Suitcase Stories: Unpacking Hope and Heritage

10th Grade Project 8 weeks

Suitcase Stories: Unpacking Hope and Heritage

Amber J

Content Expertise

Collaboration

Effective Communication

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

Academic Mindset

+ 1 more

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Purpose

The purpose of this project is to provide students with a profound engagement in cultural empathy and self-identity through the collaborative creation of meaningful artifacts. By constructing "Suitcases of Hope", students explore the rich narratives of refugees and immigrants, connecting personal and collective histories with textile art and writing. These activities nurture competencies like collaboration, communication, and critical reflection, fostering an environment where students relate more deeply to diverse cultures and critically reflect on their roles within a global community. This experiential learning journey emphasizes student agency, allowing each learner to share their unique family stories and contribute to a shared understanding of diverse migrant experiences.

Learning goals

Students will explore narratives of identity and migration, using their understanding to create artistic expressions that convey personal stories and cultural connections. Through collaborative group work to craft blankets and create 'Suitcases of Hope,' students will strengthen communication and leadership skills while engaging in meaningful peer partnerships. Weekly writing assignments will enhance critical thinking and self-reflection, allowing students to thoughtfully document and share their insights. This project will foster a sense of belonging and academic confidence as students connect their own family histories to broader themes of migration and resilience.

Competencies

Content Expertise - Students develop key competencies, skills, and dispositions with ample opportunities to apply knowledge and engage in work that matters to them.
Collaboration - Students co-design projects with peers, exercise shared-decision making, strengthen relational agency, resolve conflict, and assume leadership roles.
Effective Communication - Students practice listening to understand, communicating with empathy, and share their learning through exhibiting, presenting and reflecting on their work.
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.
Academic Mindset - Students establish a sense of place, identity, and belonging to increase self-efficacy while engaging in critical reflection and action.
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.

Products

Students will collaboratively design and create personalized "Suitcases of Hope," each filled with written narratives and selected artifacts that express the identities and stories of refugees or immigrants. Additionally, students will work in groups to craft blankets through knitting, crocheting, or assembling fleece pieces; each blanket will feature a tag detailing a personal family journey to San Diego. In alignment with the artistic components, students will prepare and present a final exhibition at the Liberty Station Arts Market, where they will communicate their processes, reflections, and insights gained throughout the project.

Launch

Begin the project with an immersive simulation where students step into the shoes of a refugee or immigrant by choosing items for an imaginary suitcase they would carry on their journey. Facilitate a group discussion where students share and reflect on their choices, connecting them to their personal stories, and cultural backgrounds. Host a storytelling circle featuring guest speakers from the Welcome Home Project to share firsthand experiences, fostering empathy and setting the tone for collaborative exploration and understanding throughout the project.

Exhibition

At the culmination of the Suitcases of Hope project, students will host an interactive exhibition at a Liberty Station Arts District (t/b/d). The exhibition will feature the suitcases, each displaying the students' written essays and artifacts representing the identities and stories of refugees and immigrants and "Where I am From Poems". Accompanying each suitcase will be the collaboratively created blankets, tagged with narratives of the students' familial history and journeys to San Diego. Attendees, including community members and partners from the Welcome Home Project, will have the opportunity to engage with the students through reflective presentations and discussions, fostering greater empathy and understanding. Students will present their Suitcases for donation to Welcome Home representatives to give to the people who are newly immigrated to the United States from HTHI.

Learning Journey

Empathize

Students will engage in storytelling sessions with immigrants from the New Americans Museum to gather personal narratives, reflecting on these real-world experiences to understand the challenges of migration as they begin designing their 'Suitcases of Hope'.

Days 1 - 5

Immigrant Storytelling Circle

Launch 60m

Story Synthesis Workshop

Activity 45m

Personal Narrative Sharing and Feedback

Deliverable 45m

Storytelling Presentation

Assessment

Reflective Narrative

Assessment

Define

Students will analyze and synthesize the personal narratives and artifacts collected during the Empathize phase to clearly define the core themes for their Suitcases of Hope, using peer collaboration and guided reflection to identify the cultural and historical messages they aim to convey before moving into the Ideate phase.

Days 6 - 10

Thematic Analysis Workshop

Activity 60m

Peer Feedback Session

Deliverable 45m

Cultural Theme Synthesis and Reflection

Activity 45m

Peer Collaboration Reflection Presentation

Assessment

Ideate

Students will collaborate in diverse groups to brainstorm and sketch creative solutions for their 'Suitcases of Hope,' integrating feedback from cultural storytelling workshops to refine their concepts and align them with the project's narrative goals.

Days 11 - 15

Collaborative Brainstorm Workshop

Activity 60m

Peer Feedback and Refinement Session

Deliverable 45m

Creative Refinement and Storytelling Circle

Activity 60m

Collaborative Problem Solving Presentation

Assessment

Prototype

Students will construct low-fidelity prototypes of their 'Suitcases of Hope' and blanket designs, integrating preliminary artifacts and narratives gathered from interviews, while actively participating in peer review sessions to refine their concepts before progressing to the final creations.

Days 16 - 20

Prototype Feedback Loop

Deliverable 60m

Reflective Journaling

Activity 30m

Peer Presentation Rehearsal

Deliverable 45m

Peer Review and Reflection Presentation

Assessment

Test

Students will showcase their finished suitcases and blankets at a school exhibition, present personal narratives to peers and local community members, receive feedback, and implement revisions to enhance the impact of their artifacts and storytelling.

Days 21 - 24

30 min over capacity (240 min available across 4 days)

Peer Feedback Session

Deliverable 60m

Reflective Writing Workshop

Activity 90m

Dress Rehearsal Presentations

Activity 120m

Exhibition Presentation Reflection

Assessment

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Suitcase Stories: Unpacking Hope and Heritage

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Products

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