"Resilience Reads: Navigate the Growth Maze"

High School Grade

Project
4 weeks

"Resilience Reads: Navigate the Growth Maze"

Lindsey Cahoon

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to explore how overcoming adversity can lead to personal growth and transformation by engaging students in a multifaceted learning experience. Through literature, art, and community interaction, students will connect with the themes of resilience and change, both in fictional narratives and real-world contexts. This project aims to foster critical thinking, creativity, and personal reflection, culminating in a collaborative showcase that highlights students' insights and growth.

Learning goals

Students will develop critical thinking and analytical skills by exploring and discussing themes of adversity and personal growth in literature. They will enhance their creativity and collaboration abilities through the creation of the 'Wall of Resilience' and community art projects. Additionally, students will improve their communication skills by presenting their insights and personal stories, fostering a deeper understanding of resilience in both literary and real-world contexts.

Standards

Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.2: Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.W.9: Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.1: Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

Products

Students will collaboratively design and construct a 'Wall of Resilience' in the classroom, featuring individual stories, quotes, and artwork inspired by the themes of the books. They will also create a mural or art installation with the guidance of a local artist, to be displayed publicly. Additionally, students will produce reflective journals documenting their personal growth and insights. Finally, they will develop multimedia presentations analyzing the themes of adversity and growth, connecting them to real-world examples.

Launch

Kick off the project with a 'Mindset Maze' experience, where students navigate a life-sized maze filled with challenges and decision points reflecting the obstacles faced by characters in "Stargirl," "Restart," and "Freak the Mighty." As students make choices and encounter barriers, they will reflect on personal growth and resilience. This immersive activity will set the stage for exploring themes of adversity and transformation throughout the project.

Exhibition

Arrange a 'Community Resilience Gallery Walk' in a local public space, displaying the collaborative mural or art installation, reflective journals, and multimedia presentations, inviting the community to explore and engage with the students' work. Create a 'Living Library' event where students become 'books' and share their personal stories of resilience and growth with visitors, allowing for interactive discussions and deeper connections with the audience.

Week 1	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Activity 1: Launch the project with the 'Mindset Maze.' Set up a maze in the classroom where students face challenges similar to those in 'Stargirl,' 'Restart,' and 'Freak the Mighty.' After navigating the maze, students will reflect on their experiences and discuss initial thoughts on adversity and personal growth.	Activity 2: Facilitate literature circle discussions focusing on the introduction and first chapters of each book. Students will identify initial examples of adversity faced by the protagonists and discuss potential themes of personal growth.	Activity 3: Organize a group brainstorming session where students conceptualize the 'Wall of Resilience.' Discuss what elements (stories, quotes, artwork) will be included and how they will relate to the themes in the books.	Activity 4: Begin individual research on real-world examples of people who have overcome adversity. Students will gather stories and prepare to connect them to the books' themes in future discussions.	Activity 5: Conduct a peer review session where students share their initial ideas for contributions to the 'Wall of Resilience.' Peers will provide feedback on clarity, creativity, and thematic connection.
Deliverables	1. Deliverable 1: A reflective journal entry about the 'Mindset Maze' experience, focusing on personal reactions and connections to the themes of adversity. 2. Deliverable 2: A list of potential real-world examples of resilience that students will explore further in upcoming weeks.
Preparation	1. Prep Task 1: Design and set up the 'Mindset Maze' with challenges that reflect the obstacles in the books. 2. Prep Task 2: Arrange copies of 'Stargirl,' 'Restart,' and 'Freak the Mighty' for literature circle discussions. 3. Prep Task 3: Prepare materials for the 'Wall of Resilience' brainstorming session, including chart paper and markers. 4. Prep Task 4: Compile a list of resources and examples of real-world resilience stories for student research. 5. Prep Task 5: Set up a structure for the peer review session, including guidelines and feedback forms.

Week 2	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Activity 1: Conduct a literature circle focusing on the middle sections of 'Stargirl,' 'Restart,' and 'Freak the Mighty.' Students will analyze pivotal moments of adversity and discuss the characters' responses and growth.	Activity 2: Host a workshop with a local artist to begin creating artwork for the 'Wall of Resilience.' Students will start sketching and planning their contributions, inspired by themes from the books.	Activity 3: Facilitate a session where students share their researched real-world examples of resilience. Encourage connections between these stories and the books, emphasizing thematic parallels.	Activity 4: Guide students in drafting their reflective journal entries, focusing on personal experiences or observations that resonate with the themes of overcoming adversity.	Activity 5: Organize a peer review session where students present their initial artwork and receive feedback on how effectively it communicates the themes of resilience and growth.
Deliverables	1. Deliverable 1: A draft of each student's artwork for the 'Wall of Resilience,' including sketches and a written explanation of the thematic connection. 2. Deliverable 2: A completed reflective journal entry detailing personal insights and growth in relation to the project's themes.
Preparation	1. Prep Task 1: Coordinate with a local artist for the workshop, ensuring materials like sketch paper, paints, and brushes are available. 2. Prep Task 2: Arrange a space in the classroom where students can work on their artwork collaboratively. 3. Prep Task 3: Compile student research into a shared digital document or presentation to facilitate sharing and discussion. 4. Prep Task 4: Develop guiding questions and a framework for the reflective journal entries to help students articulate their thoughts. 5. Prep Task 5: Prepare a structure for the peer review session, including criteria for constructive feedback and reflection.

Week 3	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Activity 1: Facilitate a literature circle focusing on the concluding sections of 'Stargirl,' 'Restart,' and 'Freak the Mighty.' Students will discuss the resolution of the protagonists' adversity and how it contributes to their personal growth.	Activity 2: Host a session with a motivational speaker or life coach who has overcome adversity. The speaker will share their journey and lead a workshop on resilience and personal growth, encouraging students to reflect on their own experiences.	Activity 3: Collaborate with a local artist or art collective to begin working on a collaborative mural or art installation. Students will integrate their individual pieces into a cohesive design that reflects the themes of resilience from the books.	Activity 4: Guide students in preparing their multimedia presentations, analyzing the themes of adversity and growth in one of the books. Students will incorporate real-world examples and demonstrate connections to broader contexts.	Activity 5: Conduct a peer review session for the multimedia presentations, where students provide feedback on clarity, creativity, and thematic connection, and make revisions based on peer input.
Deliverables	1. Deliverable 1: A completed individual contribution to the collaborative mural or art installation, with a written explanation of its thematic connection to the project. 2. Deliverable 2: A draft of each student's multimedia presentation, including analysis and real-world connections, ready for peer review.
Preparation	1. Prep Task 1: Coordinate with the motivational speaker or life coach, ensuring they understand the project context and objectives. 2. Prep Task 2: Arrange materials for the collaborative mural or art installation, including paints, brushes, and other necessary supplies, and confirm the involvement of the local artist or art collective. 3. Prep Task 3: Set up technology and resources needed for students to create and edit their multimedia presentations. 4. Prep Task 4: Develop guidelines and criteria for the peer review session, including specific areas for feedback and reflection. 5. Prep Task 5: Prepare a space for the speaker's workshop, ensuring a conducive environment for sharing and reflection.

Week 4	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Activity 1: Organize final literature circle discussions to synthesize key themes of resilience and personal growth across 'Stargirl,' 'Restart,' and 'Freak the Mighty.' Encourage students to draw connections between the books and their own experiences.	Activity 2: Host a final workshop with the local artist to refine and complete the collaborative mural or art installation. Ensure all student contributions are integrated and the artwork is prepared for public display.	Activity 3: Facilitate a session where students finalize their multimedia presentations. Allow time for last-minute revisions and rehearsals for the 'Community Resilience Gallery Walk.'	Activity 4: Conduct a reflection and feedback session on the 'Wall of Resilience.' Students will share their personal contributions and insights gained from the project, focusing on individual growth and thematic connections.	Activity 5: Coordinate the 'Community Resilience Gallery Walk' and 'Living Library' event. Students will present their work, share personal stories, and engage with community members, highlighting their understanding of resilience and transformation.
Deliverables	1. Deliverable 1: A completed and publicly displayed collaborative mural or art installation, with individual contributions clearly highlighted. 2. Deliverable 2: A finalized multimedia presentation, ready for exhibition at the 'Community Resilience Gallery Walk.' 3. Deliverable 3: A reflective journal entry summarizing personal growth and project insights, submitted by the end of the week.
Preparation	1. Prep Task 1: Confirm the venue and logistics for the 'Community Resilience Gallery Walk' and 'Living Library' event, ensuring all necessary equipment and materials are available. 2. Prep Task 2: Coordinate with the local artist to finalize the mural or art installation, preparing it for display in the public space. 3. Prep Task 3: Arrange for any additional technology and resources needed for students' multimedia presentations during the exhibition. 4. Prep Task 4: Develop a schedule for the 'Living Library' event, coordinating with students to ensure smooth transitions between presentations. 5. Prep Task 5: Prepare feedback forms and reflection prompts for the final peer review session, focusing on overall project reflections and personal growth.