About Our Expedition
Check out the awesome learning that happened throughout the year that built up to our Superhero Creation project!
Case study #1: what makes a superhero?
Learning Target: I can teach students at Annunciation how to be superheroes.
Supporting Target: I can identify character traits of T'Challa, the Black Panther.
Supporting Target: I can identify character traits of different superheroes.
Supporting Target: I can collaborate to create a list of superhero characteristics.
Black Panther
To kick off our superhero study, we watched the movie Black Panther. We studied the main character T'Challa and identified what makes him a great superhero.
Superhero Analysis
We analyzed videos and comic strips of several different superheroes, such as Ironman, Wonder Woman, Spiderman, and Superman.
Superhero Mission!
Our class was assigned a TOP SECRET MISSION! In groups, we compared our superhero analysis pages to create a list of common superhero qualities.
FInal product: superhero posters
In groups we created posters that would help teach other students at our school how they can practice superhero qualities in their daily lives.
Case study #2: what makes a saint?
Learning Target: I can connect events in Julia Greeley’s ministry to Saint characteristics.
Supporting Target: I can identify character traits of different Saints.
Supporting Target: I can name key events in Julia Greeley’s life.
Supporting Target: I can collaborate to create a list of Saint characteristics.
Saint Analysis
We analyzed videos of several different superheroes, such as Saint Gertrude the Great, Saint Francis of Assisi, and Saint Therese of Lisieux.
Saint Mission!
Our class was assigned another TOP SECRET MISSION! In groups, we compared our saint analysis pages to create a list of common saint qualities.
Fr. Blaine's Visit
Fr. Blaine Burkey, O.F.M.CAP. wrote a book on Julia Greeley titled In Secret Service of the Sacred Heart. He and members of the Julia Greeley Guild visited our classroom to show pictures and share stories about Julia Greeley’s life.
FInal product: book about julia Greeley
We wrote and illustrated a children's book about the works and events of Julia Greeley's life so younger students can learn more about the incredible things she did for people in Denver.
In May 2019, we were invited to present our book "Julia Greeley: Denver's Angel of Charity" to Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila.
*Click here to read the article about our visit in the Denver Catholic!
*Click here to watch a video about our visit by Denver Catholic!
With the help of the Julia Greeley Guild, our book will soon be officially published! Email maggie.ellis@annunciationk8.org to reserve your copy!
Case study #3: what makes a me...me?
Learning Target: I can express my character traits through abstract designs.
Supporting Target: I can interview my peers to determine my unique qualities.
Supporting Target: I can identify physical symbols to represent abstract characteristics.
interviewing
We thought of questions to ask one another that would reveal their qualities. Then, we interviewed a classmate and took notes.
determining our qualities
We used these notes to determine our unique qualities. Then, we matched these qualities with abstract designs that could be featured on our portrait.
drafts on drafts
We wanted to make sure our work was high quality, so we made drafts of our portrait designs before drawing on the final product.
Final Product: personality portrait
We planned and shot self-portraits that represented our personality. Then, we drew the abstract designs that represent our unique qualities on top of the portraits with markers.
Case study #4: how am i seen as a superhero?
Learning Target: I can create a superhero that represents my race, gender, and heritage.
Supporting Target: I can define terms that relate to my identity.
Supporting Target: I can compare my identity to the identity of superheroes.
Supporting Target: I can can analyze data about the superheroes that represent our class.
Identity Vocabulary
We learned new vocabulary words like race, gender, origin/heritage, and representation in order to better understand our own identities.
My Identity
We used our new identity vocabulary to reflect on and analyze our own lives and identify our personal race, gender, and origin/heritage.
Superhero Identities
We compared our identity cards to the identities of 17 superheroes who have been featured in their own kid-friendly movie. We discovered that there were not many (if any) superheroes that represent our race, gender, and origin/heritage.
FInal product: Superheroes that look like us!
When we realized that there weren’t many superheroes that represented our race, gender, or heritages, we decided to create our own superheroes. We created these using the superhero, saint, and self qualities we learned about throughout this year that represent US!