“Nimble with Numbers” & “Dirt Detectives” Promoting Equity and Diversity in Math and Humanities Projects Fall 2007

Guiding Question… How can my teaching partner and I design beginning of the year projects that introduce sixth graders to the project- based system, address rigorous content, and promote equity and diversity? (Is this too tall of an order?)

Nimble with Numbers Project: –Me, Numerically –Intervals of Me –Number Books –Similarities Search Dirt Detectives Project: –Personal Culture Bag –Culture discussion –Archaeological Dig

Equity Activity Highlight Stand over here if… Discussion about relationships (numerically and personally) Note-taking guide highlighting similarities -Should I explicitly address differences?

Results for Equity and Diversity Project Students translated relationships between numbers to relationships between each other in the classroom. (NN) Students anxiously “excavated” each other’s items to learn about different cultures. (DD) Students made connections with other students whom they wouldn’t normally talk with Students actively and critically listened to their peers