Hurricane Katrina Part II

Big Questions?

These are the questions students seek to answer.

The Big Questions guide student research.

The Big Questions create the need for the disciplines. Students need the information, skills and knowledge of the disciplines in order to answer their Big Questions.

What is a hurricane?

How are hurricanes formed and sustained?

Why is New Orleans an important city?

• History of New Orleans

• Economics – industries, Port of New Orleans

• Culture - religions, languages, music, food, ethnicity/race, arts, architecture . . .

Why did New Orleans flood?

• Scientific studies - geographical, climatological and geological facts

• Government action and inaction

• Economics

What are the environmental issues? • Flood control

• EPA - Pollution – toxic floodwaters

• Coastal erosion

• Fossil Fuels

• Global Warming

• Natural resources

• Waterways

• Wildlife and fisheries

• Agriculture, fishing, shrimping, oyster beds

What are the social issues?

• Race• Class• Age• Ability• How can we end poverty?• What will be the impact of

the largest displacement of people in U.S. since the Civil War?

Critical Pedagogy

“Critical pedagogy considers how education can provide individuals with the tools to better themselves and strengthen democracy, to create a more egalitarian and just society, and thus to deploy education in a process of progressive social change”. Douglas Kellner, UCLA

We ask the following questions:

Critical Pedagogy asks . . .

• What is the current state of affairs?

• What are the sociohistorical contexts – i.e., how and why did things get this way?

Learn about Critical Pedagogy at www.21stCenturySchools.com/Critical_Pedagogy.com

• How could - and should - things be?

• What can we do to get from here to there? How can we make this world a better, happier place?

• What specific actions can we take to effect this desired change?

Critical Pedagogy and Hurricane Katrina

Examining issues of the environment, the role of government, the accountability of government, issues of poverty, race, class, ability, the media . . .

How could this happen? Who got left behind? What can we do about it?

Ageism

Discrimination based on age, especially prejudice against the elderly.

Ableism

Discrimination or prejudice against people with disabilities, especially physical disabilities.

Racism

1. The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.

2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race.

Classism

Bias based on social or economic class.

How can we help?

What are the Possibilities and

Hope that can come out of

Hurricane Katrina?

Multiple Literaciesfor the

21st Century

Connections

Visual Literacy

Photo essays, documentaries, flow charts,

graphic organizers, photography, video, web

sites, clip art, photos, drawings, works of

art, . . . .

Aural LiteracyIncorporating speech, music, song, and

sound effects into products. Analyze,

evaluate, critique and produce aural

messages.

More Aural LiteracyCritically listening to:

• News reports on television and radio

• Politicians statements

• Opinion pieces

• Fact vs. Opinion

• Evaluating validity and credibility of information presented.

• Listening to others in discussions and negotiation, and in Jigsaw Groups.

Ecoliteracy

               

                                          

Floodwaters are pumped over the repaired Metairie Relief Outfall canal in New Orleans September 9, 2005.

Toxic flood waters

Global warming

Pollution

Wildlife refuge

Coastal erosion

Agriculture

Fisheries

Emotional Literacy• Rage

• Fear

• Grief

• Relief

• Joy

Financial Literacy

Costs to:

• Individuals & Families

• Local to national communities

• Industries - shipbuilding, agriculture, shrimping, fishing, oil, . .

• Port of New Orleans

Port of New OrleansPort industry includes: steamship companies, stevedoring companies, railroads, tugboats and barge companies, and freight forwarders.

Everyone in the United States has something, probably in arm’s reach, that was shipped through the Port of New Orleans. (Ali Velshi, CNN Business Reporter)

Media Literacy

How can we use multiple

forms of media to effect

change in the world?

Multicultural Literacy

• Global response• Foreign aid to U.S.• Multicultural roots of

New Orleans culture

VocabularyHere you can build your vocabulary list for this unit.. Starter list:

Hurricane

Coastal Erosion

Barrier islands

Fossil Fuels

Climatology

Meteorology

Racism

Classism

More Resources

Find many more resources for this unit theme at:

www.21stCenturySchools.com/Hurricane_Katrina.htm

See other unit theme ideas at www.21stCenturySchools.com

Contact us at:

Director@21stCenturySchools.com

Hurricane Katrina Part III