The Problem
My hope for this project which encompasses both STEM and humanities components is that it will empower students to become future changemakers and help them embark on their own passion projects. Twenty-seven gifted and talented students will work with their classroom teacher and science educator on activities that focus on climate change and alternative energy resources. The first step to building literacy and social comprehension skills is to find humanity in ourselves and in others. To help create global citizens and build empathy in our young people we must help nurture the realization of the power of one individual's ability to change his or her own community and better the lives of others. My hope is that this project which encompasses both STEM and humanities components will empower students to become future changemakers and embark on their own passion projects. Twenty-seven gifted and talented students will work with their classroom teacher and science educator on activities that focus on climate change and alternative energy resources. Students will get acquainted with cross-curricular reading material and be introduced to young climate activists in the world today. They will learn about alternative energy forms, break into groups to explore and delve deeply into what they have discovered, create real-world products and presentations to teach other members of the community about their findings and share their recommendations to make the world better and brighter.
Our Plan
From the first day of school, students are encouraged to think for themselves and engage in activities and discussions that allow for in-depth analysis of texts and life issues without having to find the “right answer.” They are empowered to know that they can change their local and global communities. Students will study alternative energy resources in science. We will engage in a shared reading of the Young Reader's edition of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, William Kamkwamba's gripping memoir about the heroic young inventor who brought electricity to his Malawian village. Students will explore important themes (including survival and perseverance). Since our first fourth grade reading workshop unit after "Making Reading Lives" is "Thinking Deeply About Characters & Developing Interpretations about Characters," students will work on a text where the protagonist, a 13 year old boy, is deeply committed to making a difference in his community.
Our shared reading will provide cross-curricular connections since we will study various forms of energy and alternative energy sources in science and students will begin to think about important issues in their own community that they care about and may wish to embark on with service learning endeavors.I also plan to introduce my students to Greta Thunburg the young climate activist, will examine her TED talk & UN visits and this can helpfully lead them to their own passion projects. Our science educator will help students build and create their own wind generators. Literacy activities will include students creating their own poems, short stories, book reviews and essays based on the young heroes and heroines they learn about, their missions and what young people can do to help combat climate change. They will also create fliers, posters, video PSA’s, power points, blogs and a website to share their new knowledge and compassionate passions.
