Part I: Vocabulary Builder:
With the sites listed at the bottom of this page, use the internet to define the following terms in your
own words.
PovertyInternational Poverty LineDroughtExpenseFamineIncomeDisposable IncomeOppressionUnderdevelopedUnemploymentDestituteFrugalImpoverishIndigenceAbject PovertyAbsolute PovertyPoverty Line (Threshold)Affirmative ActionAid to families with dependent children (AFDC)WelfareMedicaidMedicarePer CapitaSocial SecurityWealth-
Part II: What is poverty, and how bad is it?
Using the links at the bottom of the page, answer the following questions in complete sentences. Make
sure you answer them in your own words.
According to the World Bank, what is the current international poverty line set at?
How many people globally are living at or under the international poverty line?
What country is the poorest(country with most living under the ipl)?
What is the current poverty line set at for the United States?
How many people nationally are living at or under the national poverty line?
What state is the poorest?
How many homeless people are estimated to live in the United States?
Look at the posters at http://www.smashingapps.com/2008/09/04/18-creative-poverty-posters-that-
can-create-effective-awareness.html which poster is the most powerful to you?
Do you think poverty is inevitable?
What if anything can be done to lessen the harshness of poverty both nationally and globally?
What do you think you can do to help the poor both locally and globally?
Part III: A Solution, what can be done?
There are literally hundreds of relief organizations that are attempting to help end poverty. Choose one of
the relief organizations listed below (or find one of your own and clear it with Mr. K) and answer the
following questions:
What is the name of your organization?
What is the goal of this organization?
Why did you choose this organization?
When was your organization founded?
Is this organization associated with any government?
Who founded your organization?
What has your organization recently accomplished?
What type of actions does your organization encourage people to participate in?
Would you ever want to get involved with this organization?
Part IV: Poster
Using your relief organization as a model, design a poster that can be hung up somewhere in the school
that sheds light on the issue of poverty. (Example: Every night in Illinois 1,593 kids go to bed hungry,
want to help go to http://www.freerice.com/ ) Your poster must be 11x14 and cannot simply be a reprint
of another poster.
LINKS
The World Bank – Poverty Data: provides in-depth information on world poverty.
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PovertyNet – www.worldbank.org/poverty/index.htm
Data and Statistics – www.worldbank.org/data/
Poverty Research - www.econ.worldbank.org/programs/subpage.php?sp=2473
Development Education Program –
www.worldbank.org/depweb/english/modules/economic/gnp/map1.html
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA WorldFact book)—Provides information on a country by country
basis. Focus on the “economy” part of a selected country for research.
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CIA-- https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
The United Nations: The UN website contains a significant number of embedded links to further
information on poverty and the state of the world’s population.
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What is Human Development? - hdr.undp.org/hd/default/.cfm
Human Development Reports - hdr.undp.org/hdr2006/
Millennium Development Goals - www.undp.org/mdg
World Poverty: These links will provide other information on poverty.
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The IMF (International Monetary Fund): The goal of the IMF is to ultimately reduce poverty.
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2002/06/deaton.htm (Search this site for other
World Development report topics by the IMF)
 EarthTrends: This is a searchable database. Select “population” or “economics” lists at the
top of the page. – earthtrends.wri.org/searchable_db/
 Development Gateway – www.developmentgateway.org
 CareUSA – Facts about Health and Poverty –
www.careusa.org/features/health/facts.asp?source=ghp
 World Poverty Map - www.cis.hut.fi/research/som-research/worldmap.html
Poverty in the United States: These links may help you to decide how (and if) the United States fits into
the picture of world poverty
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US Census Bureau – Poverty Data www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/poverty.html
Poverty Threshold - www.irp.wisc.edu/faqs/faq1.htm
Institute for Research on Poverty (University of Wisconsin, Madison) www.irp.wisc.edu/faqs/faq1.htm
Beyond Poverty – US Census measures of household goods www.census.gov/hhes/poverty/beyond/
Income Tables – US Census Bureau - www.census.gov/hhes/income/histinc/incfamdet.html
Relief Organizations
Standing Against Poverty- http://www.standagainstpoverty.org/
Bread For the World- http://www.bread.org/
WaterAid- http://www.wateraid.org/
The Hunger Site-http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1
Free the Children- http://www.freethechildren.com/
Feed the Children- http://www.feedthechildren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=dotorg_homepage
MuslimAid- http://www.muslimaid.org/
CareAustralia- http://www.careaustralia.org.au/Page.aspx?pid=194
TransAid- http://www.transaid.org/
OneInternational- http://www.transaid.org/
Make Poverty History- http://www.makepovertyhistory.org/
TearFund- http://www.tearfund.org/
Shelter- http://www.shelter.org.uk/
Amnesty International- http://amnesty.org/
Unicef- http://www.unicef.org/
WorldVision- http://www.worldvision.org/
Direct Relief- http://www.directrelief.org/?gclid=CKq9rt70q5oCFQENDQodwHAMaw