Interdisciplinary project database

4 Day Workweek

As people begin to demand more opportunities for personal time, more and more workplaces are offering 4 day workweeks. What impact does this have on the world? Examine how this practice impacts society.

Capturing Voice

Use different media - video essays, works of fiction, poetry, graphic novel memoirs, etc. - to analyze how people capture their “voice” and express their personalities. What makes that voice unique and different from someone else?

Calmness

Achieving a state of calm is paramount to being content. By finding a healthy, manageable, and enjoyable exercise, we can relax and de-stress. Perform a series of basic exercises to help students find ways to expel energy.

Barriers to Housing

Read about how people fall into homelessness and the struggles that people face, including financial barriers to gaining housing.

Art or Vandalism?

How does street art tie into the financial elements of vandalism? What is the cost of street art, and why is it that some spaces want to rid buildings of it and others pay to have it done professionally?

Property Values

Consider your community and the areas with a lower cost of living. Why is it that those areas have lower property values? What could bring more awareness and sustainability to these areas? Prepare a report.

Talent Show

So many people have unrecognized abilities. Hold a talent competition for a specific music, art, or culinary style. Showcase the talents of the competitors to the community.

Challenged Characters

Research examples of individuals and groups in fiction and non-fiction whose values were challenged. Describe their values, how their experiences shaped their values, and the actions they took based on those values.

Alternatively, create a list of fictional characters from pop culture (Harry Potter, Paw Patrol, Stranger Things, The Office, etc.) and recreate the introduction activity from this lesson from the perspective of those characters!

Take Action on Social Media Use

Investigate the impact of social media on young people. Whether it is extremism, social isolation, self-image, or any other drawback, prepare an interactive report that informs other young people on ways to use social media appropriately.

The "Dark Ages"

The Golden Age of Islam was in the same time period as the “Dark Ages”, yet when many refer to this era of history…the Dark Ages is the universal term. Explore why this may be the case and introduce students to ideas of historiography.

Creating a "Trolley Problem"

Have students create presentations on “wicked problems” (problems that aren't easily solved), presenting the scenario of a specific "trolley problem" and advocating for positions on both sides, allowing them to moderate a healthy debate among students. Consider if the Trolley would need to "run" at all.

Personal Challenge

Develop a plan to tackle a personal or community challenge. What steps will you need to take in order to get there? What actions can you take within a certain number of weeks to make a difference? Log your progress and take on the challenge!

Futuristic Communities

Analyze how your local community has incorporated “future technology” over the years to the betterment of its populace. For example, how has your city designed roads, traffic signals, public transit, or building materials? What could they do to further these developments?

Colonization of Art

Art has developed overtime, sometimes in hostile ways. Read about the impact of colonization on African art. How did this change what was depicted? And now, in the modern age, globalization has streamlined artistic connections across the entire world. Is this for the better? Or has something been lost?

At What Cost?

What impact does the fast fashion industry have on a community's economic well-being? Answer the question: Is the fast fashion industry’s profit worth the human price? How would removing the fast fashion industry (or changing business practices such as wages) impact a company’s profits?

Beauty and Language

There’s beauty in language. Many languages and dialects have specific words, phrases, and concepts that only exist in their background. Figure out what these words and grammatical rules are and talk about their importance.

Knowing and Understanding the World

“Tenacity” is often cited as a way of knowing defined by tradition: something is true because it has always been considered true. Authority and intuition are also cited as ways of knowing. What makes science stand out in its foundations, methods, and criteria from other ways of knowing and understanding the world?

Fiction Novels

The power of the written word is something steadfast in human history. Novels, poetry, and speeches have transformed our society and culture. What can you contribute? Brainstorm and begin writing your own work, such as a fiction novel.

The Politics of Language

Think about the politics of language. For example, look at Bill 96, which passed in Quebec, Canada, making French the official language and lessening the extent to which English services are provided (in an area that has a sizable English-speaking population). At what point should provinces and nations be able to officially adopt a language? Is it fair to restrict language? Likewise, is there a danger in not restricting languages?

Job Fair

Reach out to local businesses and establish a school “job fair”, where learners practice job interview schools with interested companies.

Equality vs. Equity

Have a class discussion on the concept of equity vs. equality. Is it fair that some have access to achieving their personal goals, while others will have a much more difficult time due to a lack of resources? What can citizens, communities, and the government do to ensure that everyone has a fair shot?

Social Media Advertising

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.

Mental Toughness

Mental Toughness is a trait studied in athletes that, like grit, has been linked to athletic success. Research the characteristics of mental toughness - goal-setting, self-talk, imagery, etc. - and make a hypothetical or real plan for how to address mental toughness in young athletes.

Infinity

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.

Analyzing Privilege

It can be a very difficult step to analyze bias and privilege in your daily life. Take time to learn about something specific that you hold a stereotype about. Analyze why you hold these beliefs and prepare a report on how they’ve changed as you’ve investigated further.

World Food Prize

Consider how the impact global hunger has on your daily life. Perform research on how different regions of the world are struggling with food shortages, offering guided analysis on ways people in your area can assist. What steps can be taken at a local level to make a global impact? Share your findings in the global World Food Prize competition.

Mediums of Dance

Similarly to art, the way one moves one’s body, both in traditional sports as well as dance, highlight the need for rhythm, balance, repetition, and harmony. Examine how these ideas connect across a variety of physical mediums.

World Introductions

Read about how different cultures introduce themselves throughout the world. Challenge student assumptions about culture: are some introductions more appropriate or professional than others? What does it mean to be “appropriate” or “professional”?

School and Burn Out

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.

AI & Mathematics

How can artificial intelligence be used to improve our understanding of mathematics?

One way AI can be used to improve our understanding of mathematics is by providing a way to visualize mathematical concepts. For example, consider the concept of a function. AI can be used to create a 3D graph of a function, which can help us to better understand how the function behaves. Additionally, AI can be used to create models of mathematical problems, which can help us to better understand the underlying principles at work.

Emotion Expression

We’ve seen what body language looks like through a few examples in the lesson below, but how else do we look when we experience emotion? Have students act out various emotions, from being tired and angry to joyful and gleeful.

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!)