The purpose of this study was to explore ways in which elementary educators can use multicultural literature to help students learn about the world they live in. The study was based on the implementation of a unit in which students were introduced to four countries using multicultural literature. Students then learned about the culture, citizens, geography, history and so forth through multiple strategies and approaches to enhance the learning process. Upon completion of the unit, student writing samples and exit interviews when compared with pre-unit interviews, revealed students had made significant gains in relating to people in other countries as well as naming locations across the globe. The results of the study also indicated student interest and enthusiasm were high in studying the world when lessons incorporated multicultural literature. Implications for incorporating global education for teachers and curriculum planners at the elementary level are discussed.
","abstract_html":"<p>The purpose of this study was to explore ways in which elementary educators can use multicultural literature to help students learn about the world they live in. The study was based on the implementation of a unit in which students were introduced to four countries using multicultural literature. Students then learned about the culture, citizens, geography, history and so forth through multiple strategies and approaches to enhance the learning process. Upon completion of the unit, student writing samples and exit interviews when compared with pre-unit interviews, revealed students had made significant gains in relating to people in other countries as well as naming locations across the globe. The results of the study also indicated student interest and enthusiasm were high in studying the world when lessons incorporated multicultural literature. Implications for incorporating global education for teachers and curriculum planners at the elementary level are discussed.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Oleksy, Kathryn"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"M.S. in Teaching","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":"Interdisciplinary and Inclusive Education","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Hespe, David"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2008,"date_issued":"2008-06-19T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2008-06-19T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:13:40Z","subjects":["Multicultural education; Multiculturalism in literature","Elementary Education and Teaching"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/709","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Hespe, David"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Oleksy, Kathryn"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2016-03-22T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Interdisciplinary and Inclusive Education"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["M.S. in Teaching"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Multicultural education; Multiculturalism in literature","Elementary Education and Teaching"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/709"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The purpose of this study was to explore ways in which elementary educators can use multicultural literature to help students learn about the world they live in. The study was based on the implementation of a unit in which students were introduced to four countries using multicultural literature. Students then learned about the culture, citizens, geography, history and so forth through multiple strategies and approaches to enhance the learning process. Upon completion of the unit, student writing samples and exit interviews when compared with pre-unit interviews, revealed students had made significant gains in relating to people in other countries as well as naming locations across the globe. The results of the study also indicated student interest and enthusiasm were high in studying the world when lessons incorporated multicultural literature. Implications for incorporating global education for teachers and curriculum planners at the elementary level are discussed.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["How can elementary educators use multicultural literature to help prepare students for life as a global citizen?"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Hespe, David"],"dc:creator":["Oleksy, Kathryn"],"dc:date.available":["2016-03-22T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["The purpose of this study was to explore ways in which elementary educators can use multicultural literature to help students learn about the world they live in. The study was based on the implementation of a unit in which students were introduced to four countries using multicultural literature. Students then learned about the culture, citizens, geography, history and so forth through multiple strategies and approaches to enhance the learning process. Upon completion of the unit, student writing samples and exit interviews when compared with pre-unit interviews, revealed students had made significant gains in relating to people in other countries as well as naming locations across the globe. The results of the study also indicated student interest and enthusiasm were high in studying the world when lessons incorporated multicultural literature. Implications for incorporating global education for teachers and curriculum planners at the elementary level are discussed.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/709"],"dc:subject":["Multicultural education; Multiculturalism in literature","Elementary Education and Teaching"],"dc:title":["How can elementary educators use multicultural literature to help prepare students for life as a global citizen?"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Interdisciplinary and Inclusive Education"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["M.S. in Teaching"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:13:40Z"}