Interdisciplinary project database

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?

Consider how “proper English” has evolved overtime, and that one singular form of English hasn’t always existed. Most recently, a great example would be the APA making a singular “they” proper English. This was a result of gendered stereotypes about who would be speaking. Further, one can analyze modern interpretations of Shakespeare.

Perform in-depth research about a community in your neighborhood. Interview and speak to the residents and learn about their traditions, celebrations, and lifestyles. How does it differ from what you do at home? Prepare a report that can be shown off to other residents.

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.

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.

Although many are familiar with dyslexia, less know about dyscalculia: a learning disability that hampers mathematical thinking. Roughly 10% of elementary school students are believed to have dyscalculia. Consider other ways that mathematics can be taught than simple arithmetic, and showcase these ideas through that lens. For example: rhythm, music, games, hands-on activities, building.

Consider the impact of diet and healthy lifestyle decisions within the context of faith: noting how different faiths have various regulations on how they consume meat, seafood, and vegetables. What impact does this have on one’s lifestyle? Why are these cultures different?

Focus on athletic wear and/or shoe manufacturers. Using a similar methodology to this lesson, consider sports and individual training. What impact may this have on one’s health (both from wearing the clothes as well as the environmental impact)?

Alternatively, examine a specific sport (football, basketball, volleyball, track & field,etc.), examining the labor practices of manufacturing its products (e.g. a football, uniforms, shoes, field products).

Analyze how graffiti artists move their craft from sketches to spray painting, highlighting how professional graffiti artists hone their craft. Then, demonstrate and create projects together using these techniques.

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.

When most learners think of science, they consider people like Charles Darwin or Albert Einstein. In most curriculums, the specific people we focus on learning about are from Western countries (e.g. the United Kingdom, France, and USA) and male.

Highlight the contributions of female scientists and non-Western thinkers. Who are they?

Investigate this task force by Google which is exploring threats to open societies, focusing on how technology can lead to a safer Internet and world.

Music, rhythm, math, and lyricism are all intrinsically connected. Learn about how lyric-based music, especially rap and hip hop, utilize language to convey meaning and messaging, all-the-while adhering to strict rules about rhythm (and therefore, math)!

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?

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.

Learn about inclusive design in digital spaces and revisit this lesson to rewrite scripts with digital spaces in mind. For example, how does a visually impaired person navigate their social media feed or use their mobile phone? How can we help make digital spaces more inclusive of people from different backgrounds and abilities?

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?

How do we break our perspective’s “bubble”? Assign a reading with reflection that goes against one’s opinion or preconceived notions. Of course, students may not change their mind — but challenging their perspective allows them to grow their ideas and consider new possibilities.

Consider how bullying and discrimination specifically targets marginalized groups and how allies of these movements can demand action. For example, utilize The Trevor Project’s Guide to Being an Ally to Transgender and Nonbinary Youth.

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.

Investigate how street and subversive art has been used in historical movements, such as Solidarity in Poland, Marcel Duchamp and the Dada movement, Al Weiwei in China, or David Koloane in South African Apartheid.

If this lesson has examples of hostile architecture, what would humane architecture look like? What would a space hold if it were designed to be welcoming, caring, and accepting of everyone?

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.

In the United States, there has been a significant decline in the number of college graduates with humanities degrees while the number of science and computer science degrees has skyrocketed. Discuss with your class why they think that is, what the positive or negative consequences could be for society, and what they think would have to be different for those trends to change.

Examine mythology and folklore of various ancient religions. Identify the morals of various stories, dissecting why these stories were written and the goals the authors had for their work.

“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?

Many websites offer resume templates for different professions. Find a template for a profession you see yourself involved in and design a “dream resume” for yourself in that field. Pair this with your five-year plan to set and align short-term goals!

Consider the impact that hostile architecture has not only on people, but on the environment. For example, spikes are added to the ledges of buildings to prevent birds from gathering and dirtying walls. How does this impact the ecosystem?

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.

Continue the examination of cultural values with resources from Gallup. Gallup has tracked global well-being and happiness over time. What factors contribute to well-being? What is the relationship between GDP and well-being? Why do some regions of the world report higher levels of well-being than others?

In many countries around the world the minimum voting age is between 16-18. But is that minimum voting age fair, should it be raised or lowered? What are the arguments for or against raising or lowering the minimum voting age? What would be the benefits or the costs? What about society would look different as a result?

Finding reliable health and nutrition information is incredibly difficult. There is so much mis- and disinformation about health, nutrition, and fitness. How do you know what to trust? Create a health misinformation guide with students to sort out what is reliable from what is false or potentially harmful. To show that they know the tricks, have them use those tips to create their own health and nutrition disinformation ad or video.