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Select a Concern to Investigate
In Stage 2 of the cycle, “Select a Concern to Investigate,” students will examine their school communities to better understand both strengths and challenges, brainstorm issues and concern.
They will discuss these ideas with their classmates and select a focus for their inquiry. At this stage, student researchers develop a mission and a vision to guide, deepen and motivate their work. The resources below are scaffolded and differentiated to support you and your students in this process!
2.1 Defining and Mapping Community
In this 1 class period lesson, students will be able to define the concept of community, differentiate between emotional and physical communities, and analyze the geographic and relational boundaries that shape their communities. Students will then be able to visualize their communities.
2.2 Discovering Our Community Through Photo Walks
In this 2-3 class periods lesson, students will be able to analyze the role of photojournalism in documenting social issues, discuss the ethics of photography, and prepare to use photography as a tool for understanding and representing their community. Students will be able to document their community through photography. Students will be able to analyze and reflect on their photographs, interpret themes and patterns, and discuss potential solutions to community issue.
2.3 Brainstorming Concerns as Project Topics
In this 1 class period lesson, students will be able to brainstorm all of the different issues and assets in their chosen communities. Students will be able to adapt those issues into project topic ideas that are specific, focused, important to youth, and reasonable in scope.
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