Interdisciplinary project database

What is Confirmation Bias? How does it influence the way we perceive and accommodate new information that contradicts our pre-existing beliefs? What are examples of Confirmation Bias in modern life and the history of science?

Standing up for yourself also means standing up for others, especially on community issues. Identify a problem that you see in your community and connect with other activists to demand change. Join a campaign or start one yourself to bring awareness to a problem and lend your expertise in a certain way (such as through art, marketing, or organizing).

Read about the various ways that world hunger is associated with other UN Sustainable Development Goals (beyond feeding the world), such as 15) Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. How can war impact the ability to supply food around the world? Have students trace and document different examples of how the food supply chain is negatively impacted by various undesirable events.

Read this article from Big Think titled Can mathematics be spiritual? Ask Einstein. Notice how mathematicians have connected religion and mathematics, exploring how faith can be used (and doesn’t have to be used!) as a mechanism for purpose-finding.

Have a business or invention idea? Prepare a formal presentation for your product or service. Utilize the concepts presented here, as well as other resources on presentation skills, to make a pitch deck on your idea.

Analyze the impact and efficacy of utilizing social media for marketing. How much would it cost to implement a social media campaign for a hypothetical business? Is it worth paying, or should it all be organic (word of mouth) advertising? How much money would we need to make an impact?

Read about how school affects burn out. This guide written for teachers can be analyzed with students to identify pain points, recognize ways to improve the classroom, and have an open dialogue about stress and frustration.

What will the city of the future look like? Beyond infrastructure and strictly logistics, aesthetics are also incredibly important to a flourishing city. Study different forms of architecture historically and around the world. Then, have students brainstorm their own unique, intriguing, or outright wacky versions of new, modern architecture.

Governments are vast systems that are upheld entirely by a social contract: people listen and act according to a series of laws they choose to uphold. How easy would it be to break these laws? Why is it that people decide to go along with them? Consider how laws are enforced, why people follow them, and what impact would be made if people introduced unreasonable laws or enforcement mechanisms.

Read about the various ways that artists are connecting with the food sustainability movement to promote just causes. Brainstorm how your community could convey the need for sustainable practices through an art project.

Many people who have difficulty seeing or reading information on computers use screen readers to browse the Internet. However, many websites are not designed properly for these screen readers to function. Learn about accessible web design. Perform an audit of your school’s (or community’s) website(s) and offer suggestions to increase accessibility.

“You can't understand someone until you've walked a mile in their shoes.”

Using this quotation as a starting point and sample questions from resources like this from CAMBIAR Education, develop and conduct an empathy interview to better understand your peers. Expand the empathy interview to any group that might be relevant or interesting!

Consider your community and the areas with a lower cost of living. Why is it that those areas have lower property values? What could bring more awareness and sustainability to these areas? Prepare a report.

Find examples of propaganda, surveillance, or marketing in your neighborhood. Document how these things are used, challenging or supporting their existence.

Develop a plan to tackle a personal or community challenge. What steps will you need to take in order to get there? What actions can you take within a certain number of weeks to make a difference? Log your progress and take on the challenge!

Consider the rich history of mathematics in its various forms, such as geometry and trigonometry. Prepare a community presentation that details how different mathematicians expanded on our understanding of the world.

Similar to the language art extension, explore the idea of subjectivity in art and the artist's personality in interpreting life events through art. For example, tarot card readings, the impact of WW1 on visual arts, or Picasso's art periods.

Pick a textile or clothing material (leather, denim, synthetics, etc.)

Make an art campaign surrounding the use of sustainable textiles and cloth by showcases ethical use, economic impact, and environmental impact. Perhaps, utilize the sustainable alternative to create the art display.

Consider the unique benefits that children, adolescents, and adults offer society. It’s not that we’re all the same, but that we all contribute equally fascinating perspectives to the world around us. Check out the research on this!

Creativity is an applicable skill in understanding how to maintain a healthy lifestyle beyond a linear look at gyms and dieting. Consider what other ways people can be healthy, such as nature photography or becoming a part-time community dog walker.

Examine mythology and folklore of various ancient religions. Identify the morals of various stories, dissecting why these stories were written and the goals the authors had for their work.

Consider the impact of the environment on one’s health. Why is it that certain demographics have certain health issues, diagnosis, etc.? What impact does community safety and environmental racism have on health outcomes?

Words like determination, tenacity, grit, and perseverance can often have different connotations depending on the context and how they are used. Find synonyms and antonyms related to these keywords used in the lesson, and play around with new and interesting contexts that could change the connotation. For example, “gritty” would not be a positive way to describe your dinner! Or could you use “aversion” as the opposite of perseverance in a sentence or story?

What does it mean to be “creative”? Many people describe themselves as “not being a creative” person, but there’s much more to this idea than simply drawing. Have students deconstruct the term, showcasing how “creativity” is utilized in everything from art to accounting, as well as in various cultures and contexts.

Throughout history, leaders, inventors, activists, scientists, and more have been jailed or worse, killed, for their work, often knowing the risks that went into it. Describe why various people are willing to take the ultimate sacrifice to do the work they believe in.

Creative writing is a skill set that will always be needed: whether for personal or professional life. Have students create a “choose your own adventure” story on a topic of their choosing. Use a free tool like Twine to assist students in the process.

Consider how animals and humans relate through verbal and body language. This article demonstrates how canines has evolved to understand our behaviors, turning them into faithful companions. How does this compare to other domesticated animals? Could other animals evolve to be companion animals?

How do we know that someone is truly paying attention to us? How do we communicate that we are hearing them? Present different ways in which one can have a full conversation with other people, identifying distractions or charismatic faults that may interfere with positive communication.

Research and identify a specific music artist, visual artist, or culinary expert. Analyze, critique, and highlight the importance of one or more of their works, presenting on this information and how it can impact others.

Like art, science, and mathematics, our understanding of the body (and exercise) has changed drastically over time. Especially in dieting, many fads have caused ludicrous notions of health and exercise. Explore these ideas, such as tapeworm diets, Olympic Athlete diets (500BC), or the “Chew and Spit” diet.

Perform in-depth research about a community in your neighborhood. Interview and speak to the residents and learn about their traditions, celebrations, and lifestyles. How does it differ from what you do at home? Prepare a report that can be shown off to other residents.

What is a classic book? Why is it that we read certain books and not others typically during our school years? 

Determine if these labels make sense and if books should be added or removed. Does it make sense to have a canon?