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Disrupting Artistic "Canon"

Similarly to science and math, our understanding of art is highly influenced (in traditional curricula) by Western, male artists (e.g. Picasso, Michelangelo).

Highlight the contributions of female scientists and non-Western thinkers in both historical and modern settings.

Focused Headspace

Exercising is a key part of taking breaks and achieving the right headspace to accomplish daunting tasks. Help students discover ways to take quick breaks: from walking to meditation to dancing to relieve stress and re-focus on their goals.

Accents and Regions

Use informal surveys and local contexts or the resources available in this lesson to prepare a class report/presentation on the perception of accents in a particular language(s) in your country or region. How do accents map onto our social understanding of class, race, stereotypes, etc.? 

Western Mathematics

This is a powerful article from mathematics educator and author Sunil Singh on the Western narrative entrenched in mathematics education. Whose cultural narrative is the narrative of mathematics? Why do more children know about Newton than, say, Brahmagupta?

Random Acts of Kindness

Showcasing random acts of kindness is a great first step to thinking about the impact one can make on the world. Have students write a simple act they can take today on a note card, sharing this with each other and committing to making a difference.

Collective Commitments

Use your collected value lists to generate a list of collective commitments - beliefs and actions agreed upon by staff and students - that can guide classroom decision-making and culture. Generate 3-4 commitments each for yourself, peers, and adults.

Why Did You Say That?

Conduct the Harvard Project Zero “What makes you say that?” activity, which helps students share their interpretation of why they believe certain things, such as their expectations for the future.

Pitching to Galleries

Read about how artists pitch their work to galleries. Consider: is it important for artists to have public speaking skills to present their ideas? Why would it matter, if at all, to display your work in a public setting like a gallery? And, is it possible for our current works to be in a gallery right now?

Systems-Thinking Map

Analyze the systems of your own community. What is an issue that exists that needs to be solved? How many people are connected to that issue? How can they be brought together? Make a systems-thinking map to analyze a solution.

Stereotype Threat

Consider the various research studies on stereotype threat (ST). Compile this information into an infographic that explains how our views on certain cultures, races, genders, and more, leads to worse overall outcomes for all.

Culture Fair

Foster a sense of awareness about different faiths in your community. Organize a cultural fair centered on bringing together different religions, inviting different faith leaders to bring readings, materials, activities, food, and more. Have peers attend and document the similarities and differences of each faith, recognizing how much representation there is in their community.

Educating on Social Media

Reach out to members of your community and survey how they use social media. What are your findings? Summarize and display these ideas to educate others on how social media can be used for good (or perhaps not!)

Partnering with NGOs

Find a local nonprofit, NGO, political party, or organization who would be willing to take a large action on this issue and partner with them to extend their impact.

Climate Change "Trolley Problems"

Relate a "trolley problem" to the environmental crisis. Climate change is a major problem facing the world’s population and it is likely that individual actions will need to change to create a sustainable society. Are individuals willing to give up daily actions they take for granted? Is this the only way to solve the problem?

Highlighting Dialects

Embracing the different languages of the world can lead to a flourishing, multicultural society. However, there is a fear that these languages will “replace” the mainstream language of the area. Showcase your community’s various speakers and dialects, highlighting the importance of a diverse community.

Screen Readers

Many people who have difficulty seeing or reading information on computers use screen readers to browse the Internet. However, many websites are not designed properly for these screen readers to function. Learn about accessible web design. Perform an audit of your school’s (or community’s) website(s) and offer suggestions to increase accessibility.

Math "Soft Skills"

This article discusses the ways soft-skills are fostered in mathematics courses, Finding Soft Skills in Mathematics Isn’t As Hard As You Might Think.

The History of Musical Math

As described throughout the lesson below - rhythm, music, and mathematics are heavily connected. Learn about the history of keys, chords, and musical notation, with a specific focus on the Greek philosopher Pythagoras who was “instrumental” in creating these ideas!

Money and Philosophy

How does our use of money contribute to our philosophy? How does the relationship between humans and nature involve the economy? Using case studies, examine how building development, use of natural resources, and more impact the environment. Use mathematical thinking to consider economical ethics.

Figuring Out Flow

Research the state of “flow” and connect it to the hobbies you love (or take on a new hobby!) Document how understanding a “flow state” changes, for better or worse, your interest, engagement, or motivation in conducting your hobby.

Salary and Success

Consider what students are passionate about or wish to do with their lives in various careers. Look up the salary data for these careers and brainstorm what realistic expectations are, economically, for each of these positions. Can anyone be “successful” regardless of how much their salary is?

Career Path Interview

Interview a parent/guardian/community member about their vocational/career path. What factors led to where they are today? What do they wish they had known when they were the students’ age?

Sound Waves

Learn about how sound waves connect to pitch, volume, tempo, and rhythm, noticing how the creation and manipulation of sound is heavily connected to frequency. By understanding sound waves, we can create music that goes beyond traditional sounds (e.g. through digital manipulation).

Art for Organizing

Getting started is often the hardest step in making a difference. Consider how different organizing campaigns have utilized art and marketing to spur others toward change. Then, utilize these ideas in your own action campaigns.

Headspace

Getting started with a creative endeavor requires the right headspace. Help students embrace a positive mindset by creating a quiet, distraction-free environment where creativity can flourish. Encourage students to start an art project out of thin-air – providing resources to get started and seeing what happens!

Nature Walks

When we’re overwhelmed and feeling hopeless, we can seek out time for introspection, relaxation, and calm. The best way to do this? Getting outside! Take students on a city or nature walk with no specific goal: just relax.

Counteracting Stereotypes

Learn about how art can be used to intentionally break apart stereotypes. Music, dance, and traditional art all have the power to counteract stereotypes and make people think abstractly and critically about a multitude of issues.

Structural Racism

Our present conversations around race can get stuck in a reflexive defensiveness of language. What is structural racism? What is actually meant by white privilege? This article from Learning for Justice unpacks the history of the term and action steps to do better.

Regional Dialects

Why is it that people in urban, rural, and suburban areas all have different dialects and vernacular? How are people from these different places perceived? Why is it important to counteract stereotypes about SLI?

Employer "Skills"

Survey teachers, family members, community members, local employers and employees, about the top 10 skills they want to see in their students, kids, and future employees. Compare their top 10 list with this one from the World Economic Forum. What is similar or different?

Amplifying Student Voice

Student Voice is an organization that amplifies student perspectives to change the education system and the world. Read, listen, and analyze one or more of the pieces of student journalism from their website. What are these student journalists focused on? What does their perspective add to the coverage of important topics and events? How can we help amplify student voice in similar ways?

Values of our Space

How are values built into physical and digital spaces? Examine your immediate surroundings, take inventory of how your space is arranged, what hangs on the walls and ceilings, what objects seem to have the most or least importance, what does the space communicate about who is valued, etc. Make a list of values and importance that is derived from your observations. What changes can you make to this space to have it reflect different values?