We’re just a little over a month into the school year, and the Social Studies Department is already filled with great activities, ranging from hands-on activities that bring history and culture to life for our students.
9th grade Global History students recently took a trip to The China Institute, which was full of art, learning, and creativity. They toured the exhibit, Metamorphosis: Chinese Imagination and Transformation, which features work by many contemporary artists of Chinese descent. The exhibit explores how identity, culture, and history can change and evolve through different forms of art like painting, sculpture, photography, and animation.
The tour also included a relaxing mini meditation session, and afterward, students took part in a Chinese ink painting workshop. They learned about the background of this traditional art form and got the chance to create their own beautiful pieces to take home. It was a fun way to connect what they’ve learned about Ancient China with modern Chinese culture.
Inside classes, 9th grade students have also been exploring the history of Ancient India. During the Hinduism Stations Activity, students rotated through different stations to dive deeper into key topics like karma and dharma, reincarnation, the caste system, and Indian traditions. One of the favorite stations was Culture & Traditions, where students enjoyed chai tea and South Asian snacks, learned about the significance of Mendhi, and even received temporary henna tattoos.
We also had a few 12 grader students from Mr. Rau’s Global History classes that brought government lessons to life by creating puppets of executive branch leaders for a mock trial. This creative project helped students understand how the executive branch works in a fun, interactive way.
From museum field trips to chai and puppets, the Social Studies Department has many great activities to help share cultures and learn about important things in daily life.