Independence and Equality Syllabus
Instructors
Brian Gerike
Whitney King
Jewel Saunders
Josh Zimmers
E-mail
brian@kornerstoneschool.org
whitney@kornerstoneschool.org
jewel@kornerstoneschool.org
zimmers@kornerstoneschool.org
Course Description:
The Independence and Equality Seminar is designed to give adolescent learners the
opportunity to analyze the human desire to be free and equal with others. We will study
historical movements focusing on the 20th Century and current events. We will analyze
the philosophies and leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson
Mandela and other giants of peace and equality in human history.
School-Wide Essential Question for 2013-2014:
How can following my passions in my education lead me to college, university or other postsecondary education and prepare me for my profession of choice?
Independence and Equality Seminar Essential Question:
Is it possible and desirable to create a society that is equal?
Humanities Essential Question for 2013-2014:
What makes humans human?
Interdisciplinary Themes of Independence and Equality:
1. Independence Movements
2. Civil Rights
3. Human Rights
4. Equality
5. Non-violent protest
The Three Period Lesson:
This seminar will be presented as a Three Period Lesson. During the first period, at the beginning
of the seminar, the teachers will tell a story, provide a foundational understanding, and give an
overview of the schedule, mini-lessons, assignments, and project requirements. During the second
period, students will become an expert through research, exploration, experimentation, and
application of their topic in a paper, created piece, artistic expression, etc. During the third period,
students will present their final creation to the class, sharing their knowledge and collecting the
expertise of their classmates.
Grading:
Projects and papers will be graded on standards-based rubrics based on the 5-point rubric grading
system. Assignments will be tied to State Standards, and district Learning Targets, but students’
choice will be preserved through many options.
Late Assignment Policy:
The Three Period Lesson relies on a set process of teaching, learning, and cooperation among
students to succeed. Deadlines need to be final and attendance is essential. Projects will not be
accepted late. If you are absent on a due date, a parent must call for a project to be accepted late.
Academic Integrity:
M.L.A. bibliography and source citing will be taught during the first unit and will be required for
every project and paper. Papers without proper notation will be considered plagiarized.
Evaluations:
1. Current Events - Focus on developments in Ukraine
2. Local Government/Issues - Position paper
3. Three case studies
4. Mini-Project - Film Review
5. Project - Ukraine Simulation - or - Local Issue/Government - or - Independence Movement
Project
Assigned Resources Bibliography:
Primary sources from case studies
Gandhi. Dir. Richard Attenborough. Perf. Ben Kingsley, Candice Bergen, Martin Sheen, Edward Fox,
and John Gielgud. Columbia Pictures, 1982. Film.
Malcolm X. Dir. Spike Lee. Perf. Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Albert Hall, Al Freedom Jr.
And Delroy Lindo. Warner Bros., 1992. Film.
Standards and Credits:
All students will earn:
Contemporary World Issues 0.25
Economics 0.25
Modern Intellectual History 0.25
Political Science 0.25
Individual or Group Projects and Presentations can earn:
Science, Math, Art, Technology, Business, Social Studies, English, etc.
Course Outline:
I. Baseline Test
II. Overview - first period lesson
III. Case Studies
- Indian Independence
- Colonialism
- Ghandi
- Non-violent protest
- Split of India and Pakistan
- Civil Rights Movement
- Colonialism
- Slavery, Civil War and Reconstruction
- Jim Crow, Dredd Scott, Brown vs. Board
- Bus Boycott
- Martin Luther King (look at other orgs, leaders, methods of protest)
- Civil Rights Act
- South African
- Colonialism
- Apartheid
- Nelson Mandela
- Truth and Reconciliation
CALENDAR
March - June
Monday
17
Professional
Development
Day
Tuesday
18
Orientation
Wednesday
19
Orientation
Thursday
20
Baseline/
Independence
and Equality
Overview
Jewel-Baseline
Friday
21
History of
Inequity,
Colonialism
Ethics/Morality of
Equity and
Independence
Josh
24
Current
25
Local
26
Indian
27
Indian
28
Indian
Events/
Ukraine
Government/
Issues
Josh*/Jewel
(Scavenger
Hunt)
Josh*/Jewel
Independence
Movement Case
Study
(History)
Josh/Jewel*
31
Current
Events/
Ukraine
1
Local
Government/
Issues
2
Civil Rights
Movement Case
Study (History)
Jewel
(Bill to LawJewel)
Jewel
Independence
Movement Case
Study
(Econ, Social,
political)
Josh/Jewel*
Independence
Movement Case
Study
(Current Status)
3
Civil Rights
Movement Case
Study
(Econ,Social,
political)
4
Civil Rights
Movement Case
Study (Current
status)
Josh*/Jewel
Josh*/Jewel
Jewel
7
8
9
South Africa
Case Study
(History)
10
South Africa
Case Study
(Econ, Poli,
Social)
11
South Africa Case
Study
(Current Status)
Current
Events/
Ukraine
Local
Government/
Issues
Josh/Jewel*
(Position Proj)
Josh*/Jewel
Josh*/Jewel
Josh*/Jewel
Josh/Jewel*
14
Introduce/Start
Mini Film
Project
Jewel
15
Mini Film
Project
16
Mini Film
Project
17
SPRING BREAK
18
SPRING BREAK
21
SPRING BREAK
22
SPRING BREAK
23
Mini Film
Project
24
Mini Film
Project
25
Mini Film Project
Presentations
28
Introduce/Start
Independent
Project
(Ukraine
simulation or
Local
issue/governm
ent or Indie
29
Independent
Project
30
Independent
Project
1
Independent
Project
2
Independent
Project
Independence
project)
Josh
5
Independent
Project
6
Independent
Project
7
Independent
Project
8
Independent
Project
9
Independent
Project
12
Independent
Project
13
Independent
Project
14
Independent
Project
15
16
Presentations
Projects Due
Presentations
Senior Event
Night
19
20
21
22
Event Night
23
Baseline/
Reflections
26
Memorial Day
No School
27
28
29
30
2
3
Last Day of
School
Potential Learning Targets
Comparative
economics
(regions or
Econ time) :
omics SS.D.12.2
SS.D.12.2 Use basic economic concepts (such as supply and demand; production,
distribution, and consumption; labor, wages, and capital; inflation and deflation;
market economy and command economy) to compare and contrast local, regional,
and national economies.
Financial
Economic institutions :
s
SS.D.12.14
Econo
mics
Eco
nom
ics
Eco
nom
ics
Eco
nom
ics
Financial
SS.D.12.9 Explain the operations of common financial instruments (such as stocks
institutions : and bonds) and financial institutions (such as credit companies, banks, and
SS.D.12.9 insurance companies).
Government influence
on the economy :
SS.D.12.14
Government influence
on the economy :
SS.D.12.5
Government influence
on the economy :
SS.D.12.8
Econ International
omic trade :
s
SS.D.12.13
Ec
on
om
ics
SS.D.12.14 Analyze the economic roles of institutions, such as corporations
and businesses, banks, labor unions, and the Federal Reserve System.
SS.D.12.13 Describe and explain global economic interdependence and
competition, using examples to illustrate their influence on national and
international policies.
Unequal distribution of
wealth or natural
resources/Poverty :
SS.D.12.12
Political
Science and
Citizenship
Political
Science and
Citizenship
SS.D.12.14 Analyze the economic roles of institutions, such as corporations
and businesses, banks, labor unions, and the Federal Reserve System.
SS.D.12.5 Explain how federal budgetary policy and the Federal Reserve
System's monetary policies influence overall levels of employment, interest
rates, production, and prices.
SS.D.12.8 Explain the basic characteristics of international trade, including
absolute and comparative advantage, barriers to trade, exchange rates, and
balance of trade.
SS.D.12.12 Compare and contrast how values and beliefs, such as
economic freedom, economic efficiency, equity, full employment, price
stability, security, and growth, influence decisions in different economic
systems.
Civil Rights and
similar movements
: SS.C.12.14
Civil Rights and
similar movements
: SS.C.12.16
SS.C.12.14 Explain and analyze how different political and social
movements have sought to mobilize public opinion and obtain
governmental support in order to achieve their goals.
SS.C.12.16 Describe the evolution of movements to assert rights by
people with disabilities, ethnic and racial groups, minorities, and
women.
So
cial
Stu
die
s
912
Politi
cal
Scie
nce
and
Citiz
ensh
ip
Soci
al
Studi
es 912
SS.C.12.2 Describe how different political systems define and protect individual
human rights. SS.C.12.5 Analyze different theories of how governmental powers
might be used to help promote or hinder liberty, equality, and justice, and develop
Compare a reasoned conclusion. SS.C.12.13 Describe and evaluate ideas of how society
political
should be organized and political power should be exercised, including the ideas
systems : of monarchism, anarchism, socialism, fascism, and communism; compare these
SS.C.12. ideas to those of representative democracy; and assess how such ideas have
2
worked in practice.
Political
Science
and
Citizensh
ip
Internation
al
organizatio
ns :
SS.C.12.12
Explain the United States' relationship to other nations and its role in
international organizations, such as the United Nations, North Atlantic
Treaty Organization, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and North
American Free Trade Agreement