Abstract
This paper reports on the design and forthcoming implementation (AY 2025–2026) of the author’s elective “Global Challenges of the 21st Century” for Grades 10–11 (34 contact hours, one hour weekly) at KGU Gymnasium No. 4 named after A. S. Pushkin, Almaty. The course builds scientific and critical thinking, scientific literacy, and civic responsibility by engaging students with demographic, environmental, socio‑economic and technological transformations shaping today’s world. We present an instructional model that aligns the Sustainable Development Goals with upper‑secondary geography: from posing problem‑based questions and working with data to project work and argumentative communication. The syllabus comprises five modular strands and a capstone project defense; learning activities include dialogue lectures, map‑ and data‑based inquiry, case analysis, and a Model‑UN role‑play game. Assessment follows a criterion‑referenced approach mapped to Bloom’s taxonomy, with descriptors for knowledge, understanding, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Expected learning outcomes and monitoring instruments are discussed, along with opportunities for cross‑curricular integration with economics, biology, history and social studies.