2nd Grade
Project
14 weeks
Connections
1-pager
Purpose
This project aims to deepen students' understanding of identity, community, and history by engaging them in hands-on, real-world learning experiences. Through the exploration of historical figures and their contributions, students will connect these stories to their own lives, fostering a sense of belonging and self-awareness. By incorporating literacy standards through narrative story structure and letter writing, students will enhance their reading and writing skills while expressing personal connections to historical figures. Collaborating with community partners and participating in creative projects, students will develop critical thinking skills and build meaningful connections with their peers and the wider community.
Learning goals
Students will explore their own identities and values while connecting with historical changemakers through narrative writing, art, and collaborative research. They will develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills by investigating the lives of significant figures and reflecting on their impact on community and self. Through interactive activities and community partnerships, students will build social-emotional competencies such as empathy, respect, and perseverance, fostering a sense of belonging and self-efficacy. Additionally, students will apply math skills by creating and interpreting bar graphs and picture graphs related to historical figures and their contributions. Students will enhance literacy skills by engaging with biographies and narrative story structures, aligning with literacy standards for reading comprehension and effective communication.
Standards
- [National Council for the Social Studies] D2.His.3.K-2 - Generate questions about individuals and groups who have shaped a significant historical change.
- [National Council for the Social Studies] D1.2.K-2 - Identify disciplinary ideas associated with a compelling question.
- [National Council for the Social Studies] D1.1.K-2 - Explain why the compelling question is important to the student.
Competencies
- Self Directed Learning - Students use teacher and peer feedback and self-reflection to monitor and direct their own learning while building self knowledge both in and out of the classroom.
- Academic Mindset - Students establish a sense of place, identity, and belonging to increase self-efficacy while engaging in critical reflection and action.
- Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Students consider a variety of innovative approaches to address and understand complex questions that are authentic and important to their communities.
Products
Students will create a 'Community Post Card Center,' where each student designs a postcard set featuring a historical figure that inspires them, combining narratives, illustrations, and data representations like bar and picture graphs to depict aspects of the figure's impact, aligning with literacy standards for narrative writing and data interpretation. These postcards will be compiled into a published book to be shared with local libraries and community centers. Additionally, students will produce visual art projects and narrative stories inspired by changemakers, which will be showcased in a 'Gallery Walk of Dreams' and presented during the 'Dreamer Showcase.'
Launch
Begin the project with a "Me Bag" sharing session, where each student brings a bag containing three items that represent their identity and what is important to them. Follow this by opening a set of mystery boxes, each containing items and letters representing the identities and inspirations of various historical figures. To incorporate math, have students create bar graphs and picture graphs to visually represent the number of shared items that relate to specific identity themes or historical figures. This interactive activity will spark curiosity and set the stage for exploring connections between personal identity, community, and historical influences. Integrate literacy standards by encouraging students to write descriptive paragraphs about their "Me Bag" items, focusing on narrative structure and vocabulary development.
Exhibition
Enhance the 'Gallery Walk of Dreams' by incorporating student-created bar and picture graphs that illustrate data related to the historical figures studied, such as the number of years they were active or the impact of their contributions. This integration of math standards will provide a visual representation of historical data, enriching the exhibition experience. Include literacy components by displaying student-written narratives and letters alongside their visual art, aligning with literacy standards for narrative writing and letter composition. Invite the school community, including family members and community partners, to view the exhibition, participate in interactive activities, and provide feedback.
Plan
| Week 1 |
Day 1
|
Day 2
|
Day 3
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase |
Project Activities
|
||
| Activities |
Me Bag Sharing
Activity (Deprecated)
30m
|
Introduction to Historical Figures
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
Mystery Box Exploration
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
|
Graphing Our Identities
Activity (Deprecated)
30m
|
| Preparation | |||
| Week 2 |
Day 4
|
Day 5
|
Day 6
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase |
Project Activities
|
||
| Activities |
Exploring Changemakers
Activity (Deprecated)
30m
|
Narrative Story Planning
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
Collaborative Research Introduction
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
|
Artistic Expression Workshop
Activity (Deprecated)
30m
|
| Preparation | |||
| Week 3 |
Day 7
|
Day 8
|
Day 9
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase |
Project Activities
|
||
| Activities |
Exploring Historical Figures
Activity (Deprecated)
30m
|
Letter Writing Workshop
Activity (Deprecated)
30m
|
Peer Review Session
Activity (Deprecated)
30m
|
| Preparation | |||
| Week 4 |
Day 10
|
Day 11
|
Day 12
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase |
Project Activities
|
||
| Activities |
Historical Figure Research
Activity (Deprecated)
30m
|
Creating a Storyboard
Activity (Deprecated)
30m
|
Artistic Expression of Identity
Activity (Deprecated)
30m
|
| Preparation | |||
| Week 5 |
Day 13
|
Day 14
|
Day 15
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase |
Project Activities
|
||
| Activities |
Exploring Community Connections
Activity (Deprecated)
10m
Community Partner Workshop
Activity (Deprecated)
20m
|
Reading Biographies Aloud
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
Reflective Story Mapping
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
|
Letters to Changemakers
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
Peer Feedback Exchange
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
|
| Preparation | |||
| Week 6 |
Day 16
|
Day 17
|
Day 18
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase |
Project Activities
|
||
| Activities |
Story Circle: Sharing Historical Narratives
Activity (Deprecated)
30m
|
Personal Reflection Journals
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
Feedback Carousel
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
|
Visual Art Refinement Workshop
Activity (Deprecated)
30m
|
| Preparation | |||
| Week 7 |
Day 19
|
Day 20
|
Day 21
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase |
Project Activities
|
||
| Activities |
Biography Exploration
Activity (Deprecated)
30m
|
Identity and Community Brainstorm
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
Collaborative Narrative Drafting
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
|
Art Integration and Reflection
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
Peer Sharing and Feedback
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
|
| Preparation | |||
| Week 8 |
Day 22
|
Day 23
|
Day 24
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase |
Project Activities
|
||
| Activities |
Interactive Biography Reading
Activity (Deprecated)
30m
|
Reflective Journal Writing
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
Community Connection Mapping
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
|
Artistic Creation Session
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
Peer Feedback and Sharing
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
|
| Preparation | |||
| Week 9 |
Day 25
|
Day 26
|
Day 27
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase |
Project Activities
|
||
| Activities |
Gallery Walk Preparation
Activity (Deprecated)
30m
|
Feedback and Revision Session
Activity (Deprecated)
30m
|
Postcard to a Changemaker
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
Reflection Journal Writing
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
|
| Preparation | |||
| Week 10 |
Day 28
|
Day 29
|
Day 30
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase |
Project Activities
|
||
| Activities |
Historical Figure Presentation Planning
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
Visual Aid Creation
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
|
Rehearsal and Feedback Session
Activity (Deprecated)
20m
Reflective Journal Entry
Activity (Deprecated)
10m
|
Final Presentation Day
Activity (Deprecated)
20m
Gallery Walk Setup
Activity (Deprecated)
10m
|
| Preparation | |||
| Week 11 |
Day 31
|
Day 32
|
Day 33
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase |
Project Activities
|
||
| Activities |
Creating a Community Postcard
Activity (Deprecated)
30m
|
Postcard Narrative Writing
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
Peer Review and Feedback
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
|
Finalizing Postcards
Activity (Deprecated)
30m
|
| Preparation | |||
| Week 12 |
Day 34
|
Day 35
|
Day 36
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase |
Project Activities
|
||
| Activities |
Gallery Walk Setup and Final Touches
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
Practice Gallery Walk Presentation
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
|
Gallery Walk of Dreams
Activity (Deprecated)
20m
Reflection and Feedback Session
Activity (Deprecated)
10m
|
Post-Event Reflection Journals
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
Community Connection Discussion
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
|
| Preparation | |||
| Week 13 |
Day 37
|
Day 38
|
Day 39
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase |
Project Activities
|
||
| Activities |
Final Narrative Drafting
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
Visual Art Completion
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
|
Peer Review and Revision
Activity (Deprecated)
20m
Reflective Journal Writing
Activity (Deprecated)
10m
|
Practice Presentation Session
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
Feedback and Reflection Circle
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
|
| Preparation | |||
| Week 14 |
Day 40
|
Day 41
|
Day 42
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase |
Project Activities
|
||
| Activities |
Final Reflection Journal Entry
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
Community Postcard Showcase Preparation
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
|
Community Post Card Center Setup
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
Peer and Community Feedback Session
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
|
Project Celebration and Sharing
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
Final Reflection Discussion
Activity (Deprecated)
15m
|
| Preparation | |||