Al-Jawza’ Folktale
Learners are introduced to the Al-Jawza’ folktale. Learners complete a gallery walk of the thinking routine “What do you already know? What do you wonder about? What have you learned today?”
Unit:AstronomyIncludes
AlJawza constellation images (slides 1-3), AlJawza folktale, Astronomy unit vocabulary
Astronomical Instruments
Learners explore the parts and function of different astronomical tools throughout the ages.
Unit:AstronomyIncludes
Astronomical tools thinking routine slides, Astronomical tools teacher guide
Rotation of the Earth
Learners are introduced to the rotation of the Earth through a video and the thinking routine ‘see, think, wonder.’ Learners read a short informational text about the rotation of the Earth and the patterns it creates.
Unit:AstronomyIncludes
Informational text about the rotation of the Earth, Astronomy unit vocabulary, Timelapse of the sun’s movement across the sky
Data
Learners explore the concept of a pattern and practice interpreting data.
Unit:AstronomyIncludes
Data lesson slides, Video of the rotation of the Earth, Astronomy unit vocabulary
Shadows
Learners investigate the relationship between shadows, an object and a light source and begin to understand that the rotation of the Earth causes a change in length and direction of shadows.
Unit:AstronomyIncludes
Timelapse of the sun’s movement across the sky
Shadows continued
Learners observe the relationship between shadows, an object and a light source by going outside and practicing scientific behaviors. Learners practice creating data about shadows.
Unit:AstronomyIncludes
Shadow tracker, Video of shadows changing throughout the day
Revolution of the Earth
Learners will be introduced to the revolution of the Earth and investigate a new pattern the movement of the Earth creates - the seasonal appearance of stars in the night sky. The investigation takes place through a folktale and an informational text.
Unit:AstronomyIncludes
Thuraya’s folktale, Informational text about the Earth’s revolution, Astronomy unit vocabulary, Video of the Earth revolving
Constellation Tour
Learners will investigate the seasonal appearance of stars in the night sky using movement and storytelling.
Unit:AstronomyIncludes
Well bucket constellation, Pictures of Seasonal Stars, Constellation tour student roles, Constellation tour script
The House of Wisdom
Learners will watch a short video on astronomy in the medieval Islamic empire and investigate the special contributions of Islamic astronomers.
Unit:AstronomyIncludes
Informational text on medieval Islamic science, هارون الرشيد وابنه المأمون.. زمن بغداد الذهبي, بيت الحكمة تأليف بدور القاسمي, مريم وتنين الشمس
Final Project
Learners choose a phenomenon created by the movement of the Earth and a way to represent it through a graphical display of data. Learners create a folktale that explains the phenomenon including an understanding of why this mattered to our ancestors.
Unit:AstronomyIncludes
Final project planning sheet and rubric
Mapping exploration
Learners rotate through mapping stations, starting to define their understanding of space and place through different modalities including geography and art literacies.
Unit:Geographies of HomeIncludes
Lesson slides, Heart-map handout, My Map Book, Sarah Fanelli
Connecting to Special Places
Learners brainstorm special places and think about what makes it special. Learners use inspiration from various artists to bring their chosen places alive.
Unit:Geographies of HomeIncludes
Special places handout, Mentor texts and artists
Sound maps
Learners explore representations of different sounds as they create sound maps.
Unit:Geographies of HomeIncludes
You Draw My Hum lesson plan, Nia Fekri, Sonic hunt handout, Lesson slides
Home in Place
Learners collaboratively build a story map of their school or surrounding area.
Unit:Geographies of HomeIncludes
Mapping activity sheets, Home in place slides
We Went Looking for Home
Learners begin to understand the idea of home is hard to contain. Learners brainstorm all the feelings, sensations, images, and memories that come up when they think of home.
Unit:Geographies of HomeIncludes
We Went Looking for Home but We Found… (Al-Bustan camp multimedia book)
Home is a Foreign Place
Learners take inspiration from Zarina Hashimi’s Home is a Foreign Place and create block print symbols of home.
Unit:Geographies of HomeIncludes
Zarina Hashimi slides, MoMA audio: Zarina Hashimi’s Home is a Foreign Place (English)
Are Maps Always Truthful?
Learners understand that maps can be inaccurate and explore artists who work to capture the true spirit of a place when maps fail us.
Unit:Geographies of HomeIncludes
Lesson slides
Dream Maps
Learners create multimedia maps of their dream places and worlds inspired by decolonial mapping.
Unit:Geographies of HomeIncludes
Dream maps handout
Community Maps
Learners understand that people make home and create their own community maps of the people they hold near.
Unit:Geographies of HomeIncludes
Winti Hon (وانتِ هون), Ruba Shamshoum and Amy Chiniara — animation, Community map example
Final Project
Learners work to memorialize some of their favorite places through collaborative art.
Unit:Geographies of HomeIncludes
Examples of murals and collaborative design, Special places handout (from lesson 2), Mentor texts and artists (from lesson 2), Final project example
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