As educators, we’re always searching for meaningful ways to engage students and connect classroom learning to real-world issues. Teaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) offers a fantastic opportunity to do just that. By introducing these global objectives, you can help students learn about pressing local and global issues and empower them to make an impact in their communities.
Global Goals Week takes place from September 20th to 29th this year. In celebration of this event, the team at Digital Promise invites educators to explore the Ciena Solutions Challenge. This global design challenge is tailor-made for middle and high school students. They can design solutions addressing the SDGs right in their own communities.
If you are looking for resources for teaching the Sustainable Development Goals this year, you’ll want to check out these free resources. Let’s take a look at everything they have to offer!
Teaching the Sustainable Development Goals
Empowering student voice is at the heart of meaningful learning experiences. By encouraging your students to take ownership of their education, you’re helping them make a real difference in the world. When students engage with global issues, they don’t just learn about them—they actively work to solve them. This experience can create a real-world impact that extends beyond the classroom.
What are the Sustainable Development Goals? If you haven’t explored them before, the SDGs are a set of 17 interconnected global objectives. They were established by the United Nations in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. These goals serve as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect our planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by the year 2030.
Teaching the Sustainable Development Goals might seem intimidating at first, particularly if you are new to them. That’s one of the reasons why I’m so excited about the Ciena Solutions Challenge and the opportunity to showcase student-led work at the 2025 YouthMADE Festival.
What is the Ciena Solutions Challenge?
The Ciena Solutions Challenge is a platform for student innovation and empowerment. Students start by exploring issues that are important to them, such as topics that connect close to home or are part of a larger global set of issues. This could include topics like clean water, quality education, or climate action.
As part of the Ciena Solutions Challenge, students learn more about these subjects and ultimately create something tangible. This artifact of learning could include a product, a campaign, a system, or any innovative idea. The final project addresses the issue they care about. The video below showcases Challenge Based Learning in action at Ciena Solutions Challenge Model Schools.
To take this work even further, educators can apply for a $3,000 Sustainability Award to sustain and scale student projects. Applications are open through March 6, 2025. This funding can provide additional resources needed to bring your students’ ideas to life.
A Design Challenge and Celebration
Showcasing student work is an excellent way to celebrate their achievements and inspire others. If you want to keep the momentum going beyond Global Goals Week, you’ll certainly want to check out the YouthMADE Festival. Teachers and students ages 5-24 can present student-led projects at the YouthMADE Festival, a global celebration of youth creativity and innovation taking place from May 5-18, 2025.
Plus, participants in the YouthMADE Festival can apply for a $500 Amplify Grant to expand and amplify their students’ projects even further. If you’d like to learn more there is a YouthMADE Festival Info Session you can register for here.
Ready to teach the Sustainable Development Goals this school year? By integrating the SDGs into your teaching, you’re not only covering essential curriculum standards but also inspiring your students to become global citizens. The Ciena Solutions Challenge provides the perfect platform to make this happen, and you can sign up here to learn more!
