Lesson Overview: This lesson sequence on disability rights followed a study of the French Revolution. These lessons include a variety of activities: journal writing, video watching (such as this one featuring Richie Parker), small group discussions, and readings (such as this one on the history of the ADA).
Student reflections:
"Disability is more about what society has defined as “normal.” For example, in the video Richie could do just about anything a “normal” person could do, he just did it in his own way. Richie isn’t disabled, he just has a different set of weaknesses and strengths from everyone else." "When doing a close reading of the list, I noticed that there were so many things that I might have taken for granted in my daily life that I didn’t even notice. For example, I never thought about if my family would ever have to move to another apartment that they would need to think about whether it was accessible to me. Would there be stairs to get into the house or not? Would there be an elevator to get to our floor? Things like these that I have just never had to think about in my life are a major concern for others." “At the very least, something people without disabilities can do is to try to use the right language. And if someone says that you used the wrong language, just apologize and ask what you should instead say." Project Overview: Using this assignment description, each student creates a family garden, based upon interviews and interactions with family members. Students are encouraged to broaden their definition of family (see below).
Student Reflections:
“I really enjoyed this interview with my grandma. I was supposed to talk with her for about 20 minutes, but it turned into an hour long conversation. I learned so much about her childhood and family.” “When I received this assignment I thought it was going to be one of those long and tedious projects. Instead it turned out to be a wonderful experience being able to interview my family members on their lives and learn more about my family history.” “I had a better understanding of the lifestyles my relatives lived in Russia as well as the differences between American and Russian cultures.” |
AuthorsThe content showcased here is very much the work of a large, diverse group of BHS teachers. Categories
All
Archives
March 2020
|