The 5 Habits Framework

1) Evidence (How do I know what's true?)

2) Perspective (Who might think differently?)

3) Connections (What other areas of knowledge are connected?)

4) Supposition (How might it be different if..?)

5) Significance (Is this important?)

Friday, October 5, 2018

Family of Teen Sues School to Play on JV Team

He was cut from the Ladue High soccer team. First his family cried foul. Then they sued.



https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/he-was-cut-from-the-ladue-high-soccer-team-first/article_a8eb5429-4355-5357-9aa2-a3c6eababeaf.html

1)  What evidence is being used to prove discrimination or non-discrimination?  What evidence do you find most convincing? How are numbers used in this story to persuade the reader?

2)  To what degree is one perspective promoted over another in this story?  In what ways might the teen's perspective differ from his parents'?  How could you view this story from both the school's and the family's perspectives?

3)  To what degree is this connected to your school?  How might this be connected to Harry Potter?  To the Academy Awards? 

4)  How could the coach's rationale change if this was a different sport?  How could this be different if the student was 2 years younger?  Older?  In Colombia? 

5)  In what ways is this significant to you?  What are the long-term consequences for the school?  For the student?  What is a piece of information that could make this significant for a student at this school in the future?

Extension Activities:

1)  Students can research and report about famous athletes/artists who got cut/rejected from teams early in their career trajectories.

2)  Students can devise an equitable plan/policy/advice for students who find themselves in a similar situation.


Friday, September 28, 2018

Authorities Investigating Tourist Riding Crocodile


https://www.news.com.au/travel/australian-holidays/northern-territory/incredible-moment-tourist-jumps-on-the-back-of-massive-saltwater-crocodile/news-story/697f1ce15e6672b963f96f34e80461ff
Picture: Niels Jensen/Caters NewsSource:Caters News Agency

1)  What makes this story credible?  What more information do I need to understand this problem better?  What numbers are used in this story to give a value judgement of the tourists actions?   

2)  Were the perspectives in this piece generally positive or negative about the man's actions?  How is my own perspective limited in making a judgement about this story?  How might this story be perceived differently in different parts of Australia?  In different parts of Denmark?

3)    Have you seen something like this before?  In what ways is a connection to "Crocodile Dundee" or "The Crocodile Hunter" appropriate?  To which classic fairly tale or story is this most connected?   

4)  How might this story be different if the tourist's nationality were changed?  To what degree would this be newsworthy if there were fewer media outlets in Australia? 

5)  What might be some ways this story is significant for Australian tourism?  Environmental efforts?

Extension Activities:

1)  Students can study tricks of zoologists to keep animals docile when humans are around and look for patterns between groups of animals (reptiles and mammals)

2)  Students can list animals common to their area and rate on a continuum "most dangerous" to "most friendly".