Project Overview: In this multi-day project, the class first works together to examine different graphs, which relate to climate change. In particular, one of these graphs (see below) illustrates the intersection of environmental health and race. After this initial classwork with graphs, students then use this document to help them choose a climate change topic of particular interest to them. One choice is to research specific example(s) of environmental racism, and the relationship between climate change and race, class, gender or socioeconomic class. Each group ultimately prepares and shares a Google Slides presentation.
Lesson Overview: This activity could be used as a debrief lesson after a day such as "Asking For Courage." It might have particular relevance for math and science teachers, as students will use various graphs to both practice literacy skills and grapple with issues related to social (in)justice.
Lesson Overview: Using news articles (see below), students will analyze the sampling methods and potential sources of bias in real world studies .
Here are the 3 (abridged) news articles:
Lesson Overview: Students read the blog post, “I Fit the Description” by Steve Locke about his experience being stopped and questioned about a crime he did not commit. Working on their own and in small groups, students discuss Locke’s experience and identify examples of implicit bias.
Lesson Overview: Students first reflect upon their own ancestry and racial identity (see questions below), and then continue with a guided lesson on polygenic inheritance and genetic analysis to better understand the mechanics of DNA/ancestry testing and its inherent limitations. What can we conclude from such testing? What can we not conclude? Why?
Student Reflection:
“I was able to learn more about the specific backgrounds of people in the class, helping me to group people less.” Assignment Overview: Students read various essays from the book American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Cultures edited by America Ferrara. Using the book's essays as models, students then write their own narrative essay that reflects on their own experience being between cultures (American or living in America).
Lesson Overview: After reading an article and watching a few videos, students will debrief in small groups, speaking in Spanish as they share and respond to quotes/passages from the article and videos. Lesson Resources:
Lesson Overview: These slides contain short profiles of young and diverse Biologists doing biological research involving genetics. A teacher could integrate these slides into a broader lesson regarding genetics, current research, etc.
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: 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!" |
AuthorsThe content showcased here is very much the work of a large, diverse group of BHS teachers. Categories
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