LET STUDENTS

LEAD13 local investigations to drive

democratic and global learning

Engage students’ natural investigatory instincts while developing their knowledge of core academic through local investigations.

We are all natural investigators.

Simple questions can become great local investigations.

Here are 13 examples.

1 Where is my family from?

Guide oral history projects based on student interviews of family members to create timelines of major events in their family histories.

2 What kind of plant is this?

Explore the genealogy of plants common to the local community.

3 How are businesses started?

Investigate resources provided by your local chamber of commerce and research or visit local businesses to learn more about their reach.

4 Where does our tap water come from?

Visit a local water utility or treatment plant to learn more about your community’s water sources and what’s being done to protect them.

5 What kind of bird is that?

Research local animal species and their migrations to the region, and explore other places where these species are found.

6 Why don’t we throw trash on the ground?

Investigate local environmental policies and relate them to global issues.

7 Where did you get that shirt?

Investigate the geographic and resource origins of students’ clothing.

8 Why do we celebrate Mardi Gras, clam chowder, flowers, blues music, etc.?

Explore regional traditions (e.g., cuisine, festivals, music) for global origins, connections or meanings.

Why do you talk like that?

Investigate regional dialects to reveal their unique origins.

9

Who built that?

Consider local architecture and whether it reflects other places in the world.

10

Why is that building or street named after a person?

Investigate local landmarks and places.

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12 Where do you live compared to where I live?

Map neighborhoods or local communities, using Google Earth or other online mapping tools, to identify community assets and landmarks.

13 What does a mayor do? How are laws made?

Facilitate virtual or in-person discussions about policy and decision-making processes with representatives from your local government.

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