Embedded Files
To begin the year, please explore the resources for an Identity and Community unit helping classrooms explore the question "What is the identity of my community, and how do I fit into it?".
To begin the year, please explore the resources for an Identity and Community unit helping classrooms explore the question "What is the identity of my community, and how do I fit into it?".
Create your own sequence of community-building lessons:
Create your own sequence of community-building lessons:
Learning about your students, and establishing a strong classroom community is an essential step for students so that they may connect to the social studies curriculum, and participate in deep, meaningful learning.
Day 1--Getting to Know Each Other
Day 1--Getting to Know Each Other
Our Names and Our Place in the World Students will read Jennifer Wang's personal experience of being new in a school. Students will reflect on the importance of names and correctly pronouncing names as a part of building community and a sense of belonging.
Frame a Special Object Students watch Jason Reynolds model sharing about an object that has personal significance that represents his identity or family. Students will share/frame their own objects to get to know each other.
What's in a Name? Students can explore the relationship between names, identity, and society through a gallery walk of quotations and reflect on the Power of Names through a groupwork activity. This could also be used in conjunction with Words Matter
Day 2--Exploring Individual Identity
Day 2--Exploring Individual Identity
Identity Chart Students create an identity chart to show the many factors that shape their identity. (There are many variations of this activity).
Dual Identity Students examine the tensions that can arise when we must navigate multiple, and sometimes conflicting, identities. Students write an Identity Poem
Day 3--Complicating the Concept of Community
Day 3--Complicating the Concept of Community
Making Meaning of "Community" Students explore their and other's views about the meaning of "community" to collaboratively create a working definition of the word.
Little Things Are Big Students explore how stereotypes affect influence people's choices and decision-making.
Universe of Obligation Students explore what it means to be a member of a group/nation/community.
Envisioning Our Classroom Space Students analyze a poem in order to determine the qualities of a classroom community where members are seen, valued, and heard.
Day 4--Creating a Classroom Contract
Day 4--Creating a Classroom Contract
Looking Ahead Looking Back Students reflect on the past year and generate ideas for the kind of learning community and learning experiences they are hoping for this year.
Contracting Students collaboratively establish norms for to healthy classroom learning environment. This establishes student agency/responsibility in the classroom.
Compass Points Students give positive feedback about the class, offer ideas to support their learning, and communicate their needs and worries.
Day 5--Introducing Historical Thinking
Day 5--Introducing Historical Thinking
Lunchroom Fight (requires login to Digital Inquiry Group)
What is History? (from EDSITEment)
Intro to the Work of Historians (requires login to Digital Inquiry Group)
Evaluating Sources (requires login to Digital Inquiry Group)
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