Ofrenda Fiesta: Parade of Spirits!

College Grade Project 4 weeks

Ofrenda Fiesta: Parade of Spirits!

Barry F

Self Directed Learning

Academic Mindset

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

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Purpose

The purpose of this project is to engage college students in a meaningful exploration of cultural identity and community connection through the collaborative creation of a Dia de los Muertos ofrenda. By partnering with the Mexicantown community and artist Elton Monroe, students will develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills as they design and construct an ofrenda that authentically represents the cultural significance of Dia de los Muertos. Through reflective practices and storytelling, students will deepen their understanding of their own family traditions and how these intersect with broader cultural narratives, fostering a sense of belonging and self-efficacy.

Learning goals

Students will develop self-directed learning skills by using feedback and reflection to guide their personal and collaborative growth throughout the project. They will cultivate an academic mindset by exploring their own cultural identities and establishing a sense of belonging through the creation of a community ofrenda. Critical thinking and problem-solving abilities will be enhanced as students engage in innovative approaches to represent the cultural significance of Dia de los Muertos through storytelling and design, in collaboration with artist Elton Monroe.

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

Throughout the project, students will collaboratively design and construct a Dia de los Muertos ofrenda, incorporating symbols that reflect both personal and cultural narratives. They will create a reflective journal documenting their learning journey, insights, and connections between their family traditions and the broader community celebration. By the end of the project, students will present their completed ofrenda in a community exhibition, sharing the stories and cultural significance behind each symbol with the Mexicantown community, showcasing their collaborative efforts and storytelling skills developed in partnership with artist Elton Monroe.

Launch

Begin the project with a 'Family Stories Circle' where each student brings a family memento or story to share in small groups. Encourage students to draw parallels between their own traditions and those of Dia de los Muertos, fostering a sense of connection and reflection. This activity sets the stage for exploring cultural identity and storytelling, key components in designing the ofrenda for the parade.

Exhibition

The final exhibition will take place during the Mexicantown community parade in Southwest Detroit, where students will present their collaboratively designed ofrenda. Each student will share the stories and cultural significance behind the symbols they selected, highlighting the collaborative process with artist Elton Monroe. This public display will serve as a platform for students to engage with community members, fostering dialogue and appreciation for the cultural narratives represented.

Rubric

Competency Progression Rubric Competency-first rubric

Category	Learning Goal	Stage 1	Stage 2	Stage 3	Stage 4
Deeper Learning Competencies	Self Directed Learning	I can ask for and use feedback from my peers and instructors to improve my understanding of cultural identity and storytelling I can reflect on my learning journey by journaling about how my family traditions connect with Dia de los Muertos, and I actively participate in group discussions to share my insights and learn from others	I can use feedback from my peers and teacher to make some changes to my work and identify areas where I can improve I regularly reflect on my progress, recognizing what I've learned about my cultural identity and how it connects to the ofrenda project	I can effectively use feedback from my peers and teacher to make meaningful improvements in my work and can reflect on my learning journey by identifying specific moments where I grew or learned something new	I can effectively use feedback from my peers and teacher, along with my own reflections, to guide my learning and make informed decisions I consistently set personal goals and adjust my strategies throughout the project to enhance my understanding of my cultural identity and its connection to the Dia de los Muertos ofrenda
Deeper Learning Competencies	Academic Mindset	I can confidently share my family traditions and how they connect to Dia de los Muertos, showing how these traditions help me feel a sense of belonging and identity in my community I actively participate in discussions and storytelling, using these experiences to reflect on my cultural identity and how it relates to others	I can recognize and share my cultural traditions by drawing connections between my family's stories and Dia de los Muertos, demonstrating how these narratives contribute to my sense of identity and belonging	I can confidently share the story and cultural significance of my chosen symbols in our ofrenda, drawing connections between my family traditions and Dia de los Muertos I actively engage with community members during the exhibition, fostering dialogue and appreciation for our shared cultural narratives	I can confidently articulate my personal and cultural identity by sharing stories and symbols that connect my family traditions with the broader cultural narratives of Dia de los Muertos I actively engage in reflective practices to deepen my understanding of belonging and identity, and I effectively communicate these insights during the community exhibition, demonstrating a strong sense of self-efficacy
Deeper Learning Competencies	Critical Thinking & Problem Solving	I explore different ways to understand and represent the meaning of Dia de los Muertos by researching and discussing with my peers I can share my ideas during group discussions and listen to others to create an ofrenda that tells a meaningful story about cultural identity	I can use feedback from my peers and artist Elton Monroe to refine my design ideas for the ofrenda I can identify connections between my family traditions and Dia de los Muertos, and I can incorporate these insights into our group's collaborative project I thoughtfully consider different perspectives and offer creative solutions when faced with challenges in representing cultural narratives	I can thoughtfully consider and incorporate various perspectives and innovative ideas when designing our ofrenda, ensuring it reflects both personal and cultural stories I actively engage with peers and the community to understand the significance of symbols, and I effectively communicate these insights in our exhibition	I can creatively integrate my personal and cultural stories with those of Dia de los Muertos to design symbols for the ofrenda, demonstrating thoughtful connections and innovative solutions I collaborate effectively with my peers and artist Elton Monroe to solve complex design challenges, ensuring our ofrenda authentically represents both individual and community narratives

Learning Journey

Empathize

Students will engage in a 'Family Stories Circle,' sharing personal mementos and stories to empathize with cultural narratives and connect their family traditions to Dia de los Muertos, laying the foundation for meaningful collaborative design and storytelling.

Day 1