1st Edition
Teaching for Social Justice and Sustainable Development Across the Primary Curriculum
This volume supports educators in integrating meaningful education for social justice and sustainability across a wide range of curricular subjects by drawing on educational theory, innovative pedagogical approaches and creative ideas for teaching and learning. Both practical and theoretical in its approach, it addresses subject areas ranging from mathematics to visual arts to language teaching. Chapters provide subject entry points for teachers seeking to embed social justice and sustainability principles and pedagogies into their work.
Transferable across various areas of learning, a range of pedagogical approaches are exemplified, ranging from inquiry approaches to ethical dilemmas to critical relational pedagogies. Ready-to-use teaching exemplars, activities and resources address issues which are of interest and relevance to children’s lives, including gender stereotyping, racism, heterosexism, climate change and species extinction. Practical guidance is provided on how to engage children in dialogue and reflection on these complex issues in a safe and ethical way.
This accessible and unique volume is essential reading for student teachers, teachers, educational leaders, teacher educators and anyone interested in inspiring children to work towards creating a more socially just and sustainable world.
Foreword by Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland
Chapter 1: Teaching for Social Justice and Sustainable Development Across the Primary Curriculum: An Introduction
Anne Marie Kavanagh, Fionnuala Waldron and Benjamin Mallon
Section 1: Critical Enquiry: A Pedagogy for Social Justice and Sustainability
Chapter 2: Critical Historical Enquiry for a Socially Just and Sustainable World
Fionnuala Waldron, Caitríona Ní Cassaithe, Maria Barry and Peter Whelan
Chapter 3: Geography Education for Social and Environmental Justice
Susan Pike
Chapter 4: Education About, Through and For the Environment: A Scientific Inquiry Approach
Sandra Austin
Chapter 5: Critical Thinking, Critical Pedagogy and Climate Change Education
Rowan Oberman and Gabriela Martinez Sainz
Section 2: Creative and Relational Approaches to Social Justice and Sustainability
Education
Chapter 6: Integrating Visual Arts with Education for Social Justice and Sustainability
Máire Ní Bhroin and Andrea Cleary
Chapter 7: Connecting Social Justice Education with the Teaching of Music
Regina Murphy and Francis Ward
Chapter 8: Drama, Social Justice Education and Education for Sustainable Development: Theory in Action
Annie Ó Breacháin and Ciara Fagan
Section 3: Challenging Dominant Frameworks through Critical Discourse
Chapter 9: Global Citizenship Education: Interconnection, Social Justice and Sustainability
Benjamin Mallon
Chapter 10: Embedding Social Justice and Sustainability Perspectives in Language Teaching
Aisling Ní Dhiorbháin
Chapter 11: Critical Literacy: Challenging Dominant Discourses
Niamh Watkins
Chapter 12: Meaningful Mathematics: Applying Mathematical Thinking to Issues of Justice and Sustainability
Aisling Twohill and Labhaoise Ní Shuilleabháin
Chapter 13: Beginning Conversations about Difference, Race, Ethnicity and Racism through
Ethical Education
Anne Marie Kavanagh and Niamh McGuirk
Section 4: Social Education in Real Contexts
Chapter 14: A Whole School Approach to Social Justice Education
Anne Marie Kavanagh
Chapter 15: Transforming Pedagogy for a Socially Just and Sustainable World:
Concluding Thoughts
Fionnuala Waldron, Benjamin Mallon and Anne Marie Kavanagh
Biography
Anne Marie Kavanagh, PhD, is Assistant Professor in Ethical and Intercultural Education in the School of Human Development at the DCU Institute of Education, Dublin City University. She lectures and researches in the areas of ethical education, critical multicultural education, intercultural education, social justice education, democratic education and human rights education.
Fionnuala Waldron is Professor Emerita at the DCU Institute of Education, Dublin City University and co-founder (with Brian Ruane) of the Centre for Human Rights and Citizenship Education, DCU. Her research interests include history education, teacher education, human rights education and global citizenship education.
Benjamin Mallon, PhD, is Assistant Professor in Geography and Citizenship Education in the DCU Institute of Education, Dublin City University. He researches and teaches in the area of global citizenship education, with a particular focus on pedagogical approaches which address conflict, challenge violence and support the development of peaceful societies.
