Borders, Cultures, Heritage and Languages can make us feel far apart from one another as human beings. In this episode of Planet Classroom, we look at 4 stories that illustrate the bigger picture of what holds us together. Orb, the show’s virtual host, is joined by Director Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee and youth voices to discuss 3 of his films, Earthrise, Counter Mapping, and Marie’s Dictionary, as well as the themes of 5000 Miles Apart, a film produced by the Global Nomads Group. They consider how Apollo astronauts, indigenous people and students from opposite sides of the world were transformed and empowered by global learning experiences.

Stories that change our lives often share universal wisdom. They help us to understand other people and their perspectives. They connect us to a better understanding of ourselves and our place in the world. In this episode of Planet Classroom, Orb introduces stories from around the world including India, Australia, Kyrgyzstan and the United States. The creators of Stephen Hawking and Me, 106 Days, The Letter, What Happened to Dujuan Armstrong?, and Winner of Peace explore themes of global leadership, migration, multiculturalism and racial bias with the voices of youth.

Climate change is causing increasingly disastrous effects throughout the world and threatens to undermine the future existence of every living species. Currently, measures to curb the causes of this problem are available, however, significant political will, investment, and personal change are essential. In this episode of Planet Classroom, Orb, the show’s virtual host, talks with Eric Simon, director of What to Do About Climate Disruption, and with youth from around the world about how technology, ingenuity, individual commitment and action can address the climate emergency.

Every year, thousands of award-winning high school poets submit original works to the National Students Poet Program. If selected, they serve 1 year as youth poetry ambassadors, spreading poetry in their communities, workshops, festivals, galas and poetry conferences. In this episode of Planet Classroom, we talk with the five high school students chosen to serve 1 year as the 2020 Class of National Student Poets. It is the United States’ highest honor for youth poets presenting original work.

How are live entertainers such as dancers adapting and thriving in the virtual space? What are the challenges? What are the opportunities that technology offers? What does this mean for the future of dance? In this episode of Planet Classroom, we hear from leading dancers at the Martha Graham Dance Company as well as the Company's Artistic Director Janet Eilber. All talk about their experiences performing the iconic ballet Appalachian Spring and how they have adapted and innovated through the Covid 19 pandemic.

The Holocaust remains one of the darkest eras in world history. To this day, millions of people, especially of the Jewish faith, are still affected by the loss, pain and suffering of the victims. However, hope and positivity help the survivors persevere through the darkness. In this episode of Planet Classroom, we talk with the youth filmmakers of Hold the Sun in Your Hands: the Erika Jacoby Story. They offer insight on how the youth of today can be part of a positive movement to break down the walls of hatred through their art. They also remind us that history can be a building block of hope.

According to global research, people's attention spans are shortening. The way we tell and write stories continues to evolve with advancements in new technologies. This offers creative talent the opportunity to innovate and find new and exciting ways to engage with an audience. In this episode of Planet Classroom, ORB, the show’s virtual host, is joined by youth authors from around the world who take on Book Creator’s Global Writing Challenge. They offer their peers top tips on modern storytelling, from selecting compelling themes to building writing frameworks that work for the real world. How will your story in just one page captivate the global audience?

We are all different but we are all human. There has been increasing acceptance in many countries to LGBTQ people over the past 2 decades, but the global divide persists. 38 African countries have criminalized consensual same sex relationships. In this episode of Planet Classroom, ORB is joined by acclaimed film Director Nicky Newman, based in Cape Town, South Africa, and youth voices around the world to discuss Newman's documentary film, From the Same Soil (Courtesy of SIMA Classroom), now showing on the Planet Classroom Network YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6YcNxfrrII. What would be the cultural, social or psychological factors that would lead to someone believing that attacking someone for whom they choose to love is acceptable? How do we teach tolerance and acceptance for LGBTQ people?

In this inaugural podcast, Orb takes us on a journey of learning from stories that engage our imaginations and explore new ideas. Orb is joined by UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Education, Stefania Giannini, the music of Jim Papoulis performed by the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, and young adults from around the planet. Events in our world over the past year have challenged people everywhere to grow from lessons about empathy, resilience, and hope. Planet Classroom would like to thank the Young People’s Chorus of New York City for their Give Us Hope performance.