The Discovery Center is open for group tours by appointment only.

Global Goals, Local Action

Visitors play with global goal blocks at the discovery center
Visitors enjoy activities during Earth Day Celebration at the Gates Foundation Discovery Center in Seattle, Washington on April 26, 2025.

Global Goals, Local Action

Grades 6+

Nearly 200 countries have signed on to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which aim for a better, healthier world by 2030. The 17 SDGs are ambitious, from No Poverty and Zero Hunger to Gender Equality and Climate Action.

This experience challenges students to think about and discuss which goals feel most urgent to them and why. They’ll also learn how people around the globe are taking action to advance the goals.

We’ll divide students into groups of about 15. We encourage teachers to pre-divide their students, if possible.

SUBJECTS: SOCIAL STUDIES | SOCIAL JUSTICE | GLOBAL ISSUES | SCIENCE

Virtual school workshop

This school workshop can be arranged to be given virtually. Virtual tours generally last about 45 minutes and feature an educator engaging with the group either in our space or using slides—schedule by emailing [email protected]. We will do our best to find a time that works for your group and our education staff.

Resources

Before or after the visit, you can use these resources to help students explore the Global Goals.

Young Asian school girls smiling and UN Global Goals signs.

The world’s largest lesson

The World’s Largest Lesson provides materials for teaching students about the SDGs.

Color wheel image - the logo of the UN's Global Goals.

Sustainable development goals website

The Sustainable Development Goals website includes downloadable resources for each goal.

Graphic of a person laying back relaxed on top of a globe with the title "the Lazy person's guide to saving the world." on it

How to take action on the goals

The United Nations provides resources for how to take action on the Sustainable Development Goals.

large group pictured in New York City all holding signs for the UN's Global Goals.

Goalkeepers

Goalkeepers is dedicated to accelerating progress toward the Global Goals: using powerful stories, data, and partnerships to highlight progress achieved, and bring together a diverse range of leaders to address the world’s major challenges.