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6th Grade  Project 2 weeks

Soleful Creations: Design Your Dream Kicks!

Devon S
MS-ESS2-3
7.4.1
6.8.2.M
8.12.6
9-12.IC.28
+ 5 more
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Purpose

This project aims to immerse students in the world of shoe design, connecting cultural significance with practical craftsmanship. Through hands-on activities, students will explore how cultural influences shape footwear, engaging with community stories and expert insights to create meaningful shoe prototypes. The project fosters critical thinking, self-directed learning, and effective communication, allowing students to reflect on their designs and share their journeys with peers and community members.

Learning goals

Students will explore the cultural significance of footwear, analyzing how historical and societal influences shape design choices. They will develop critical thinking skills by considering diverse perspectives and innovative approaches to shoe design, while engaging in self-directed learning through feedback and reflection. Effective communication will be fostered through storytelling, peer reviews, and exhibition presentations, enhancing their ability to articulate their design process and cultural insights. Additionally, students will gain content expertise in shoe-making techniques and materials, applying their knowledge to create functional and culturally relevant shoe prototypes.
Standards
  • [California] MS-ESS2-3 - Analyze and interpret data on the distribution of fossils and rocks, continental shapes, and seafloor structures to provide evidence of the past plate motions.
  • [California] 7.4.1 - Study the Niger River and the relationship of vegetation zones of forest, savannah, and desert to trade in gold, salt, food, and slaves; and the growth of the Ghana and Mali empires.
  • [California] 6.8.2.M - Object appropriately to teasing or bullying of peers that is based on personal characteristics and perceived sexual orientation.
  • [California] 8.12.6 - Discuss child labor, working conditions, and laissez-faire policies toward big business and examine the labor movement, including its leaders (e.g., Samuel Gompers), its demand for collective bargaining, and its strikes and protests over labor conditions.
  • [California] 9-12.IC.28 - Explain the beneficial and harmful effects that intellectual property laws can have on innovation.
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.
  • Content Expertise - Students develop key competencies, skills, and dispositions with ample opportunities to apply knowledge and engage in work that matters to them.
  • Effective Communication - Students practice listening to understand, communicating with empathy, and share their learning through exhibiting, presenting and reflecting on their work.

Products

Students will create shoe prototypes that reflect cultural influences and innovative design concepts learned throughout the project. These prototypes will be showcased in a 'Shoe Showcase' event, allowing students to present their work to the community. Additionally, students will compile 'Sole Stories' narratives, capturing the cultural significance of footwear shared by family and community members. These narratives will be presented alongside the shoe prototypes, offering a holistic view of the project's impact and learning outcomes.

Launch

Begin the project with a 'Sole Stories' session where students interview family members or community elders about the cultural significance of footwear in their lives. Each student will then share these stories in a storytelling circle, fostering a sense of identity and belonging. This activity will set the stage for exploring how cultural influences shape footwear design, while encouraging students to engage critically with their own and others' cultural narratives.

Exhibition

Students will host a 'Shoe Showcase' event, transforming their classroom into a gallery where their shoe prototypes are displayed. They will invite family members, friends, and community partners to view and discuss the designs, highlighting the cultural influences and innovative features of each shoe. This exhibition will provide students with the opportunity to present their work, engage in meaningful dialogue, and receive feedback from attendees, fostering a sense of accomplishment and community connection.