Interdisciplinary school Subject (IDS)

Societies across the world are heavily influenced and driven by religion and spiritualism. Since the dawn of civilization, people have helped each other, rallied together, and been driven to violence through faith. In this lesson, we will examine the different faiths of the world, recognizing their similarities, differences, and connections to culture, with the ultimate goal of recognizing the different faiths in your community.

What does it mean to be a “good” person? This lesson looks at the question of “goodness” from a series of different philosophical perspectives, with the ultimate goal of helping one reflect on how they fit into the world around them. Within, you will learn about a particular philosophy, compare and contrast it to others, and consider how your own philosophy impacts your decision-making.

Why do we know what we know? How does culture become culture? How does common knowledge become “common”, anyway? In this lesson, we will consider the relevance of pop culture in our daily lives and consider why and how we know about certain things and not about other things. With this information, we can think about all the things we don’t know about! From there, we’ll consider the relevance of knowing other information if it’s meaningful to study gaps in our knowledge.

Many people have brilliant ideas but struggle sharing them with the world. Arguably the pitch, or quick presentation of your idea, is just as important as the idea itself. Without a strong pitch, people may ignore it altogether! In this lesson, we’ll create our own inventions and pitch them to constituents. Not only will we learn about building a great presentation, but consider the importance of feedback and changing our perspective on our ideas.

It is natural to hold stereotypes about others. As we grow up in families, communities, and spaces where historical stereotypes have grown over centuries, we unknowingly internalize many beliefs about others and their culture, social norms, and way of life. In this lesson, we will examine why and how we hold biases (and how we can counteract them). Further, we’ll examine power and privilege, understanding why our biases and stereotypes may be intensified toward certain groups who have historically not held power and been denied opportunities.

In fighting for a more just democracy, people have protested in various ways – picketing, marching, writing petitions, and making their voices heard. In this lesson, we’ll explore how activists have used art as a tool for democracy, often through subversive means, to garner attention and support for their cause.

We are constantly dealing with conflict. From minor issues to major problems facing society, we must be able to navigate situations and respectfully come to an agreement: otherwise, nothing would ever be accomplished. In this lesson, we will examine conflicts, see how different perspectives view the issues, then determine the best ways to negotiate and mediate disputes.

What do you spend your time doing? In order to accomplish our goals, we need to be aware of a planning process that works for us, allowing us to make strong choices. In this lesson, we’ll explore how we can maximize our time, both in being content as well as productive. Our goal is not to turn someone into a workaholic, but help them actualize their dreams and make progress toward greater goals.

Systems-based thinking is the art of analyzing situations in hyper complex ways, recognizing that our decisions rarely lead to one outcome. In the real world, we don’t do “x” to get “y.” Instead, when we do “x”, it impacts “y” as well as “a” “b” “c” “d” and so on. For example, the Butterfly Theory suggests that very small changes can have a massive impact on the world around us. Oftentimes, these impacts are untended. To look at systems, we consider how we can change fundamental processes about how we design our world as opposed to thinking linearly about solving a problem. In this lesson, we’ll practice systems-based thinking.

Every single day we use math. Yet, we don’t often think about how much mathematics has changed over the course of history. In this lesson, we will explore how we’ve conducted math over centuries, demonstrating our growth in understanding as well as how we conceptualize mathematical problems.

In this lesson, we will make visible the norms and decisions that define how we conduct ourselves in physical and interpersonal spaces, emphasize the importance of empathy and understanding in dealing with difference - particularly in areas we personally take for granted - and develop ways to make our communities and spaces more accessible and inclusive of people from a range of backgrounds and abilities.

Often, even the best of intentions has unforeseen consequences. In this lesson, we will explore how complex it is to solve the most difficult problems in the world: wicked problems. We will analyze how we can view complex issues and different ways of interpreting nuanced ideas.

It can be incredibly intimidating to start planning for the future. The world is complex and there are various routes to success. In this lesson, we will focus on professional learning goals: how can we ensure that we meet the milestones necessary to obtain our dream job? How can we remove potential obstacles that we encounter along the way?

What makes a piece of artwork “great”? And if it is great, how do we use language to best express its unique characteristics? If we wish something were different, how would we properly critique it? In this lesson, we will explore art appreciation and develop a descriptive toolkit for analyzing creative works.

Taking risks is an important part of human existence. While we could live our lives in relative safety, to never take a risk means we miss out on many thrilling opportunities that could be defining experiences of our life. That said, we can mitigate those risks to ensure we are safe and proactive in our tasks. In this lesson, we will explore what it means to take risks and how to mitigate them.

Determination, perseverance, tenacity, grit. Regardless of what you call it, the consistent and passionate pursuit of one’s goals is a hallmark of long-term success. But how do you stay committed when the going gets tough or when you hit the limits of your talents and abilities? In this lesson we will learn about tenacity through the related concept of “grit”, self-evaluate on the Grit Scale, and reflect on the limits of tenacity.

Social media is how many connect online to keep up with the news, stay in contact with friends, and participate in online discourse (such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Reddit, and more. With the growth of social media, people are now catered to in a way never before: through the algorithm, a personal curation of interests, ideas, people, and organizations that all fit together. In what’s called a “bubble”, people have their viewpoints reinforced by others around them, as the algorithm tries to match everyone together based on their interests. In this lesson, we’ll explain what the algorithm is, and consider the pros and cons of it, including ways we can break beyond the bubble and see what others think.

While we are all unique individuals, our personalities exist somewhere on a spectrum of behavior. We can be charismatic and outgoing with friends and reserved among strangers. We can have all the answers to certain types of problems and feel frustrated by others. Some people believe our personalities can be measured and categorized in any number of ways, from the positions of stars to the supposed scientific classification of personalities based on survey responses. This business of classifying human behavior is messy and complicated, but understanding your own personality traits can help you be more thoughtful in your interactions with others and recognize aspects of your character that contribute to your daily life in positive and negative ways.

In this lesson, we will be discussing artificial intelligence (AI). AI is the process of programming a computer to make decisions for itself. This can be done through a number of methods, including but not limited to: rule-based systems, decision trees, genetic algorithms, artificial neural networks, and fuzzy logic systems.

In contrast to hard skills, the specific set of job-related knowledge and abilities that employees need to perform their duties effectively, many of these top skills are soft skills. Soft skills are usually considered the interpersonal habits and abilities that shape the way you relate to and interact with other people. Being fluent in Spanish, for example, is a hard skill. Effectively communicating in any language is a soft skill.

Communicating with others goes beyond what they are saying. Neurotypical people frequently communicate in myriad ways through our physical movement: our posture, hand movements, eye contact, and more all have an impact on the mood of the conversation and how others perceive us. In this lesson, you will learn about the impact of body language on communication, and how we can use this information to our advantage in daily conversations as well as professionally.

As we go through life, we find that we’re really good at some things and struggle with others. And those around us differ a lot! We rely on others to help us when we aren’t doing as well, and we find ourselves often not ever being as good at those things. In this lesson, we’ll perform “feats of strength” to highlight differences in ability across a variety of assignments, demonstrating how we can learn through failure and exploring if we need to necessarily be good at everything.

Music is an important part of our lives for a variety of reasons. It can boost our moods, help us relax, provide a form of entertainment, and allow us to express ourselves. It can also bring people together, creating a sense of community and bonding. When creating music, we also utilize mathematics. In rhythm, harmony, balance, and more, we utilize math! In this lesson, we’ll examine how mathematics and music connect, as well as how audio engineers balance and perfect music for listening.

Today, the majority of the world’s population lives in a city and that number is set to increase rapidly over the next few decades. As more and more people move to densely populated areas, city designers work to ensure that the city is run efficiently. If it isn’t planned properly, cities quickly become overcrowded, uninhabitable, or undesirable to live in. In this lesson, we will look at all of the elements of city design, eventually brainstorming our own in order to understand why cities are designed the way they are, and how city designers consider concepts like where to build residential areas and stores.

As our world becomes increasingly interconnected, it’s not only a great trait but fundamental to understand world cultures. In this lesson, we will explore how cultural norms differ from region to region, highlighting the importance of recognizing differences, cooperating with others, and communicating properly.

In 2022, there are nearly 8 billion people living on Earth. With so many people doing so many things, it’s easy to get lost in it all. But, when we make acts of kindness…do we still have an impact on the world around us? Is it worth showing up and doing positive local community work when the world and universe are so vast? This lesson will explore the impact that positive actions have at-scale, demonstrating not only why being kind is awesome, but the massive implications of it.

8.9% of the world’s population is hungry, a number that’s been increasing year after year. As the Earth’s population continues to grow, it’s up to those with resources to find out ways to solve this crisis. In this lesson, we will explore the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on Goal #2: Zero Hunger, and highlighting how local and world actions are interconnected, calling upon people to make a difference.

All people have the power to create change, but we often become so focused on our day to day life between school/home or in the future, working, that we forget about those who have fallen through the cracks. We need to intentionally center and care about others and the environment around us. In this lesson, we will examine humane thinking – the act of intentionally caring about others – through the lens of hostile architecture – the practice of designing spaces to discourage people without homes from staying in those spaces.

Our values refer to the principles or beliefs that guide our individual actions and those of society at large. The actions we take throughout our lives are rooted in values, and our values are shaped by our experiences; however, we can often find our actions, values, and experiences at odds with the demands of school and life in society. In this lesson, we will reflect on our values and understand how they inform our actions. We’ll also consider the ways our personal values may be at odds with those of the community of people around us.

One’s purpose is defined as their dreams, a major fulfilling idea that drives one to connect with others and promote a better world. It’s the ultimate concern that causes one to think beyond the self. For example, someone who is obsessed with ensuring all animals have a home; or someone who wants to save the coral reefs. To be purposeful, this person would be completing tasks every day to further their knowledge or actions toward that goal.

This lesson talks about the concept of language discrimination: the process of judging or stereotyping someone based on the way they speak, whether that be a different language, accent, or dialect. We will examine the impact that language has on the way we communicate with each other, and whether or not there is a “proper” language that everyone should abide by and enforce.

The Science of Living ForeverWhat does the future hold? If one were to travel back in time and pull someone from the 1700s to now, they would be in shock. Our world has developed so much in so little time: from the invention of electricity and all its advancements, to the ever-connected nature of our world, to how our society is organized and operated. Similarly, we continue to innovate in the modern age: the Internet, cell phones, GPS, DNA sequencing, microprocessors, and more. As we improve, we also create better medical technology to treat illness and prolong our lives. In this lesson, we will explore the concept of reverse aging technology, highlighting the breakthrough modern studies that could prolong human lifespans and the ethics of utilizing this technology.

According to the Childism Institute, similar to the way feminism seeks equal opportunity and participation for women and girls in society, childism “recognizes that young people are often disadvantaged compared to adults. And so it strives to change societies in ways that better respond to children’s actual lives.”

Being able to fully understand a language and communicate at a deeper level allows us to easily make our points and convey our emotions. In this lesson, we will demonstrate the power of language, assisting you in expanding your vocabulary and expressing yourself.

As many as 1 in 2 people of all ages experienced bullying in some form in the last 12 months. Whenever one conducts harmful, unwanted behavior toward another, that’s bullying. And it usually involes negative behaviors toward someone’s identity: their age, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, hobby, or interest. Essentially, it’s someone trying to enact power and control by demeaning an element of someone else. And as a result, many of those who are bullied try to hide or lessen parts of their identity.

How do we ensure that we have a holistic, as in – a life that is healthy and nurtured in a variety of ways? It’s important to pursue a professional career and achieve success. However, it’s much more important to stay true to oneself and do the things that make you happy. In this lesson, we will talk about opportunities to put yourself first and ensure your career lines up with your life’s mission.

With the invention of the Internet, more people are sharing information than ever before. As a result, it’s an amazing opportunity to learn about the world around us – it’s easy to access anything we’d ever need to know within a few quick web searches. However, it’s also very easy to find misrepresented, inaccurate facts, because anyone can contribute. Sometimes this is done ignorantly, such as through a random blog post or podcast episode, but it’s even more dangerous and deceptive when done intentionally, when well-funded organizations intentionally misinform readers to convince them of something inaccurate. In this lesson, we will talk about how to determine credible sources.

This lesson pairs well with the lesson on Professional Planning. While the focus of that lesson was goal setting and designing action steps to reach those goals, in this lesson you will understand how a cost-benefit analysis can be a useful tool for decision-making, research the cost of living across three areas (urban, suburban, and rural), and create a cost-benefit analysis of your decision on which one of the areas you would one day like to live!

Where does our clothing come from? This lesson will dive into the world of “fast fashion”, demonstrating the benefits of affordable clothing while bringing attention to the ethical, environmental, and human impact of mass production. Within, you will explore whether “fast fashion” is a problem worth addressing and if so, how can we make change at an individual and community level?

This lesson will explore the concept of environmental racism, or specific rules, regulation, policy, or funding that leads to certain areas of a community being less well-off than others. As in, they do not have the same means of living a sustainable, economically sufficient, life. Usually, this is associated with policies that intentionally place or sell homes to those of a specific background to that space. We will then explore the idea of stereotype threats and how intersectional identities integrate with this idea.

What does it mean to be creative? Many people describe themselves as “not creative people”, but to be creative simply means to take the risk in putting out original ideas. We can express creativity in many ways such as art, music, and design, but it can also take the form of accounting, teaching, and athletics. When we take the time to “stretch” our creativity by trying something new, we are practicing our ability to be creative. In this lesson, you will explore your creativity in coming up with complex, weird ideas.