On April 8th, a scientific phenomenon that hasn’t occurred since 1963 will darken the skies.  A total solar eclipse will pass over central and northern Maine! To support educators across the state, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) has created a website with solar eclipse resources for the classroom. Don’t be left in the dark; check out these engaging Maine DOE resources for this exciting celestial event.

For more information or support, please get in touch with Erik Wade at erik.wade@maine.gov or Nicole Karod at Nicole.karod@maine.gov.

The Interdisciplinary Instruction team has curated resources of content and instructional approaches to help educators include and highlight the important contributions of Black and African American Mainers in authentic ways. These project-based strategies include finding local historical figures and guest speakers, researching local history, and bridging content areas.

Incorporating a mathematical and scientific lens into the teaching of African American Studies of Maine can provide an authentic learning experience for all students, highlighting the contributions that African Americans have made in the fields of mathematics, science, and technology.

A 5E inquiry model allows students to construct their own understandings of concepts and skills and then apply them to a new situation. In the example below, students develop background knowledge about an African American scientist or mathematician and apply that knowledge to answer a challenging question.

Engage: Engage students with a video, prompt, or image to capture their attention and develop questions.

1. If you use the Questions Formulation Technique to support student questioning, an example of a Q focus statement could be: A world without African American scientists and mathematicians. (Use this link to learn more about the Question Formulation Technique and upcoming PD.
2. You could also use a video or image that illustrates the contributions of African American scientists and mathematicians.
3. From there, you can use student questions to drive the unit or prompt students with your own guiding/assessment question. A potential guiding/assessment question could be: How would the world be different if the contributions of African American mathematicians and scientists were overlooked?

Explore: Students explore the contributions of African American scientists and mathematicians to develop the needed background knowledge to answer the guiding/assessment question.

• This process requires teacher scaffolding and guiding question(s) to support students as they research. How students research depends on skill and age level. It can range from teacher-provided resources to students conducting independent research.
• An example of a guiding question for the Explore phase could be:
  • What contributions did African American scientists and mathematicians make to their fields?
• Some resources to support their research may include:
• Mathematicians of the African Diaspora: https://www.mathad.com/home
• From Hidden to Modern Figures:
  • Visit the Modern Figures Video Playlist

• 38 Scientists for Black History Month
• 10 Black Scientists that Science Teachers Should Know About

Explain: This phase is for formative assessment and clearing up misconceptions through direct instruction, feedback, and reflection.

Elaborate: Students communicate their new knowledge by answering the guiding/assessment question. Elaborate is also the student assessment, which could include a rubric and expectations.

• The modality of this is very flexible. For example, students could contribute their information to a whole class website to share what they learned with the world, present to an authentic audience of community members, develop a podcast that can be shared, create videos that are shared through YouTube or Social Media, or a documentary that discusses the contributions of the scientist or mathematician and what the world be like without those contributions.

Evaluate: Students and teachers collaborate to evaluate and score student learning through feedback and reflection. This process can look very different depending on the age of students.

For more information about interdisciplinary instruction, please contact Kathy Bertini, Interdisciplinary Instruction Coordinator at kathy.bertini@maine.gov

 

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Interdisciplinary Instruction team has curated resources of content and instructional approaches to help educators include and highlight the important contributions of Black and African-American Mainers in authentic ways.  These project-based strategies include finding local historical figures and guest speakers, researching local history, and bridging content areas.

Incorporating artistic approaches into the teaching of African American Studies of Maine can provide an authentic learning experience for all students. Here are specific instructional strategies using art integration practices:

1. Visual Storytelling through Artifacts
   1. Strategy: Invite students to explore artifacts and primary sources related to African American history in Maine. Ask students to select or create visual representations of these artifacts, accompanied by short narratives or stories highlighting their historical significance.
   2. Implementation: Students can use a variety of artistic mediums such as drawings, paintings, 3D printing, or digital media to create visuals/artifacts. This approach helps students connect emotionally and intellectually with authentic African American historical artifacts.
2. Historical Timeline Murals
   1. Strategy: Have students create a collaborative historical timeline mural that illustrates key events, figures, and milestones in African American history in Maine. Each student or group can contribute a section to the mural, incorporating visual elements and brief descriptions.
   2. Implementation: Students can use a large wall space or poster boards to construct the timeline mural. This hands-on project allows students to synthesize information and visually represent the chronological progression of African American history in Maine.
3. Story Quilts
   1. Strategy: Students can explore the tradition of quilting in African American culture by having students create story quilts that represent different aspects of African American history of Maine. Each quilt square can depict a specific event or theme.
   2. Implementation: Combine the individual quilt squares to form a larger quilt that tells a comprehensive narrative. This tactile and collaborative approach allows students to express their creativity while delving into historical content.
4. Digital Exhibitions
   1. Strategy: Task students with researching and curating a digital exhibition that showcases images related to African American artwork and exhibits in Maine. Students can provide an interactive tour that highlights African American art images and artist backgrounds.
   2. Implementation: Display the digital artifacts in your classroom or school. Encourage students to write reflections on their interactions with the digital experience.
5. Interactive Digital Maps
   1. Strategy: Have students create interactive digital maps that highlight the important locations, events, and communities in the history of African Americans of Maine. Utilize multimedia elements such as images, audio recordings, interviews, or personal narratives at each map point.
   2. Implementation: Students can use digital platforms or physical maps to create an interactive project. This strategy encourages geographical awareness and helps students understand the spatial context of Maine’s historical events.
6. Community Art Installations
   1. Strategy: Have students organize art installations that represent African American history in Maine. Collaborate with local artists and students to create public art pieces that reflect the diversity and contributions of the Maine African American community.
   2. Implementation: Students can participate in the planning, designing, and execution of the art installations that serve as public educational displays.

Side x Side is a Portland-based organization that ignites academic excellence in education through comprehensive integrated arts-based programs, bringing critical thinking, creativity, and innovation into the classroom. Through community partnerships with the University of Southern Maine, local school districts, organizations, artists, professionals, and colleges, Side x Side integrates science, technology, literacy, and the humanities with the arts to enhance the school curriculum.

Side x Side provides free monthly webinars for educators on the first Wednesday of the month from 7-8 pm.  These webinars offer innovative approaches to engage students in diverse modalities of expression, such as visual storytelling to interactive projects, after gaining insights into learned information.

For more resources on an interdisciplinary approach to teaching Black History click on this link.

For more information about interdisciplinary instruction, please contact Kathy Bertini, Interdisciplinary Instruction Coordinator at kathy.bertini@maine.gov

 

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Interdisciplinary Instruction team has curated resources of content and instructional approaches to help educators include and highlight the important contributions of Black and African-American Mainers in authentic ways.  These project-based strategies include finding local historical figures and guest speakers, researching local history, and bridging content areas.

Project-based learning begins with a question that connects students to real-world explorations.  This approach can lead to a deeper, richer understanding of content, including Black and African-American histories.  Some examples of using questioning in your classroom are:

• The Question Formulation Technique, a questioning strategy, begins with a Question Focus, which is a word, statement, or primary source that sparks questions.
  • The Question Focus can guide students toward thoughtful inquiries regarding Black and African American studies in Maine. An example could be showing an image of Malaga Island or a statement like African Americans have made important contributions to Maine.
  • Students can generate questions about the QFocus.
  • Students can categorize and prioritize their questions for further inquiry.
  • From there, students can form inquiry circles of similar questions to investigate Black and African American studies in Maine.
  • Older students could engage in Socratic seminars, find and analyze primary sources.
• Using questions to guide a unit of study on both historical and current figures and events
  • Invite students to research a historical or current figure who interests them or guide your class through a whole-group project.
  • Invite a guest speaker to your class and have your students develop questions to guide the conversation. Use the discussion to create a presentation, like a Slideshow, art exhibition, or performance.
  • Use student-developed questions when visiting historic places. This approach provides a purpose for the trip and keeps students engaged in the visit.  The questions can be used to develop presentations and projects after the trip.
• Using questions to promote civic engagement in students’ communities
  • Questions could lead students to investigate important topics in their community, both historical and current. These investigations could spur students to take informed actions in their community.

To support questioning in the classroom, the Maine DOE has collaborated with the Right Question Institute on a three-week asynchronous course on the Question Formulation Technique (QFT).  Developed by The Right Question Institute, the QFT is a simple strategy for teaching students, educators, and community members to ask their own questions.  The QFT integrates into the existing curriculum and enhances many other kinds of learning, including project- and concept-based learning.  It is a wonderful strategy to begin researching local Black and African-American people and history.

For more information about the course see the Maine DOE newsroom notice, including how to register.

For more resources on an interdisciplinary approach to teaching Black History click on this link.

For more information about interdisciplinary instruction, please contact Kathy Bertini, Interdisciplinary Instruction Coordinator at kathy.bertini@maine.gov

 

The Maine Department of Education’s (DOE) Interdisciplinary Instruction team has curated resources of content and instructional approaches to help educators include and highlight the important contributions of Black and African-American Mainers in authentic ways. These project-based strategies include finding local historical figures and guest speakers, researching local history, and bridging content areas.

Our first resource highlight is the American Ancestors Family History Curriculum. Developed by experts at American Ancestors (a project of the New England Historic Genealogical Society), this free-to-access national curriculum is designed to expose students in grades 4 through 8 to the concepts, benefits, and joys of family history. Each lesson incorporates authentic methodologies used by professional genealogists that include but go beyond the family tree. Grounded in inquiry-based practices, these methods include:

• developing research skills
• conducting interviews
• examining primary sources
• empowers students to create a historical narrative for and about themselves

Using case studies, which are compilations of primary sources about a person, is one strategy to make genealogy accessible and a way to incorporate Black and African-American history into classrooms. In a collaborative effort, the Maine DOE offers case studies of important Mainers that support the American Ancestors/NEHGS curriculum. Two case studies highlight the important contributions of African American Mainers. Students can use these case studies to explore the life of Gerald E. Talbot, Maine’s first African-American legislator, and John Jenkins, the first African American to be elected to the Maine State Senate.

Download this clickable PDF for a full list of Maine case studies.

For more resources on an interdisciplinary approach to teaching Black History click on this link.

For more information about interdisciplinary instruction, please contact Kathy Bertini, Interdisciplinary Instruction Coordinator at kathy.bertini@maine.gov