2012-2013+Curriculum+Planning+Notes

Boston Neighborhoods Notes, July 23rd Annie, Lisa, Heidi

Powerful themes across neighborhoods


 * libraries
 * art / music
 * languages
 * activism (housing, libraries, peace)
 * food

Have someone come in beforehand and tell a story of the neighborhood Make a list with the class of the things we should look for on our field trip related to the story And make a list of what you wonder about the story, to try to find answers to on the field trip

While there, look for those things When we get back, kids list things they noticed relating to the 5 themes

Guiding Questions to follow:

1. What makes a neighborhood a good place to live? 2. Then move to something more sophisticated: How do people make their neighborhood a better place to live?
 * answer this question in Mattapan (and our own school)
 * gingerbread man scavenger hunt in our school. Did you see the gingerbread man? No, he went that way…(Lisa can explain)
 * start at a very basic level – places to buy food, places to get your hair cut, etc.
 * begin this question in Chinatown
 * activism
 * libraries
 * affordable housing

3. Finally, go to the most sophisticated level: What makes people feel at home in their neighborhood?
 * Focus on this question in the Villa
 * a place where they can be themselves and express their culture
 * art, language, food, music

To think about:
 * how to connect science to this
 * how to do some activism earlier on in the year
 * o What would make our school a better place to be? Choose something to work on.
 * how to bring drama into it
 * Different ways for kids to enter at very different levels
 * What else do they do on field trips?