Hello people,

I have been going through all your comments and posts about planning a cubic curriculum for Grade 6, the focus being sensitivity to the environment. Here are a couple of my thoughts.. The way I am looking at this is to plan a cubic curriculum for the topic from the lens of biology (in my case) make the possible interconnections and then see how it fits in. Considering that the scope of the topic is huge, I would exercise caution and keep it within the grade level requirements and not get ahead of trying to fit in too many life skills as well. My personal start point would be to read Hoots as it is prescribed reading for grade 6 and make my connections.

As Sowmya mentioned, I think it would be a good idea to go through the Design Toolkit for process and then in the 2 weeks in May, we figure out the process and the implementation of the same. Also, with regards to the broad question that Sowmya had articulated in her post, do you think that it would be a good idea to come up with our respective statements/ questions which drives our subject? My apprehension is that while we are making these connections and talking about it on this forum, we fall into the trap of it turning out like theme in the primary school.

Hi Ladies,

Hope this blog of mine is visible!!

Yes! Design tool kit is very useful and it also has a workbook that we can use. I had mailed it to you. Will resend it.

 I will be focusing on Contexts and Conflicts. Starts with the interrelationships between human and natural environments and will need to stage it through.

Social, Economical, Environmental and Political contexts and conflicts are the connecting points.

Need to think through further!

This is the document - very useful

HI

I was going through the Design thinking toolkit and am using it to create a timeline for the steps to be followed. I think if we could all do this by the time we get back we can have a road map of sorts... let me know what you think. It really clarifies process.

Sowmya, your idea of putting together a curriculum that promotes self-awareness and greater responsibility towards the environment sounds feasible.However, I was wondering what you meant by "mindful" practices in the 21st century?Is it to do with self awareness,being more socially responsible or being able to deal with the challenges that the century will unfold(global warming, pollution etc.) ?This is because these global challenges require lifestyle changes that go beyond a life skills curriculum.
While I am writing to you I am trying to think aloud as well so I have more clarity.

Hi Ladies

Welcome back Meenakshi. Bangalore now as hot as Chennai L

I was thinking about our combined cube that could culminate in our final middle school project. I was thinking that we should look at interdependence and humanity’s role in relation to this. I thought we could pool in topics that we could use to show case this in grade 6 with respect to the environment with the Vartur project, edible garden (organic farming and food cycle), what does it mean to be mindful in the 21^st century (Achira?)

As I was ideating on all this I put together a rough plan. I would love your inputs on the same.

Subjects	Packet	Cross curriculum theme/issues	Teaching styles	Artefact
English	Hoot and other environment related literature – articles, poems, videos	Love / Agape for our world as a whole – personal activism	1.     Reflect 2.     Discuss 3.     Enquire 4.     Evaluate 5.     Substantiate	·      Foldable ·      Personal essay ·      Pod cast ·      Class newspaper on issues that matter to students
Biology		Food chain – composing and sustainable practices
Earth sciences		Balance between human activities and our environment – Vartur project
Psychology and life skills		What does it mean to live in an interconnected world – mindful practices for 21st century?

This kind of angle of looking at things will help us work towards a middle school project in which we look at empathy for everything in this world through different lenses and how it is important to see a synergy between us and the world we live in. The artifact of each of the disciplines could be different but the goal is to see our role in the cosmos. What can students as activists and as role models do in their own environment to bring about change? – Middle school project???

Hi ladies

What's up. Meenakshi how Chennai? Bangalore beautiful after the showers. As I was looking at my personal mastery (PM) I was checking out some read aloud that can be used for building the packet. I thought I would share this website which had some interesting books. Check it out. Achira some good ones for learning lab as well.

1.     http://www.childrenoftheearth.org/Navy%20Pages/recommended-books-children-environment.htm

Will revert with some more PM ideas.

Cheers