The FIFA World Cup 2014 kicks off in Sao Paulo on Thursday 12 June (9pm UK time), when five-time world-champions Brazil will face 1998 semi-finalists Croatia.
It's a global event costing billions to stage, celebrating the world's most popular sport. There will be 32 teams competing, representing every continent, and sparking national passions, pride and anguish....
So all-in-all a great opportunity to explore a range of global issues in class! (In addition, this work can support the new 2014 Geography curriculum, and the focus on South America.)
The following International NGOs have all produced teaching resources:
Amnesty International has expressed concern that rights to freedom of expression and peaceful protest are currently under threat in Brazil, People have been evicted to make way for construction works, and there have been heavy-handed police responses to protests including protests by Brazil's tribal people.
This picture, painted by Brazilian street artist Paulo Ito, went 'viral' in early May. The image of a starving child with nothing to eat but a football strikes a chord with many who are angry at the high cost of staging the World Cup in contrast to a lack of investment in public services and housing.
The Day (news website for schools) has some articles with ideas for exploring these issues in class: Brazil braced for more World Cup protests and Rio rocked by riots in run-up to World Cup. It also considers the 'legacy debate' around major sporting events.
This BBC News feature is also interesting: Favela life: Rio's city within a city - explore Rocinha, Rio's largest 'shanty town' or favela with six of its residents (including a ride by moto-taxi).
You could finish off your lesson by exploring how football is a global 'lingua franca' - a great way to start a conversation in another country is to ask someone who their favourite team or player is. Or even invite them to a game of table football like these players in Ethiopia and Chile (click on the pictures for larger versions):
- ActionAid: Brazil KS2 teaching resources - these explore how ActionAid is supporting children growing up in Brazil's 'favelas'
- CAFOD: World Cup activities for young people (11-18) and World Cup activities for primary schools
- Oxfam: The World Cup: A Fair Game? - these resources use the World Cup to explore issues of inequality. They also have an Inequality World Cup page which asks "Who would win if the World Cup was decided on inequality, not goals?"
- Practical Action: World Cup 2014 poster - explores the use of solar energy at four of the football stadiums, and discusses why only a third of the countries competing are unable to produce as much solar energy as one of the stadiums they are playing in.
The teams, the mascot and the ball...
You can find out about all 32 teams playing this year, and how they got their nicknames, here: The Nicknames of All 32 World Cup 2014 Teams. There are also some great posters for each of the teams designed by Brazilian artist Cristiano Siqueira. Each World Cup has a different mascot - this year the mascot is a three-banded armadillo called Fuleco (combining the words 'futebol' and 'ecologia'). Conservation groups in Brazil are challenging FIFA and the government to do more to protect the animal. Find out more about World Cup mascots over the years. There is also a new ball designed for every World Cup. The New York Times has a nice interactive: The Evolution of the World Cup Ball and The Guardian examines the physics behind the Brazuka (the ball designed for Brazil 2014).
Poverty and human rights issues
Amnesty International has expressed concern that rights to freedom of expression and peaceful protest are currently under threat in Brazil, People have been evicted to make way for construction works, and there have been heavy-handed police responses to protests including protests by Brazil's tribal people.
This picture, painted by Brazilian street artist Paulo Ito, went 'viral' in early May. The image of a starving child with nothing to eat but a football strikes a chord with many who are angry at the high cost of staging the World Cup in contrast to a lack of investment in public services and housing.
The Day (news website for schools) has some articles with ideas for exploring these issues in class: Brazil braced for more World Cup protests and Rio rocked by riots in run-up to World Cup. It also considers the 'legacy debate' around major sporting events.
This BBC News feature is also interesting: Favela life: Rio's city within a city - explore Rocinha, Rio's largest 'shanty town' or favela with six of its residents (including a ride by moto-taxi).
You could finish off your lesson by exploring how football is a global 'lingua franca' - a great way to start a conversation in another country is to ask someone who their favourite team or player is. Or even invite them to a game of table football like these players in Ethiopia and Chile (click on the pictures for larger versions):
How are you using the World Cup to teach about global issues? Let us know in the comments box!
The photo at the top of the page is Art Football by Rodrigo Vieira on flickr.com and used under a Creative Commons licence.
