Minimester courses are offered to 7th- and 8th-grade Humanities students at SSFS during Quarter 3 (Jan 24 - April 11). Middle School faculty craft various hands-on and inquiry-based courses with the goal of piquing student interest and engagement through choice and experiential learning. These courses are designed to hone student skills of critical thinking while deepening and broadening understanding, and to provide opportunities for new classroom communities of combined Grades 7 and 8 learners. Upon the start of Quarter 4, students will return to their previously-assigned English and Humanities classes to finish the academic year.
Middle School Humanities Minimester
Course Offerings 2023
Course
Titles
Let Your Life Speak: Social Activism Through Lyrics and Poetry
If You Build It, They Will Come: Iconic Moments in American Film
Graphic Memoir: Telling Our Life Stories Through Graphic Novel Format
And You Don’t Stop: The Birth of Social Activism in Hip-Hop
Ancient Myths
Anne Frank’s Diary, the Graphic Adaptation, and Maus I, A Survivor’s Tale
The Responsibility of Hope: History and Memory of the Holocaust as Told through
The Black Power Movement: Radicalizing the Young Activists in the CRM
Can You Dig It? An Introduction to Archaeology
The Worlds of Fantasy: Genre Study
How to Win an Argument: Public Speaking and Rhetoric
Exploring the Quaker Way
Graphic Memoir: Telling Our Life Stories Through Graphic Novel Format
Teacher:
Kiki Vargas
Texts/Materials:
The Art of the Graphic Memoir: Tell your story, change your life, Hart (2018)
Description:
Students will be introduced to When Stars are Scattered; Almost American Girl; and They Called Us Enemy among other graphic novels as entry points into the discussion of memoir and personal narrative. In parallel, they will read excerpts from The Art of the Graphic Memoir: Tell your story, change your life in support of telling their own life journeys.
Capstone Project
Students will design, draft, and generate visual and written content to publish a memoir in graphic novel format.
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The Responsibility of Hope: History and Memory of the Holocaust as Told through
Anne Frank’s Diary, the Graphic Adaptation, and Maus I, A Survivor’s Tale
Teacher:
Kiki Vargas
Texts/Materials:
Anne Frank’s Diary: The Graphic Adaptation, Ari Folman, Anne Frank, et al (2018); Maus I: A Survivor’s Tale: My Father Bleeds History, Spiegelman (1986)
Description:
In a single quarter, how does one cover the breadth, depth, and emotional toil of the persecution and death sentence of millions of Jews? Organizations like the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Anne Frank House will serve as beacons of learning as students discuss history and responsibility. Students will read, discuss, and draft responses to graphic novels: Anne Frank’s Diary, a visually engaging reinterpretation of the timeless story, and Maus I, A Survivor’s Tale, known as “the first masterpiece of comic book history.” These personal narratives will deepen knowledge while illuminating courage and determination.
Capstone Project
With support from their teacher, students will choose an inquiry based project that hinges on interest, research, and personal discovery.
Off-Campus Experiential Learning Opportunity
Visit The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
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The Worlds of Fantasy: Genre Study
Teacher:
Lisa Penkowsky
Texts/Materials:
Destiny Collection at SSFS Library
Description:
Students will read a selection of fantasy novels and fairy tales based on interest/choice to discover and to then discuss the many varieties within the genre. They will then create their own game to reflect a favorite novel or fantasy theme.
Capstone Project
Creation of a game based on their choice of novel or story
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Let Your Life Speak: Social Activism Through Lyrics and Poetry
Teacher:
Texts/Materials:
“The Hill We Climb” by Amanda Gorman; other selected poetry and lyric sources curated in Destiny Collection at SSFS Library
Lisa Penkowsky
Description:
Students will consider the Quaker SPICES and apply them to the study of modern political activism, seeking connections in poetry and musical lyrics. Our guiding question is: How have artists from the past and present reflect the Quaker Testimonies or values to bring about social justice?
Capstone Project
Students will write their own collection of poetry around a current social justice topic of their choosing.
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And You Don’t Stop: The Birth of Social Activism in Hip-Hop
Teacher:
Terrell Davis
Description:
Students will be introduced to hip-hop based on the circumstances which led to its creation. Throughout the semester students will examine the music as a form of expression that resonated strongly with its predominantly African-American and Latino audience. Students will explore the ways in which hip-hop speaks to youth about oppression, violence, identity, culture, and power. Through their discussion, research, essays and portfolio, students will address how this medium has been used as a form of cultural politics and activism to fight for social justice.
Capstone Project
Students will design a digital portfolio, which centers on an aspect(s) of hip-hop culture. They will also create songs based on a social justice movement
Texts/Materials:
Can’t Stop Won’t Stop, Jeff Chang (2005)
Off-Campus Experiential Learning Opportunity
Visit The Nat.'l Museum of African American History & Culture
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The Black Power Movement: Radicalizing the Young Activists in the CRM
Teacher:
Texts/Materials:
Terrell Davis
Description:
During the Black Power movement in the late 1960s and early 1970s, an emphasis was placed on racial pride, the creation of black political and cultural institutions, self-reliance, and group unity. Students will examine the movement and work to dispel the popular narratives which viewed it as violent, racist, exclusionary, and aimed at the overthrow of the government. This course will look at the major organizations, key figures, and ideologies of the black power movement. This cultural, political, and social movement encompassed many different groups and ideas, and the purpose of this course is to examine the concept of Black Power and situate it within the narrative of American History.
Capstone Project
The final project will examine an idea, group, or individual associated with the Black Power Movement. It will include 3-5 page paper & a presentation for classmates.
Malcolm X: By Any Means Necessary, Walter Dean Myers (1994)
Off-Campus Experiential Learning Opportunity
Visit The National Museum of African American History & Culture
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How to Win an Argument: Public Speaking and Rhetoric
Teacher:
Texts/Materials:
Luc Hotaling
Description:
Capstone Project
Contribution to "This I Believe” archive (NPR)
Rhetoric is the art of persuasion and great public speakers combine rhetorical skills with their individual strengths to motivate others. Whether they’re funny, inspiring, thoughtful, compassionate, or daring: they are always authentic. In this course, students will study effective speakers, writers, and public figures and use what they learn from them to develop their writing and public speaking skills. They will address real-world issues that they are passionate about (affecting our school, community, or country) to use their voices for positive change.
Excerpts from The Elements of Style, William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White (2020) and On Writing Well, William Zinsser (2006)
Visit PBS Student Voices or similar venue
Off-Campus Experiential Learning Opportunity
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If You Build It, They will Come: Iconic Moments in American Film
Teacher:
Texts/Materials:
Luc Hotaling
Description:
Movies have entertained, scared, delighted, moved, and inspired us for more than 100 years, but “it’s hard to be what you can’t see,” as Marian Wright Edelman writes. This course will explore films that highlight actors, filmmakers, and stories that don’t often get told: from iconic performers like Sidney Poitier to cult classics like But I’m a Cheerleader and Selena. Students will examine performance, cinematography, and screenwriting technique; read and write film criticism; and explore the historical context of each movie.
Capstone Project
Book of movie reviews
Geena Davis Institute on Media; Excerpts from The Celluloid Closet RogerEbert.com
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Ancient Myths
Teacher:
Pinki Shah
Texts/Materials:
Geena Davis Institute on Media; Excerpts from The Celluloid Closet RogerEbert.com
Description:
A myth is defined as a traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events. Some of our oldest myths date back to our first civilization, ancient Sumer. In this course, we will read, analyze, and act out myths from ancient Sumer, Egypt, and Greece.
Capstone Project
Students will create canopic jars, participate in a mummification process, write their own myth and design their own ancient civilization board game.
National Geographic Museum, King Tut Exhibit
Off-Campus Experiential Learning Opportunity
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Can You Dig It? An Introduction to Archaeology
Teacher:
Kristen Olsen
Description:
Archaeology is the study of the past through material remains. In this course, we will discuss the science of archaeology, its history and its relevance in our world today. We will learn about the many aspects of an archaeologist’s job, from the mundane to the possibility of thrilling discoveries. Students will work collaboratively to examine, describe and draw objects, and then hypothesize about each object’s identity and use, and the lives of the people who used them. We will also research current issues in the field of archaeology.
Off-Campus Experiential Learning Opportunity
Josiah Henson Museum
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Exploring the Quaker Way
Teacher:
Carolyn Donovan
Texts/Materials:
Lives that Speak Friends General Conference (2004) Murphy, S. B.
“Quakers, Indian Boarding Schools, and Indigenous Justice Today.” Friends Journal, December 1, 2022 QuakerSpeak. (n.d.). YouTube.
Description:
As members of the SSFS community, students have the unique opportunity to witness the continuing Revelation experiences in the Society of Friends. This course will explore the early foundations and principle elements of Quakerism in America, the Light Within as a fundamental Quaker concept, and the queries considered by modern Friends who take an active role in social change. Students will engage in frequent decision-making based on Quaker process as they determine the structure, goals, and outcomes of the course. Students will complete the course by designing lessons for their MS classmates that will become a part of the Advisory program.
Off-Campus Experiential Learning Opportunity
Josiah Henson Museum
Capstone Project
Students will create an Advisory lesson about a current social justice issue being explored in the Society of Friends.
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