Term

Summer 2024

Capstone

Capstone Project

Degree Name

MAT

Facilitator(s)

Trish Harvey

Content Expert

Rebecca Barlow

Abstract

This capstone project explores the challenges and strategies involved in teaching American history within multicultural classrooms, focusing on creating a curriculum that addresses the diverse experiences of Black and Indigenous peoples before and after colonization. The project aims to develop a Grade 5 curriculum that highlights the complexity and richness of Black and Indigenous civilizations, offering a more nuanced understanding of history. The curriculum, based on the Understanding by Design (UbD) framework, spans seven days and covers three main strands: the pre-colonization civilizations of Black and Indigenous peoples, the impact of colonization, and the history of British settlers. The project highlights the importance of inclusive curricula that reflect diverse perspectives, boost students' self-esteem, and foster empathy. Limitations of the project include the need for students to have completed certain prerequisite benchmarks and the inapplicability of the curriculum for younger grades. Despite these limitations, the project promises significant benefits, such as increased student engagement, enhanced understanding of historical complexities, and personal growth for educators.

Project Type

Curriculum

Keywords

Curriculum, Multicultural Education, Social Justice, Teachers/ Teaching

dc_type

text

dc_publisher

DigitalCommons@Hamline

dc_format

application/pdf

dc_source

School of Education Student Capstone Projects

Included in

Education Commons

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