Interdisciplinary project database

Consider how animals and humans relate through verbal and body language. This article demonstrates how canines has evolved to understand our behaviors, turning them into faithful companions. How does this compare to other domesticated animals? Could other animals evolve to be companion animals?

Consider the science of street art and graffiti. There are some that see graffiti as disorderly and unkept, while others see it as a sign of beauty. This study considers the context of one’s identity and upbringing and their perception of graffiti.

Analyze how various faiths around the world have been heavily tied to art, noticing how many great works have been as a result of faith-based initiatives. Compare the world religion’s different works and how they’re stylistically different.

Creativity isn’t only reserved for the humanities! Open-ended questions make students think outside of the box about problems. Develop yourself, and/or have students develop, open-ended questions that require math to solve. Instead of providing a solution, encourage students to use their imaginations in various solutions to each problem.

Read the opinion piece To feed the world in 2050 will require a global revolution by Ehrlich & Harte, which highlights the challenges to mobilize governments to make the necessary changes to solve food insecurity and hunger. Consider the claims by the authors: is their reasoning valid? What will it take to overcome these challenges?

Explore how time is relative. How, scientifically, does this work? What is time dilation? Does this mean that time travel is possible? How is it possible to even understand the concept of space-time as a human?

What is a classic book? Why is it that we read certain books and not others typically during our school years? 

Determine if these labels make sense and if books should be added or removed. Does it make sense to have a canon?

Perform an audit of your physical spaces (appearance, entrances, fixtures, safety, etc.) using some of the guidelines of universal design in physical spaces. Is the environment appealing, welcoming, and accessible to those with a variety of cultural backgrounds, ages, abilities, and other characteristics? Create an action plan to address areas of improvement.

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.

Connect the ideas in the lesson below to historical inventions. What would a pitch look like for various historical novels: such as the printing press, telephone, or radar? Would all constituents be for their use? Who would be for and against these ideas? Were they accepted during their time?

Read about how school affects burn out. This guide written for teachers can be analyzed with students to identify pain points, recognize ways to improve the classroom, and have an open dialogue about stress and frustration.

Learn about how governments crack down on subversive art and examine how artists should be dealt with, after all – graffiti is an illegal activity in many areas of the world. How does this correspond to anti-social forms of graffiti, such as gang tagging?

Physical education can be a divisive subject because the types of activities in the class can instigate anxiety and social pressure, especially when designed through the teacher’s lens. Hold an open conversation about the purpose of physical education and student experiences in the subject, offering space to suggest new activities.

Are there economic practices that put cultural or environmental heritage at risk of being damaged or lost? What can be done to mitigate those concerns and preserve our cultural and environmental heritage?

Using your knowledge of the algorithm, research how these concepts could be used to advertise a business or nonprofit. Partner with a local organization, offering to manage their social media, developing a content and branding strategy to increase engagement.

Analyze how mass media influences peoples’ biases and opinions on controversial issues, and help students cultivate ways to encourage critical thinking about media sources.

Misleading Graphs is a great resource to help students understand how to lie and mislead with statistics and graphic information. Have students improve upon the examples on the site. Give students a data set and have them create their own “misleading graph”!

Organize a class trip to a local site of faith, for example a Buddhist temple or a Islamic mosque. Work with local community leaders to establish a program on learning about the faith, including how the core beliefs of the religion and the ways they give back to the community. Create pamphlets to encourage your peers to attend.

Highlight excerpts from “The Art of Code - Dylan Beattie”, which demonstrates how nuanced and creative the field of coding is, and how much it takes to develop the applications that govern much of what we do in the modern world. Have students reflect: how are math and science connected to art?

Consider how massive advances in your community have been made as a result of struggle and debate on a certain historical issue. Visit a local library, community center, or community activist and learn about what struggles the community has faced. Then, prepare a presentation on this issue, demonstrating to your peers why compromise is important.

Analyze global poverty as a wicked problem. How do we solve a problem that is so historically, economically, and culturally the norm in our world? What steps can individuals take in order to make a difference? Look at how various non-profits are attempting to solve this problem, offering students the chance to praise and critique different actions.

Consider how writers pair down their ideas into the simplest form, recognizing the power of concrete, quick examples. For example, use the Hemingway Editor and consider how it can be used. Is it always useful?

Consider historical events, works of art, novels, movies, and music that are popular in other countries but not your own. Using subtitles or a translation service, analyze the works and highlight their popularity in the other country. Create a collection of various works that can be shown off to others to appreciate the culture.

Consider the concept of scale. What about…infinite scale? As something impossible for humans to perceive, we’ve always been fascinated with the idea of infinite space. Conduct research and prepare a presentation, art piece, or community dialogue on why it’s worth exploring the idea of infinity.

Examine how different cultures deal with the idea of death. Do cultural differences change their opinion of expanding the science of age reversal and expansion? What about in other scientific inquiries? At what point does culture outweigh the need for scientific advancement?

Consider the impact of the environment on one’s health. Why is it that certain demographics have certain health issues, diagnosis, etc.? What impact does community safety and environmental racism have on health outcomes?

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?

An ethnography is an observational research method used to understand societies and cultures. Create an ethnography of your class, highlighting unique characteristics of individuals of groups, routines and rituals, etc.

Demonstrate how artists have been inspired by global art movements over time. Showcase how the development of art movements and intersection of regional developments has led to masterful works over decades and centuries.

Have students consider a work of art that they love: such as an album, video game, or book. Write a review about it — what does it do well? Who would like it? How could it be better?

Creativity is an applicable skill in understanding how to maintain a healthy lifestyle beyond a linear look at gyms and dieting. Consider what other ways people can be healthy, such as nature photography or becoming a part-time community dog walker.

Expressing art through dance and modern interpretative dance has both fascinated and confused audiences. Watch “Youth - Daughter || Bonnie Su Dance Choreography.” Reflect on how dance can be used to signify concepts, such as how this dance signifies the images we see on social media.