Decoding Cultural Narratives through Project-Based Learning

We at Educurious have collaborated with the United States Library of Congress to develop a freely available Ethnic Studies project-based curricular series that uses cultural expression as a lens to navigate complex factors that have shaped diverse identities in the United States, encompassing migration, colonization, imperialism, and the experiences of indigenous and black communities globally. The objective is to facilitate students' comprehension of various groups' origins and efforts to preserve cultural heritage, evolve expressions of identity, and transform society. The project proposes a structured three-unit series, exemplified by the Latinè cultural history series. "Pa’lante: Onward with Art" introduces students to Puerto Rican artists using visual mediums to present key concepts such as indigeneity, resistance, and anti-colonial advocacy. "Nepantla: Kinship in Music" traces the roots of Latin music genres, and builds on the groundwork from the previous unit to explore cultural diffusion and dual identity. "Cocina: Food is History" shifts focus to Latin America, delving into the significance of food in understanding the historical context and cultural evolution of Latiné communities of the U.S. Currently in development are three additional units that follow the same structure as the Latinè series and explore Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) narratives. The first unit in this series explores the ongoing Hawaiian sovereignty movement and the grounding concept of aloha aina through the medium of spoken word. Our presentation will consist of an overview of our methodology and highlight key examples from our curriculum.