"We need more books!" Meme sighed in frustration. Her group had returned from the library empty-handed. They had found a book they wanted to read in order to get a more nuanced understanding of Chinese culture. However, our local library did not have enough copies. Others echoed Meme's frustration.
Working across class periods, my students developed a list of books from around the world that they would like to read. Each class made a list and asked me to share it with the following class. Once each period had contributed, the students then narrowed the list down to the most interesting and intriguing selections.
Reading is the most fundamental skill students learn in school. While most high schoolers have mastered decoding, they must learn to summarize, predict, and draw conclusions in order to be successful in college and their careers. This project will allow students to practice these skills with high-interest books about the world around them. Students will also be able to develop a better sense of what life is like outside of the United States without ever having to leave their classroom as travel is a luxury not available to all of our students.
In Their Own Words
Our goal for this project is to answer questions that are based on our chosen countries' cultures in our self-designed Genius Projects. For example, I am studying feminism in the Muslim world. Through studying women's stories, I will have a better understanding of their experiences, our differences, and our similarities. My classmates are studying their own topics to better understand the world around them, and these books will help all of us.
We will bring these Genius Projects to life through stories, pictures, and presentations to our fellow students and community. This project will show us that the US isn't the norm for everything. I believe that through researching the rest of the world, we will learn more about the cultures of other countries and be better prepared to act as global citizens.
These Genius Projects will help increase the empathy and comprehension of high school students in regards to global history and lives. We will grow as global citizens due to this exposure.
More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Thornton and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
