Mana Seekers Curriculum Plan
Essential Understanding
Science and the arts work together as effective tools to help humans communicate and understand the world.
Essential QuestionsWhat is energy? Where does energy come from?
Rational
Scientists and artists use many of the same tools to understand and communicate these understandings to others. In Mana Seekers, an arts and science integration project, students observe the moon to help them understand energy and effects on the world around them. Students create a moon journal to explore the changes they see in a moon cycle, and reflect on sun energy as a life source. Students learn drama, creative writing, and painting to communicate their understanding and emotions of life energy, mana.
Student Learning Goals
Students learn a Hawaiian chant as a way to memorize the phases of the moon.
Students observe and interpret a Hawaiian story of the sun and moon to connect native intelligence and science as well as gain communication skills.
Students increase awareness of emotions and find creative ways to express themselves.
Hawaii Content Standards
Science Standards Big Ideas: Scientists ask questions and
explore possible answers by conducting scientific investigations. Questioning
and observing are the basis from which hypotheses are formed to be tested in
scientific investigations. The goal of scientific inquiry is to understand and
explain the natural world. Scientific inquiry is a process that can be used by
anyone who understands it.
7.1.1 Design and safely conduct a scientific investigation to answer a question
or test a hypothesis
7.1.2 Explain the importance of replicable trials
7.1.3 Explain the need to revise conclusions and explanations based on new scientific evidence
7.2 Explain the use of reliable print and electronic sources to provide scientific information and evidence
Language Arts Standards Big Ideas: Language allows for communication through symbolic form. The power of
literature is in the imaginative use of language and in its ability to
engage us in understanding self, society, and the world. Language
is functional and purposeful. We use language to express ourselves, to
communicate with others, to learn, to accomplish tasks, to connect with
others, to make sense of experience, and as a tool for thinking. Language
processes are meaning-making processes. Reading, writing, listening,
and speaking are thinking, discovering, ordering, and meaning-making
processes.
Vocabulary and Concept Development
7.1.1 Use new grade-appropriate vocabulary, including content area vocabulary,
learned through word study and reading
7.4.1 Range of Writing
Write in a variety of grade-appropriate formats for a variety of purposes and
audiences, such as poems that experiment with poetic forms (i.e., limerick,
ballad, free verse)
7.5.1 Meaning
Connect selected details, examples, reasons, and/or facts to the insight,
message, or thesis in a meaningful way
7.6.1 Discussion and Presentation
Adjust one's role in a small group, as necessary, in order to carry out an
assignment or to complete a project
7.6.6 Delivery
Adjust dialect (e.g., standard English, Hawaiian Creole, colloquialisms) to
grade-appropriate audience, purpose, and situation
Math Standards Big Idea: Numbers can be represented in many ways, and used for different purposes.
7.1.2 Numbers and Number Systems
Identify situations that require the use of large numbers and represent them
using scientific notation
Social Studies Standards
7.6 Cultural Anthropology: Understand culture as a system of beliefs, knowledge, and practices shared by a group and understand how cultural systems change over time
Fine Arts:
Assessments To Determine Learning
Regular community reflection by students to determine areas of learning. (informal student input) Click here to see student reflections.
Moon Journal-Written and drawn scientific observations over an extended period of time
Scientific Switcheroo-Arrangement of steps of scientific method learned through singing and repitition
Benchmark Lab: Energy Bead Inquiry-to evaluate student lab skills as they enter seventh grade
Compare and Contrast:Venn Diagram to illustrate similarities and differences in native and scientific ways of knowing
Poem: Use of selected words to create a quality poem
Slam It: Use of drama to communicate, educate, and entertain
Painting: Create a painting to communicate poem using another artistic venue.
