- this cross-curricular classroom resource just takes 5 minutes a week!
- Who Is NOBODY? works in any group situations & is reusable
- students build mutual RESPECT through their projects which is KEY for class management
Cross-curricular classroom resource Who Is NOBODY? supports
Kindergarten to Gr. 12 students in:
- Literacy
- The Arts
- Character Education
- Mindfulness
- Safe Schools
- Mandatory Community Involvement
- Current Events
- Social Justice & Equity
- Eco Schools
- Anti-bullying
- Self-esteem Building
- Celebrates Diversity
- Special Education
- Differentiated Learning
Find out how this program works and EXACTLY how Who Is NOBODY? supports the above curriculum by reading all the details below ↓↓↓
First?
A 5 second overview of how this program works!
Cross-curricular classroom resource that’s EASY to set up [PRESS PLAY]
Who Is NOBODY? is a classroom-based program that’s implemented in Kindergarten to Grade 12 classrooms.
The Who Is NOBODY? Program arrives in a suitcase.
Takes 20 minutes to set up.
And then it’s self-running!
Then… you just need to block off 5 minutes a week
(like good old-fashioned Show & Tell!)
for students to present their outreach project to the class.
BONUS: Who Is NOBODY? is reusable! ❤️
Many teachers have been using their same kit for over 20 years with all different age groups and in different subjects!
Here’s how Who Is NOBODY? is cross-curricular:
Cross-curricular classroom resource: Literacy
Who Is NOBODY? exercises all 4 strands of literacy.
Reading
Students take home the Who Is NOBODY? resources and read through the 5 steps that help them build an outreach project. Also student’s research the organization or cause they want to help.
Writing
Participants write a story about their experience to share with the class.
They:
- reflect on how they used their interests to help others locally, nationally or internationally
- document via their essay (length depends on student’s age)
- share their writing with the class
Media Literacy
Critical thinking is used throughout a student’s project.
And students also use critical thinking when learning about the Who Is NOBODY? Projects done by their peers.
For example:
Participants as early as Gr. 1 have done their Who Is NOBODY? project on clothes that are made ethically (vs. child labor). This helps them be responsible citizens and look past the media spin of the “good work” many brands do and learn to look deeper for ethical practices.
It’s eye-opening!
For instance, students learn that some brands enlist children in other countries to work long hours in inhumane conditions to make their running shoes.
Knowledge is POWER
Oral Communication
Students speak to the organizations and causes where they donate their time, materials & funds and create awareness.
Even if a student cleans up a park by collecting garbage, oral communication is involved in getting siblings and neighbors involved, etc.
Then students stand up in front of the class (this is the Show & Tell bit!) to;
- share their experience
- answer questions
- & inspire their classmates to keep raising the bar in their own Who Is NOBODY? projects.
Cross-curricular classroom resource: The Arts
Who Is NOBODY? exercises up to 4 strands of The Arts.
Visual Arts
Students create a work of art to include with their Who Is NOBODY? Project to capture their experience.
They can:
- paint
- sketch
- use pencil crayons, pastels, markers, etc.
To draw their picture.
And they add a 3D attachment to NOBODY, who becomes SOMEBODY.
SOMEBODY
becomes the class mascot
who captures how EVERYBODY uses what makes them different
(their talent or passion)
to make a difference.
Dance, Drama & Music
While these strands aren’t used as frequently as Visual Arts… the sky is the limit for students.
For example:
Dance: Some students have fundraised via their dance recital.
Drama: Others have written plays to share their cause.
Music: And still others have creatively done Who Is NOBODY? Projects like play the piano at a retirement home for seniors.
Cross-curricular classroom resource: Differentiated Learning
Just like when a group of people play soccer together, students participating in Who Is NOBODY? bring their own skills and play at their own level.
In the same Gr. 1 class you can have a child who draws a picture to give to a lonely neighbor and another student who writes up a business plan to sell freezies to raise funds for a charity that serves a developing country.
Nobody allowed students who were not able to feel successful all year long in their core subjects to experience success and be looked at as superstars by their peers.
– Noah Patel, Grade 8, Boston, USA
Cross-curricular classroom resource: Celebrates Diversity
Students learn to build respect for themselves and others by sharing their varied interests and abilities that they used via their Who Is NOBODY? project.
By NOBODY becoming SOMEBODY who represents all the different projects done in the class to help people, animals and the environment, students learn that in order for the “world to go round” we need EVERYBODY to bring their diverse skills to the table.
Cross-curricular classroom resource: EcoSchools
You can read all about the Green projects here.
And check out this video:
Cross-curricular classroom resource: Safe Schools, Bullying Prevention & Self-Esteem Building
Everyone knows RESPECT is important but there’s a lot of confusion around how to build respect.
Is it the clothes you wear?
Who you hang out with?
Students who lack respect have:
- low self esteem
- give into peer pressure
- & are affected by bullying.
Whereas students who have respect for themselves and others are:
- open to learn and share
- not afraid to make mistakes
- excited to try new things
Who Is NOBODY? builds RESPECT in a way that’s EARNED & LASTING because students are using their personal interests to help others.
They experience NOT being a bystander by standing up for what they believe in.
Who Is NOBODY? is a unique teacher developed resource that supports various curriculum expectations. Its creative approach and focus on pro social skill development and essential life skills makes it an excellent resource in support of safe and caring schools initiatives.
– Bruce Cameron, Central Co-ordinating Principal, Safe Schools, Toronto District School Board
In the spirit of PINK Shirt Day we’ve developed a PINK Who Is NOBODY? Program.
Details are here.
Cross-curricular classroom resource: Social Justice & Equity
Every student gets a chance to help to champion a cause they want to spotlight and support.
I learned it felt better to give than to take.
– Greg, Gr. 3 student, DDSB
Through Who Is NOBODY? students experience making a difference and how easy and fun it is to help others.
The feeling?
PRICELESS!
Cross-curricular classroom resource: Character Education
Values learning, Virtues learning… every school board has a slightly different name for this part of the curriculum.
When students use their strengths to help others they exercise EVERY character trait.
Here’s the stickers that come with the program that celebrate student’s Who Is NOBODY? Project:
Cross-curricular classroom resource: Mindfulness
Students eyes are opened when they have the chance to help others.
Doing the Who Is NOBODY? Project just opened my mind to how many organizations and causes need our help. Going to a shelter to drop off toiletries I collected at school just made me more aware of what’s going on in our community and how it’s actually quite easy to bring people together to help even more people. I’m very lucky to have a warm home and I want to stay connected to the shelter in my community and donate monthly. My local pharmacy matched my donation with diapers, tooth brushes and other hygiene products.
– Tim, Gr. 12, OCDSB
Cross-curricular classroom resource: Special Education
This video speaks for itself:
Cross-curricular classroom resource: Current Events
Who Is NOBODY? is so flexible that often teachers will say the program will circle around current events.
Each week a different student discusses a global issue and attaches a 3D object to NOBODY to capture the story they brought to their class.
At the end of the year they have a 3 dimensional collage of the big stories from the last 12 months.
Cross-curricular classroom resource: Library
Think back to when you were in Home Economics or Family Studies and had to carry an egg around for a week at school without dropping it. Or take a baby “doll” home that needs to be fed every few hours.
Every school board has a creative ways of learning these responsibilities!
I remember watching how much my peers laughed and bonded through these experiences.
NOBODY creates that same beautiful connection between students and is a powerful ice breaker to kick off any subject.
Who Is NOBODY? especially works well as a way to ensure classroom management is in place.
Often teachers, like Librarians, who only get one hour a week with a class but want to have a strong relationship with students will focus the first 5 minutes on one student presenting their project, before the materials are handed off to the next student.
It just takes 5 minutes!
When a teacher understands your passion there is a lot of respect built.
Cross-curricular classroom resource: Mandatory Community Involvement
Students are often at a loss as to how to clock their community hours.
Often a young person will choose:
- the easiest thing
- ask to help a friend’s parent at their job
- wait until the very end of the year, scramble and take the first position they can find
And their response at the end?
“So happy that’s over!!!”
Whereas when students use Who Is NOBODY? to guide their choices and figure out where in their community they want to spend their time, teachers report back that students actually continue their placement long after their hours are fulfilled.
At least 3/4 of our class more than double their Mandatory Community Involvement Hours.
-Cheryl, Teacher, TDSB
Who Is NOBODY? can be implemented in any group setting
NOBODY has helped connect adults and children alike.
Over the years the Who Is NOBODY? Program has been used in:
- Day Cares
- Book Clubs
- Women’s Shelters
and with adults for team building in office settings…
It’s just incredible what people will share via Who Is NOBODY?
When people are holding NOBODY (the conch!) they open up about the wonderful and difficult parts of their life that they need to share for their own mental health and to connect with their peers… things they don’t always get to share in say, Math class. Or at a Staff Meeting.
One child in Gr. 1 shared his father was blind. The teacher, who was very close with all the students, didn’t even know this information.
In an office setting, one team member shared that his wife had suffered a miscarriage. Again, nobody knew about this until it was his turn to share his story.
It’s in our nature to connect, share and celebrate.
Who Is NOBODY? paves the way for those important conversations.
Have any Questions? Leave them in the comments below!
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