(this is a work in progress)
Essential Question:
How does public art connect us to our communities, provide beautiful spaces for communication, or affect change?
Key Product:
Collaborative mural created in a community in which the students live or within our school site.
Key Audience:
Our school community and the broader San Diego community at large
Key Learning Goals:
Students will explore ancient cultures from across the globe through stories and legends that were depicted on caves, rocks, and monuments to represent the artists' history, religion and beliefs. Students will analyze and examine how specific cultures have communicated with various audiences through their artistic representations and how that relates to the ways in which we communicate with various audiences in our own communities.
Students will:
evaluate connections between economics, geography and historical events
examine the cause and effects of early humans’ transition from hunting and gathering societies to agriculturalists to empire builders
participate in an in-depth study of murals and their meanings from cultures including Ancient Egypt, Pre-Columbian Meso-American cultures, cave paintings in France, frescoes from Pompeii, Bhimbetka rock shelters in India, and Australian Aboriginal art
develop skills that will enhance their ability to be independent thinkers and community members
build on their understanding of literary terms
Academic skills students will practice:
writing constructed responses
writing descriptive paragraphs
reading strategies
response to text
use of narrative strategies
personal writing
summarization skills
research skills
building a strong argument based on evidence
understand cause and effect of historical events
making inferences
use of digital tools & resources
use of appropriate English conventions
Social-emotional support:
providing students with a variety of opportunities to practice, demonstrate and master literacy skills
providing integrated technology instruction & support
journal writes
reading a variety of texts
utilizing a variety of digital tools & resources
engaging in classroom discussions
providing opportunities for students to contribute to and connect with people in their communities
analyzing history from multiple perspectives and cultures from across the globe in order to decolonize our education
Anchor Texts:
Exploring Mesoamerica by John Pohl
Secret of the Andes by Ann Nolan Clark
The Lost City of Pompeii by National Geographic Kids
Papunya Tula: Art of the Western Desert by Geoffrey Bardon
Shen of the Sea by Arthur Bowie Chrisman
Connections to Critical, Culturally-Responsive Pedagogy
providing opportunities for students to contribute to and connect with people in their communities
analyzing history from multiple perspectives and cultures from across the globe in order to decolonize our education
providing students with a variety of opportunities to practice, demonstrate and master literacy skills
analyzing how muralists throughout time have used the art of their heritage to express themselves in contemporary ways
providing instruction so that students can develop skills that will enhance their ability to be independent thinkers and community members