Use Your Voice

Unit Summary

In this unit, we learn about change-makers past and present. We define 6 common methods of change-making: (1) Physical Force, (2) Acts of Service, (3) Daily Life, (4) Inspiration, (5) Education, (6) Legislation. Throughout the unit, students use an Evidence Tracker to record where they see these methods being used by people throughout our curriculum, taking note of (1) the change intended, (2) the method used to create the change, and (3) the outcome. Through this process, we aim to answer the Essential Question, "What is the Most Effective Way to Make Change?"

The history curriculum for this unit takes us through Medieval Europe and Arabia (CA HSS-7.2, 7.6). We look at ancient change-makers including the Prophet Mohammed, the Catholic Church, the Crusaders, European kings including Charlemagne and Henry IV, and Muslim scholars. 

Our focus modern case-study for a change-maker is Malala; we read her book, "I am Malala," in lit circles through the unit, taking note of her actions as well as those of other change-makers through the book. Additionally, each week we do an "Issue Exploration" in which we highlight a modern change-maker through a video or article study and reflection (*see slide deck below). At the end of this series, students have the opportunity to brainstorm and research issues they care about. 

The culmination of this project is a study in the use of art for education and inspiration. We take a field trip to Chicano Park, where students use the Visual Thinking Strategies that we practiced with Medieval religious and political art to analyze murals around the park, uncovering the social and political messaging beneath. Students meet artists at a local studio and discuss why they do what they do, as well as any deeper meaning or purpose that their art serves. Finally, students design their own "Protest Fashion"---outfits that are imbued with symbolism to send a message. These outfits aim to inspire and/or educate about an issue they are passionate about. Students write an Artist Statement to accompany the outfit (utilizing our informational writing standards in the process). These outfits are exhibited to the public in a student-run fashion show at the end of the unit, where they have a chance to explain their purpose and invite the audience to make a difference with local donations or volunteer opportunities. 

Building Connections

• A two-hour lesson beginning with an immersive study of the Crusades, followed by a video and note-taking activity on the origins of the Taliban (a key concept in "I am Malala"), and culminating in a venn-diagram creation of the Crusaders and the Taliban along with a discussion on violent extremism. 

• "Issue Exploration" (see slide deck under "resources")

• "I am Malala"---our text for the unit, through which we deepen our learning about the Muslim faith and make connections to our history standards (CA HSS-7.2).

• A case study of the Chicano Park protest and murals as evidence for non-violent change-making. Because much of the imagery in these murals calls back to Aztec mythology, this also helps to introduce our next history unit, in which we study Meso-American civilizations (CA HSS-7.7).

Partnerships

• Internal

  • Art teacher (supports students with designs)

  • STEM teacher (supports students in adding technology to their clothing designs)

  • Science teacher (explores issues with students including climate change, environmental issues, and endangered species)

• External

  • Artists at "The Art Hub" in Barrio Logan

  • Andrea Tanquery (engineer; fashion artist; "Kittenmade Designs")

  • Photographers (various)

  • Community donations of clothing and art supplies

Resources and Materials

Final Project

In addition to the fashion show, students' final project was exhibited in an anthology which they published on Amazon. You can view it or purchase using the link below:

"Use Your Voice!" Student Anthology

Socratic Seminar

Alternative to writing an essay (or as a scaffold to prepare students for their essay), I used a Socratic Seminar. Here are two different formats of the student prep materials: 

Rubrics