Mapping the Dreams: Discovering Migration Paths

8th Grade Project 10 weeks

Pathways: Mapping the Movement

Annelise B

D2.Geo.8.6-8

Self Directed Learning

Academic Mindset

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

Content Expertise

+ 2 more

1-pager

Purpose

The purpose of this learning experience is to engage 8th-grade students in an exploration of migration within the United States by examining its historical legacies, economic drivers, and varied interpretations of the American Dream. Through hands-on activities involving mapping, interviews, and research, students will actively participate in constructing a nuanced understanding of migration influences. This project encourages critical thinking, empathy, and collaboration while fostering personal connections to migration stories, promoting self-directed learning and effective communication skills that are vital for civic life.

Learning goals

Students will develop a comprehensive understanding of historical migration patterns within the United States, analyzing the factors that influenced these movements including historical events, economic opportunities, and cultural perspectives. Through engaging in empathy interviews and Socratic seminars, they will cultivate effective communication skills, fostering a deeper perspective on the American Dream. By collaborating on the creation of interactive maps and multimedia exhibitions, students will enhance their spatial thinking, critical problem-solving abilities, and their ability to present well-researched findings in both written and oral forms. Throughout the process, they will engage in self-directed learning by setting and assessing personal improvement goals, incorporating feedback to deepen their understanding and presentation quality.

Standards

[College, Career, and Civic Life (C3)] D2.Geo.8.6-8 - Analyze how relationships between humans and environments extend or contract spatial patterns of settlement and movement.

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.
Collaboration - Students co-design projects with peers, exercise shared-decision making, strengthen relational agency, resolve conflict, and assume leadership roles.

Products

Students will create an interactive museum exhibit that features precise 3D models of historical migration journeys overlaid on digital maps of the United States, enabling viewers to explore key influences such as environmental, economic, and cultural factors. Throughout the project, they will compile an informational essay on U.S. migration history, integrating scientific terms metaphorically. The endeavor will culminate in an 'American Dream Showcase,' a multimedia exhibition where students present digital stories of migration pathways, incorporating reflections, interviews, and visual evidence of their learning.

Launch

Begin with a dynamic storytelling circle where students share their own personal migration stories of how they or their families arrived in San Diego. Utilize a digital map projection to pin each story, creating a visual representation of the diverse origins within the classroom. Follow up with a student-led discussion on initial impressions of the question, "How does migration within the United States reflect the influence of history, economic opportunity, and differing ideas of the American Dream?" to connect their personal narratives with broader societal themes.

Exhibition

Students will culminate their exploration of migration within the United States by presenting an interactive "American Dream Showcase." This multimedia exhibition will feature digital storytelling through videos that weave together reflections, personal and community interviews, and student-generated maps equipped with 3D models and topographical details. The showcase invites attendees to navigate the historical migration journeys explored in class, such as The Great Migration and The Dust Bowl, immersing them in the environmental and cultural contexts that influenced these movements. Students will facilitate discussions with guests, utilizing skills in effective communication and encouraging deeper understanding of the multifaceted American Dream.

Learning Journey

Question

Students will develop open-ended questions based on their personal migration experiences and historical movement patterns to guide future research, fostering curiosity and critical inquiry from the start of their project journey.

Days 1 - 7

Milestone Activities

Mapping Your Journey to San Diego

Launch 45m

Kick off the phase by inviting students to use digital tools to map significant locations from their personal migration stories, encouraging personal connections and setting the stage for empathy interviews and map analysis.

D2.Geo.8.6-8

Self Directed Learning

Academic Mindset

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

Effective Communication

Empathy Interview Reflection and Analysis

Assessment

Students will submit a reflective essay analyzing insights gained from empathy interviews, highlighting connections to their personal migration stories and broader migration themes.

Research

Students will conduct empathy interviews with community members and historical research to gather diverse perspectives on migration, deepening their understanding of how personal and historical narratives intersect with ideas of the American Dream.

Days 7 - 13

Milestone Activities

Guest Speaker: Local Historian on Migration

Launch 60m

Host a local historian who shares insights on historical migration patterns, sparking curiosity and setting the stage for deeper exploration into students' own narratives and map presentations.

D2.Geo.8.6-8

Academic Mindset

Effective Communication

Create

Students will synthesize their research and interview insights to create interactive maps and 3D models of migration pathways, integrating historical data, personal narratives, and feedback for a compelling multimedia exhibit.

Days 13 - 19

Milestone Activities

Exhibit Prototype Presentation

Deliverable 60m

Students present prototypes of their museum exhibits to the class, using 3D models and maps to demonstrate their understanding of migration pathways. Classmates provide feedback to help refine the exhibit for the final presentation.

Prototype Peer Review

Assessment

In small groups, students conduct peer reviews evaluating the prototype maps for accuracy and narrative depth, providing constructive feedback grounded in historical and personal contexts.

Share

Students will present their interactive maps and informational essays to peers and community members, engaging in Socratic seminars and collaborative discussions to gather diverse feedback and insights on migration influences tied to history and the American Dream.

Days 19 - 25

Milestone Activities

No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Reflect

Students will reflect on their experiences by conducting a comprehensive analysis of their empathy interviews, maps, and essays, identifying key insights and areas for improvement, and collaboratively formulating new questions that further explore migration influences and perspectives on the American Dream.

Days 25 - 30

Milestone Activities

Reflective Analysis and New Question Formulation

Assessment

Students will conduct a reflective analysis of their empathy interviews, maps, and essays, identifying key insights and areas for improvement. They will collaboratively formulate new, deeper questions that explore migration influences and perspectives on the American Dream, demonstrating critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Act/Apply

Students will present their interactive migration maps and informational essays in a community exhibition, using the skills and insights from earlier phases to facilitate dialogue on the American Dream's diverse influences.

Days 31 - 36

Milestone Activities

Peer Feedback Roundtable

Deliverable 45m

Students participate in a whole-class peer feedback session to provide and receive constructive criticism on their museum exhibit presentations. This helps them refine their presentation skills and narrative coherence.

Interactive Museum Exhibit Presentation

Assessment

Students will individually present their digital stories and interactive maps in the 'American Dream Showcase,' explaining their understanding of historical migration patterns and the influences on the American Dream to a community audience.

Plan

Week 1	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4
Phase	Question
Activities	Mapping Your Journey to San Diego Launch 45m	Guided Peer Interview Practice Activity 45m Empathy Interview Reflection and Analysis Assessment	Exploratory Question Workshop Activity 60m	No activities added
Preparation

Week 2	Day 5	Day 6	Day 7	Day 8
Phase	Question Research
Activities	No activities added	No activities added	Guest Speaker: Local Historian on Migration Launch 60m	Historical Influences Research Workshop Activity 90m
Preparation

Week 3	Day 9	Day 10	Day 11	Day 12
Phase	Research
Activities	Historical Source Exploration and Jigsaw Activity 90m Socratic Seminar: Exploring Historical Migration Influences Activity 50m	No activities added	No activities added	No activities added
Preparation

Week 4	Day 13	Day 14	Day 15	Day 16
Phase	Research Create
Activities	No activities added	No activities added	Historical Data Exploration Activity 45m Migration Map Ideation Activity 60m	No activities added
Preparation

Week 5	Day 17	Day 18	Day 19	Day 20
Phase	Create Share
Activities	Mapping Workshop with LPA Design Studios Activity 90m Exhibit Prototype Presentation Deliverable 60m Prototype Peer Review Assessment	No activities added	No activities added	No activities added
Preparation

Week 6	Day 21	Day 22	Day 23	Day 24
Phase	Share
Activities	No activities added	Feedback Integration Session Activity 45m Socratic Seminar on Migration Influences Activity 60m	No activities added	No activities added
Preparation

Week 7	Day 25	Day 26	Day 27	Day 28
Phase	Share Reflect
Activities	Reflective Essay Outline Workshop Activity 45m	No activities added	No activities added	No activities added
Preparation

Week 8	Day 29	Day 30	Day 31	Day 32
Phase	Reflect Act/Apply
Activities	No activities added	Exhibition Planning and Strategy Session Activity 60m Final Review and Public Speaking Preparations Activity 60m Reflective Analysis and New Question Formulation Assessment	No activities added	No activities added
Preparation

Week 9	Day 33	Day 34	Day 35	Day 36
Phase	Act/Apply
Activities	No activities added	Peer Feedback Roundtable Deliverable 45m	No activities added	Interactive Map Workshop Activity 60m Interactive Museum Exhibit Presentation Assessment
Preparation

Week 10	Day 37	Day 38	Day 39	Day 40
Phase
Activities	No activities added	No activities added	No activities added	No activities added
Preparation

Pathways: Mapping the Movement

Purpose

Learning goals

Standards

Competencies

Products

Launch

Exhibition

Milestone Activities

Edit Phase

Milestone Activities

Edit Phase

Milestone Activities

Edit Phase

Milestone Activities

Edit Phase

Milestone Activities

Edit Phase

Milestone Activities

Edit Phase