Monday, March 16, 2020

Learning During School Closure

We can all be historians during this time away from school by journaling our observations and keeping a record of what's happening through our eyes.

Daily Assignment: 
  • Last week I sent you home with your journal. If you were absent on Friday, use lined paper or your phone notepad. 
  • Your job is to chronicle the changes you observe as your community, the country, and the world respond to COVID-19. 
  • Each day, take note of what you are seeing and hearing on the news, among your friends, within your family, and in your community. 
  • Feel free to use video, written language, poetry, sketches, etc. as you document your experience during this global pandemic. 
  • The questions below are to guide your thinking. You do not need to respond to all of them. And, you are encouraged to ask your own questions.
  • When we return to school, you will be asked to turn in your journal of daily observations for extra credit. 
Guiding Questions:
  • What did the government announce/declare/implement today?
    • Does it make sense?
    • Does it impact your life? Why or why not?
    • How did your family respond?
  • What is open in your neighborhood? What is closed?
  • What does your neighborhood look like? Are people walking around?
  • How is today different from yesterday for you, your family, our nation, the world?
  • Do you see any examples of racism, privilege, and income inequality in any of the events that happened today? (Locally, at the state level, nationally, or the world?)
  • Did you see anything today that gave you hope? Anxiety? Fear? (In person, in the news, or on social media?)
  • What does your family need today that you might not have, have enough of, or have no access to acquire?
  • What do you and your family have that others may need?
Your unique daily observations will serve as primary sources to the people in the future. 

We can create a book of our journals so that others can see the world through our eyes. 

Be authentic. Be honest. Be reflective.

As always, email me if you have any questions: cdaniel@sandi.net 

Source: 
Bryan Shaw, Mt. Diablo Unified School District