Power & Positionality: Lesson 1 + 2 - Longing for Something to Be a Part Of.

To think through one’s culture, power, positionality and possibility.  In the series of learning sessions,

students will explore their surface, shallow and deep culture that makes up who they are and how they engage in the world.  They will link this understanding to their own positionality and begin to see where power resides. They will be asked to think futuristically about what their possibilities are and how their positionality can be used for change. 

This learning session may bring up thinking about privilege.  To address privilege we need to support students to not automatically consider it a negative term but to re-understand privilege as a useful term for service.  This is not to say that if privilege (predominantly white and male gendered privilege) is gone unchecked that it can fester and be harmful if left unexamined.  This lesson invites teacher and student to acknowledge privilege as an examined tool for social change  (i.e. learning through the arts is a privilege.) 

Please note that these learning session may open trauma wounds for students.  To support students with deep trauma be prepared to scaffold discussions to be self reflective rather than sharing publicly.

LENGTH:  50min Session

GRADE LEVEL:  9-12

SUBJECT: Civics ELA | Performing Arts | Civics | History | Social Studies

CREATIVE INQUIRIES

What is the power of your positionality? 

How does my positionality affect the way I understand the world? 

How can I use my positionality for possibility and change? 

EQUIPMENT

• Laptop/Computer & WiFi

• Speakers

OUTLINE

Lesson 1: Selfie Drawings and Cultural Exploration

• Activity 1: Quick Selfie Drawings

• Activity 2: Layering Culture

Lesson 2: Deep Investigation of Positionality

• Activity 1: Unpacking Epistemology

• Activity 2: Individual Reading

• Activity 3: Group Discussion

• Activity 4: Accordion Journal Writing

• Critical Reflection