Maple Bear Global Connections Program: How It Works
Maple Bear believes that real learning goes beyond the classroom walls. The Maple Bear Global Connections program puts this belief into action. It connects students from different countries to work together, share ideas, and tackle real global problems.
Today, over 100 Maple Bear schools take part in the program. Moreover, the goal is to keep growing — reaching more students, more teachers, and more communities worldwide.
What Is the Maple Bear Global Connections Program?
“The Global Connections program leverages our capability as a network to provide students with authentic experiences connecting with other students around the world to learn and take action on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,” said Nancy Steinhauer, who leads the program.
At its core, the program pairs classrooms from different parts of the world. Together, students explore real issues and find solutions. In doing so, they also build cross-cultural friendships and practice English in a meaningful context.
The program aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — 17 global goals designed to end poverty, hunger, and disease by 2030 while promoting equality, peace, and prosperity.
In addition, it connects directly to Maple Bear’s Canadian bilingual curriculum. As a result, students build strong academic skills while also gaining a global perspective. Learn more about how bilingual education benefits students →
How the Maple Bear Global Connections Program Works
The program is easy to join. First, teachers who want to participate sign up and share their grade level and region. Then, Maple Bear pairs them with a classroom at the same grade level in a different country.
Each project follows three clear steps:
- Connect — The two schools meet virtually and get to know each other
- Inquire — Each school explores the assigned project topic on its own
- Share — Both schools come back together, compare what they learned, and plan how to share their findings with their community
Furthermore, teachers have full freedom to adapt the project. They can adjust lessons to fit their curriculum and meet the needs of their students. Each step also comes with ready-to-use lesson plans and resources, so teachers can pick what works best for their class.
After finishing a project — which can take a day or several weeks — teachers receive a certificate. Maple Bear also highlights their work alongside other participating teachers from across the network. As a result, it creates a growing space for collaboration and shared insights.
This is part of what makes the program unique. It is not just about the students — it supports teachers too. Discover how Maple Bear first launched the Global Connections initiative →
Why This Program Matters for Students and Teachers
The Maple Bear Global Connections program is more than a classroom activity. It is a movement. It brings together schools from around the world to build something bigger than any one classroom.
Through the program, students:
- Build real friendships with peers from other countries
- Practice English through authentic, meaningful conversations
- Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Learn about global issues that affect real communities
- Take local action on challenges that matter globally
Moreover, teachers benefit just as much. They connect with educators across Maple Bear’s global network, share ideas, and grow as professionals. Together, they become stronger teachers — and their students feel the difference directly.
In short, this program unites schools, empowers teachers, and helps students grow into the global citizens the world needs.
See how Maple Bear’s quality standards support programs like this →
