Connecting the Standards

As I continue to deliberate on the wrapping phase, I do a double check of the Indiana social studies/history academic standards. I couldn't remember the exact wording; although since I taught social studies for years, I knew there were standards in the middle school level dealing with world religions. Social studies standard 6.1.2, 7.1.4, and high school standard GHW.2 all connect to my final MI project that I plan to use in the classroom:

• 6.1.2-Describe and compare the beliefs, the spread and the influence of religions throughout Europe and Mesoamerica.
• 7.1.4-Describe the historical origins, central beliefs, and the spread of major religions.
• GHW2-Examine the impact and spread of major world religions.

These standards all connect to the origins which will include religion leaders, basic tenants, and historical background of the major religions that I have researched. My plan is to do the MI unit in connection with the middle school social studies teacher as a prelude to a debate that will be conducted on major world religions.

I plan to incorporate the Big6 model with the MI project as a step by step guide to students as they wonder through the research cycle. The Big 6 as described in The Blue Book (Baker, p.585) shows the steps as Task Definition, Information Seeking Strategies, Information Use, Sythesis, and Evaluation. These steps along with the Four-Step Model in the MI Unit will go a long way in helping students inquire and learn about world religions and the impact of faith.