a introductory piece "Debt Across the Curriculum" which includes links to other sites with activities and information.

Catholic Campaign for Human Development

This website contains a great deal of information about poverty in the United States.

• There are also lesson plans available.

Poverty USA Student Action Project

This contains lesson plans for grades 1-8.  Each lesson plan includes three components: education, action and reflection.

Youth Update: Putting a Face on Poverty

You can order hard copies, but the entire text is on this page for preview.

United Nations Cyber School Bus

This is a unit for students grades 5-12 on poverty.  Each unit has four sections: explanation, class activity, service project, internet connections.  The different lessons deal with food, health, housing, education, work and economic security.

Planet Teacher

This is a UK site so some of the information and spellings will need some “translation.”

Suggested for approximately grades 4-6. One of the buttons on the web page is the “hot news” button.  This link will send you to a page which has suggestions for follow-up action. 

• Disaster This Planet teacher topic looks at the impact of disasters on poor countries.

You can also sign up for their e-zine free of charge.  They also send out information for use by youth group leaders.  Also free of charge.

Nick 2015 Campaign

This is a multi-platform campaign aimed at raising awareness to end poverty and get kids involved in the realization of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).  It is geared toward younger students. (Click on the Australian flag.)

Jubilee Kids

This is an interactive website which introduces the ideas of justice around the concept of God’s Kingdom.  Worth exploring the whole site after the introductory video. 

For Better or For Worse

In this lesson, students explore personal and public responsibility in dealing with social inequality. They conduct research and participate in a discussion about the effect of Hurricane Katrina in regard to racial and economic equality in the United States, and synthesize their learning by writing letters to the President in which they voice their opinions. Grades 6-8, 9-12

Affluenza

Affluenza is a one-hour television special that explores the high social and environmental costs of materialism and over-consumption.  The study guide is available on this site.  For those in the diocese of Richmond, the video is available from the Office of Justice and Peace.  Contact Martha Mainous.  Escape from Affluenza is also available.

This section from Oxfam's Cool Planet website offers age appropriate lesson plans.  This lesson plan for students ages 8-14 includes teacher plans and reproducible student pages.

The Millennium Development Goals are frequently summarized using these three components. These summaries are explained using examples which are easy for children to understand. Each of these pages also includes links to more activities and explanations.

• What is Trade? (one page summary)
• What is Aid? (one page summary)
• What is Debt? (one page summary)

This unit from Oxfam helps students look at the disaster of the tsunami from Dec. 26, 2004, but also uses the event to look at the wider picture of poverty in the countries affected by the tsunami. There is a quick overview of the unit.

This website has loads of information about the effects of indebtedness on poor countries and how cancelling debt will affect the well-being of people in these severely indebted poor countries.  All resources include a target age for the information and activities.  Resources include

• Background information and fact sheets
• Games and activities
• Drama and role plays
• Videos, DVD's and presentations
• Personal stories and quotes
• Displays and images

There is also a introductory piece "Debt Across the Curriculum" which includes links to other sites with activities and information.

This exercise from Bread for the World demonstrates the uneven distribution of wealth in our world.  The exercise takes about 30 min. including discussion.

This online game takes participants through the tough choices and consequences of people living in developing nations. 

Catholic Campaign for Human Development

This website contains a great deal of information about poverty in the United States.

• When it comes to discussing minimum wage vs. fair wage, the poverty tour gives some idea of what families are up against if they are living on minimum wage.

• There are also lesson plans available.

Poverty USA Student Action Project

This contains lesson plans for grades 1-8.  Each lesson plan includes three components: education, action and reflection.

United Nations Cyber School Bus

This is a unit for students grades 5-12 on poverty.  Each unit has four sections: explanation, class activity, service project, internet connections.  The different lessons deal with food, health, housing, education, work and economic security.

Planet Teacher

This is a UK site so some of the information and spellings will need some “translation.”

Suggested for approximately grades 4-6. One of the buttons on the web page is the “hot news” button.  This link will send you to a page which has suggestions for follow-up action. 

• Disaster This Planet teacher topic looks at the impact of disasters on poor countries.

You can also sign up for their e-zine free of charge.  They also send out information for use by youth group leaders.  Also free of charge.

Millennium Development Goals

This page is especially intended for youth to explain the Millennium Development Goals as well as actions that can be taken.

Taking It Global

There is an online card game which asks questions about the state of the world related to the issues in the Millennium Development goals.

Jubilee Kids

This is an interactive website which introduces the ideas of justice around the concept of God’s Kingdom.  Worth exploring the whole site after the introductory video. 

For Better or For Worse

In this lesson, students explore personal and public responsibility in dealing with social inequality. They conduct research and participate in a discussion about the effect of Hurricane Katrina in regard to racial and economic equality in the United States, and synthesize their learning by writing letters to the President in which they voice their opinions. Grades 6-8, 9-12

This section from Oxfam's Cool Planet website offers age appropriate lesson plans.  This lesson plan for students ages 8-14 includes teacher plans and reproducible student pages.

The Millennium Development Goals are frequently summarized using these three components. These summaries are explained using examples which are easy for children to understand. Each of these pages also includes links to more activities and explanations.

• What is Trade? (one page summary)
• What is Aid? (one page summary)
• What is Debt? (one page summary)

That’s Not Fair!
Teaching Social Justice to Sixth Graders

Previously, this was available as a download, but it is now available for purchase from St. Mary's Press.

The program includes activities and materials to help students gain a realistic understanding of the poor.  The final outcome of "That's Not Fair!" is to involve students in advocacy on behalf of people who cannot speak on their own behalf.

Also on the website is their newsletter entitled SOME - So Others Might Eat which has some good reflections.

Affluenza

Affluenza is a one-hour television special that explores the high social and environmental costs of materialism and over-consumption.  The study guide is available on this site.  For those in the diocese of Richmond, the video is available from the Office of Justice and Peace.  Contact Martha Mainous.  Escape from Affluenza is also available.

This website has loads of information about the effects of indebtedness on poor countries and how cancelling debt will affect the well-being of people in these severely indebted poor countries.  All resources include a target age for the information and activities.  Resources include

• Background information and fact sheets
• Games and activities
• Drama and role plays
• Videos, DVD's and presentations
• Personal stories and quotes
• Displays and images

There is also a introductory piece "Debt Across the Curriculum" which includes links to other sites with activities and information.

This exercise from Bread for the World demonstrates the uneven distribution of wealth in our world.  The exercise takes about 30 min. including discussion.

This initiative of Mercy Corps has some facts and resources on global poverty including some definitions.  There are some good links on the right side of the page under "Toolkit."

This online game takes participants through the tough choices and consequences of people living in developing nations. 

Catholic Campaign for Human Development

This website contains a great deal of information about poverty in the United States.

• When it comes to discussing minimum wage vs. fair wage, the poverty tour gives some idea of what families are up against if they are living on minimum wage.

• There are also lesson plans available.

This  is an interactive, interdisciplinary curriculum from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development  for youth ministry programs and high school classrooms. The lessons will introduce participants to the epidemic of poverty in the United States and to the steps they can take to work with the poor in eliminating the root causes of poverty today. The curriculum comprises six lessons with classroom-ready handouts, warm-up exercises and reflection activities that reinforce student learning and inspire a faith response.

Includes PowerPoint presentation on poverty

This unit from the Education for Justice website looks at both domestic and global poverty.  It includes activities, case studies, prayers, Catholic social teaching reflections, discussion questions and action suggestions.

Youth Update: Putting a Face on Poverty

You can order hard copies, but the entire text is on this page for preview.

United Nations Cyber School Bus

This is a unit for students grades 5-12 on poverty.  Each unit has four sections: explanation, class activity, service project, internet connections.  The different lessons deal with food, health, housing, education, work and economic security.

This resource from the Education for Justice website has loads of information about minimum wage and living wage issues.

This website offers many resources on minimum wage and living wage including a 41 page resource with facts, activities and prayer and worship resources. 

JubileeUSA

This website contains a downloadable Education and Action Packet.

Millennium Development Goals

This page is especially intended for youth to explain the Millennium Development Goals as well as actions that can be taken.

This simulation from the Catholic Relief Services site shows how microfinance is an example of good aid and the impact it can have on the lives of people who are poor, especially women.

For Better or For Worse

In this lesson, students explore personal and public responsibility in dealing with social inequality. They conduct research and participate in a discussion about the effect of Hurricane Katrina in regard to racial and economic equality in the United States, and synthesize their learning by writing letters to the President in which they voice their opinions. Grades 6-8, 9-12

Affluenza

Affluenza is a one-hour television special that explores the high social and environmental costs of materialism and over-consumption.  The study guide is available on this site.  For those in the diocese of Richmond, the video is available from the Office of Justice and Peace.  Contact Martha Mainous.  Escape from Affluenza is also available.

This website has loads of information about the effects of indebtedness on poor countries and how cancelling debt will affect the well-being of people in these severely indebted poor countries.  All resources include a target age for the information and activities.  Resources include

• Background information and fact sheets
• Games and activities
• Drama and role plays
• Videos, DVD's and presentations
• Personal stories and quotes
• Displays and images

There is also a introductory piece "Debt Across the Curriculum" which includes links to other sites with activities and information.

This exercise from Bread for the World demonstrates the uneven distribution of wealth in our world.  The exercise takes about 30 min. including discussion.

This initiative of Mercy Corps has some facts and resources on global poverty including some definitions.  There are some good links on the right side of the page under "Toolkit."

Catholic Campaign for Human Development

This website contains a great deal of information about poverty in the United States.

• When it comes to discussing minimum wage vs. fair wage, the poverty tour gives some idea of what families are up against if they are living on minimum wage.

• There are also lesson plans available.

This resource from the Education for Justice website has loads of information about minimum wage and living wage issues.

This website offers many resources on minimum wage and living wage including a 41 page resource with facts, activities and prayer and worship resources. 

JubileeUSA

This website contains a downloadable Education and Action Packet.

This unit from the Education for Justice website looks at both domestic and global poverty.  It includes activities, case studies, prayers, Catholic social teaching reflections, discussion questions and action suggestions.

Affluenza

Affluenza is a one-hour television special that explores the high social and environmental costs of materialism and over-consumption.  The study guide is available on this site.  For those in the diocese of Richmond, the video is available from the Office of Justice and Peace.  Contact Martha Mainous.  Escape from Affluenza is also available.

Handbook of Catholic Social Teaching

This study guide integrates discussion questions on the topic of a just economy.

Theology Library

This site has articles, church documents and statements that relate to the issues of poverty and Third World Debt.

This simulation from the Catholic Relief Services site shows how microfinance is an example of good aid and the impact it can have on the lives of people who are poor, especially women.

Just News is a publication of the Office of Justice and Peace for the Diocese of Richmond.  Each issue is devoted to a single topic. When on the OJP website, go to the News page.

There is an issue devoted to Solidarity with the Poor and another issue devoted to Poverty in Virginia.

Sojourners on the Issues

Discussion guides for four sessions each with articles from past issues of Sojourner’s magazine. Cost is $14.95 for each packet.  Available topics are Christian feminism, Christians and Nonviolence, Christians and Politics, Christians and the Environment, Christians and the Global Economy, Christians and Racial Justice, Christians and the Middle East, Christians and Poverty, Welcoming the Stranger: Christians and Immigration and What the Waters Revealed: Christians and Hurricane Katrina.  There is a sample available.

This initiative of Mercy Corps has some facts and resources on global poverty including some definitions.  There are some good links on the right side of the page under "Toolkit."

This 6 page guide from the Education for Justice website looks at the priorities set forth in our national budget, where our taxes go and lets people recreate a budget with priorities through the lens of Catholic social teaching. 

American Friends Service Committee

This website has several campaigns around economic justice issues in the U.S.  It includes worship materials as well.  Notably there are resources for Living Wage Worship Services and Events.

This resource from the Education for Justice website has loads of information about minimum wage and living wage issues.

This website offers many resources on minimum wage and living wage including a 41 page resource with facts, activities and prayer and worship resources. 

Just Neighbors

This is not an online resource, but the site for a well-rounded curriculum about justice for congregations.

Bread for the World has several prayer and reflection resources based on the Millennium Development Goals. The prayers all focus on poverty.   These prayer resources come as word documents so they can be adapted.

A Theological Reflection on MDG and the Season of Advent

To the Least of These Do Justice

An Advent Bidding Prayer

Advent Evening Prayer

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