Interdisciplinary project database

Host a “Job/Career Fair” for students in your building to learn about opportunities in the community and connect students with representatives from different industries.

Explore bioethics. When merging science and ethical thinking, what are we allowed to do? How does our exploration of science help (and sometimes harm!) our environments? Consider exploring the concept of “transhumanism”, or the enhancement of human bodies. What is natural? Is it possible to expand science too far?

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It is important to make plans, but various events will cause us to shift our goals. For example, activist and President of South Africa Nelson Mandela studied English, anthropology, politics, "native administration", Roman Dutch law, and was actively involved in ballroom dancing.

Look at various famous leaders, professionals, and activists throughout your country’s history. What was their upbringing? What did they do in school? If they attended higher education, what did they major in? Ultimately, how does this all compare to what they did historically?

Look at historical examples of perspectives and biases across major world events (e.g., Charge of the Light Brigade, Sinking of the Lusitania, End of Apartheid, American Civil War, etc.)

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.

Street art is highly connected to other “scenes”, such as skateboarding. Consider what these spaces are, why they exist, and how they operate in tandem with one another.

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.

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.

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.

Research cultural sites (monuments, natural features, museums/galleries, World Heritage sites, religious sites, etc.) related to the locations found in the below lesson. What makes them important to the cultural heritage of a country? In what ways do they contribute to the desirability of an area?

Much of the beauty and understanding of historic, classic languages have been lost to time. “Dead languages”, which are no longer spoken or have morphed into something completely different, still can teach us a lot. Research and present on a dead language, such as Sakhalin or Kuril Ainu.

Check out “Why you might be counting in the wrong language” by Anand Jagatia, which summarizes the idea of a base-10 counting system (having a set structure for stating different decimals). Consider with students: why is it that math is practiced and stated in different ways around the world? How has math developed over time in different areas of the world?

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.

Examine the great debate between the Ptolemaic system and the Copernican system. Why did people believe in both of these ideas? What conflicts emerged as a result of Copernicus’ theories? How did our modern view of the Earth revolving around the Sun emerge as mainstream knowledge?

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?

Consider the unique benefits that children, adolescents, and adults offer society. It’s not that we’re all the same, but that we all contribute equally fascinating perspectives to the world around us. Check out the research on this!

Consider the rich history of mathematics in its various forms, such as geometry and trigonometry. Prepare a community presentation that details how different mathematicians expanded on our understanding of the world.

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.

Read about the various ways that artists are connecting with the food sustainability movement to promote just causes. Brainstorm how your community could convey the need for sustainable practices through an art project.

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?

Have a business or invention idea? Prepare a formal presentation for your product or service. Utilize the concepts presented here, as well as other resources on presentation skills, to make a pitch deck on your idea.

Emotions have a physical connection to how we present ourselves through body language. And of course, humans have also perceived emotion through art for thousands of years. Look at how artists present different forms of emotion through art, both through drawing and music, then have students present an emotion artistically.

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Research and read about their favorite or currently worn clothing manufacturer. Do they have a production ethics statement? If so, what is it? Is there any information about the company withholding or breaking this statement around the world? Write a statement of ethics for a clothing company you operate. Or, amend an existing clothing company’s ethics statement.

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?

Understand the intersection of math, data, and algorithms in the world of wicked problems. For example, is it always the case that the more problems something causes, the less likely we should do that thing? Or does it matter who the problem affects? Analyze how math connects to the humanities in making ethical solutions.

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?

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.

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?

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.

Brainstorm and develop an idea for a new social media platform that brings people together. How would it function? Why would people want to use it? Use a UI/UX software like Figma to plan out and demonstrate your ideas.

Stories in various mediums (such as books, movies, lyrics, and games) are one of the best ways to develop an emotional connection on perceived harms, bullying, and counteracting hate. Encourage students to share stories of when they’ve felt disrespected, either by other students or by educators, and give them private spaces to share these and learn from each other.

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.