Activity: How the human species evolve to have such a wide and beautiful array of skin tones? Is skin tone an inherited trait? Is racial identity an inherited trait? After reading this article and/or watching this video and this animation, students will consider a range of different questions. Finally, a class could use this activity, article, and/or other materials to discuss the relationship (if any) between genetics, skin tone, and race.
Student Reflection:
“I enjoyed it because it was a subtle way of doing it. We didn't solely discuss racial identity, because this is a biology course. But it was integrated with the science in a way that while fulfilling the scientific purpose of the course, we also learned about racial identity. I liked reading the article the most because I found the basis of why skin tones emerged very interesting, and something I never really knew before.” Activity: Design a shoe that reveals 10 things your classmates and teacher would never know about you... unless we walked in your shoes.
Activity: One of the themes of the graphic novel American Born Chinese is that connecting to your roots can give you power. This short story assignment asks students to connect to their own roots by researching a character from the mythology, religion, or literature of their culture(s) and then bringing this character to life in their own, original short stories -- just like Gene Luen Yang did with the Monkey King in his graphic novel.
Student Reflection:
"I liked learning about an aspect of my culture I didn't even know existed and being able to make it my own!" Activity Overview: Make a quick video in which you tell me all about your name. Here are some possible talking points:
Variations of the Activity:
Teacher Reflection: This activity was a happy accident that I will intentionally repeat in the future! I found that students spoke more freely on camera and shared more about themselves than I would have thought to ask. |
AuthorsThe content showcased here is very much the work of a large, diverse group of BHS teachers. Categories
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