The National Curriculum is clear about the need to promote awareness of sustainable development within the classroom. Aim two of the National Curriculum states that:
“It [The National Curriculum] should develop pupils’ awareness and understanding of, and respect for the environment in which they live, and secure their commitment to sustainable development at a personal, local, national and global level.”
Not only that, but it is a statutory requirement in four curriculum subjects: science, geography, design and technology and citizenship.
The theme of ‘One World’ was chosen following an extensive consultation with teaching staff and research into curriculum requirements.
Because of its broad scope, the theme sits well with all the subject areas above and can be taught within the remit of these subject areas as well as within the English curriculum.
We have prepared these resources to develop a range of key skills which involve:
- Understanding the connections between our lives and the lives of others at both a local and global level
- Having opportunities to think through problems from a range of viewpoints
- Exploring issues and problems and developing the confidence to seek solutions
- Developing key skills such as listening, communication, teamwork, organisation and problem solving
- Understanding how classroom studies can be applied to real world challenges
Below is a list of sub-topics that relate to the ‘One World’ theme. The categories fit with KS2 curriculum requirements, and we hope that this will inspire you to run the SCEMES National Short Story Competition alongside your existing schemes of work.
Please click on the links for story ideas that will help students engage with the themes, and links to further teaching resources.
Note: All story ideas are simply suggestions of ways in which pupils might write a story on the theme of ‘One World.’ Pupils are welcome to write their stories based on the suggestions here, but are not required to do so. Pupils are very welcome to come up with their own ‘One World’ story ideas. Have fun writing!
Of course, these are just starting points. There are loads of sub-topics that relate to the theme of 'One World'.
Below are some more topic ideas that you could use when running the 'One World' short story competition:
- Carbon Footprints
- Renewable Energy
- Pollution
- Tree-planting
- Floods
- Sustainability
- Communication
- Planet Earth
- War
- Slavery
- Refugees
- Getting our voices heard
- Developing countries
- Immigration / emigration
- Religion
- Fairtrade
We hope that these themes give you some fantastic ideas on how to write a story on ‘One World’. Please keep checking this page throughout the competition for even more great story ideas.