Why should one teach about interdependence?

At one time, students were taught to see the world as a collection of independent nation states whose concerns only occasionally touched upon each other. But today, the understanding of interdependence is essential, given that our world has become a vastly connected global village due to advancements in transport, technology and mindsets.

Interdependence involves seeing the world as a system, understanding the web of relationships in this system, appreciating the delicate balance between parts of this web and understanding that one upset can dismantle the whole system.

For instance, let us consider environmental pollution. Pollution spreads without regard to national or international boundaries, affecting food chains in many countries and hence the health and livelihood of its citizens. For instance, contaminated water in a river near Punjab can affect dozens of wheat fields, thus affecting the crop, the export of the crop and most importantly, the health of those who consume this wheat.

Not only places, issues are also interrelated. For example, poverty in a region could be because of many reasons, such as lack of infrastructure development and jobs, lack of education, poor medical care and poor environment. Only increasing the number of schools and teachers in this region would only solve part of the problem.Lasting solutions come from understanding the interdependence of all contributing factors.

Activity 1: Donkey tales

Time needed: 30 minutes

Before staring the activity, please explain the above note to the children in your class.

Cooperation is a basic skill one needs to have to live in an interdependent world. This activity will help the child to examine cooperation.

Activity pre preparation:

• Ask the class to get into pairs
• Distribute the picture set about the tale of two donkeys to each pair. This is given at the end of this handout.
• Give a large sheet of paper, scissors and a glue stick to each pair.

Explanation:

• Each team will receive a copy of the tale of two donkeys.
• They are required to cut the six images and then rearrange them to form a story.
• Glue these pictures in the new order on the sheet of paper provided.
• Each pair then joins another pair and shares their version of the story.

After doing this for about 20/25 minutes, the teacher must hold the following discussion with the class:

1. What was the donkeys’ problem at the beginning of the story?
2. What did they try to do about their problem first? Did it work?
3. What did they both do to solve their problem?
4. Did both get what they wanted?
5. When did you last solve a problem by cooperating? Share with the class.
6. What do you learn about the importance of cooperation in an interconnected system?

Remember:

Connected problems have connected solutions. People must come together in order to work them out.

The tale of two donkeys – picture cards