Global Focus Overview

Pre-Kindergarten—Grade 12

Global Studies at Brimmer and May: Teaching Our Mission

Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

Mission Statement Brimmer and May is a Pre-K to 12 coeducational day school that upholds high academic standards while implementing innovative ideas. We develop lifelong learners who are informed, engaged, and ethical citizens and leaders in our diverse world.

Global Professional Development •

Online and In-Person Workshops, Classes, Webinars, Resources

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Global Education Symposia

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Global Educator Travel Tours

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Personal Connections with Schools Across the Globe

Global PD ✤

Online and in-person workshops, classes, webinars, resources

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Graduate courses

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Educator tours

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Connections with schools across the globe

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Curriculum development & revisions 01

Lower School

Lower School Global Studies ❖

World Language - French (Pre-K), Mandarin (5), Spanish (6)

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Country/region focus by grade ❖

Pre-K - maps, cultural traditions

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Kindergarten - 7 continents

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Grade 1 - Mexico

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Grade 2 - U.S., Brazil

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Grade 3 - Egypt

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Grade 4 – Asia

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Grade 5 - Independence (Europe, U.S.)

Middle School – Global Studies and Empathy

6th Grade History – The Five Major World Religions After exploring Ninian Smart's Five Dimensions of Religion and viewing John Bellamy's Ted Ed, students explore the five major world religions: Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism. In addition to exploring the major tenets and beliefs of each religion, students also examine the sacred texts of each tradition.

We also view excerpts from the BBC series, My Life, My Religion, which follows a middle school aged student through the course of his or her day.

7th Grade Science – Climate Change and Biomimicry

After an in-depth exploration of climate change and biomimicry, students were tasked with a collaborative challenge using the creative design process: create a nature inspired innovation that improves the climate change problem by helping communities adapt to climate change impacts or reversing or slowing climate change.

8th Grade Humanities

The Humanities 8 curriculum focuses on essential questions concerning identity, othering, leadership, responsibility, and power dynamics. Using these questions as a guide, students explore the Holocaust, the Cultural Revolution in China, and the British Raj in India in both English and history. Through these lenses, students examine how leaders of these events in history obtained, abused, and lost power; how the people in these societies reconciled who they were as individuals with the socio-political context in which they lived; how power dynamics have impacted and continue to impact culture and history; and the global consequences of being a bystander rather than a upstander.

Upper School

Upper School Global Studies ❖

Globally focused core and elective courses: ❖

Geography

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A Survey of Global Studies

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Modern World History

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Women’s Studies: A Global Perspective

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European History

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Latin American History

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International Relations

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Oceanography

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Cultural Intelligence in the Global Context

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China in Transition

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World Languages

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Model United Nations

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Global Studies Diploma Program

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Winterim

Topics of Study ❖

Global Public Health

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U.N. Sustainable Development Goals

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Climate Change

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Development & Sustainability

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Human Rights Issues

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Global Cultural Norms

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Ethical Dilemmas & Social Justice

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Global Citizenship

Global Studies Diploma Program Requirements ❖

European History, Modern World History, Geography, A Survey of Global Studies

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4 years of a world language or equivalent

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2 elective credits in a candidate’s concentration

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600 pts. in Global Action, Cultural Engagement, Student Choice categories

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Senior Reflection Project

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Maintain a G.P.A. of 3.0 and grades of B or higher in all Global Studies courses

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Choose a concentration: Economics, Political Science/Culture, Science, World Languages

Global Studies Trips ❖

Partners in Health Boston Office

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Museum of Science exhibits, films, lectures

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Museum of Fine Arts exhibits

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New England Aquarium - IMAX theatre

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Lectures at Boston College, Harvard University, Yale University

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Author talks at The Harvard Bookstore, Porter Square Books, Brookline Booksmith

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Feature films

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Lectures at Faneuil Hall

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Plays at the American Repertory Theatre

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Global Student Leaders Summit Shanghai, China

Winterim 2019 ✤

Language immersion

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Service learning

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Scientific study

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Cultural immersion

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Historical connections

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School visits 01

Why Winterim? â?–

"I think that from this trip I have discovered that I enjoy community service trips more than going to a resort. I feel like this trip will be so much more memorable and I will have so many stories to tell.

This trip not only helped me grow closer to other Brimmer students, it allowed me to grow my connection with myself and the world." Samantha