Course Overview
Project Explore is designed to inspire student’s curiosity and increase their understanding of the world. Students will develop critical thinking skills, expand their perspectives, and recognize their ability to affect positive change in the world.
The educational program is four units long with engaging lessons, PowerPoint slideshows, and virtual adventures that teach students what it means to be a citizen of the world and their community.
Upon reflection of their explorations in the first three units, students will develop a plan and presentation for their future community 20 years from now.
Lesson Format: Each lesson has students explore a new region, a historical event, or the diversity of cultures using mapping, community exploration, and journaling skills.
Mapping
Using electronic maps and/or physical exploration students will record their map findings in their journal. Students will begin by creating a map from memory of their home or neighborhood and use online maps to compare accuracy. In later units students will use different types of maps to tour through cities to view current communities, explore historical events and landmarks, and examine the diverse cultures located throughout the world.
Community Exploration
Students will record in their Adventure Journal what landmarks, buildings, people, plants, animals, and activities they observe. Students will explore the culture of the region by interviewing a live person, talking to someone over the phone or internet, or finding a website with a previously recorded interview to take notes of. In Units 2 and 3 students are tasked with developing essential questions for their interviews.
Journal Entry
While exploring the geography and culture of the region students record their experiences in their handmade Adventure Journal. Students will also write a journal entry each week that includes facts about the culture and geography of the community they have explored. Students will write journal entries from multiple points of view throughout the units.
Assessment
Future Community Plan
Students will show what they have learned by creating a presentation of their “Future Community” where they plan to live in 20 years. Students will reflect on what they have learned about the world around them and present their ideas for what the future should look like. Students will complete mapping tasks, community exploration, and a journal entry for their Future Community. Creativity is encouraged and students are able to present their Future Community plan as a written narrative, a video, or an artistic piece such as a poster or diorama.