Every Object Tells a Story
By Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, January 4, 2008
Grade Level
- High School
Category
- Design for the Other 90%
Subject Area
- Language Arts
- Social Studies
Lesson Time
Introduction
National Standards
Common Core Standards
Anchors for Reading:
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.7 Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.
Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.10 Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.
Anchor standards for Speaking and Listening:
Comprehension and Collaboration:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.1 Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.2 Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.3 Evaluate a speaker's point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric.
Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.4 Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.5 Make strategic use of digital media and visual displays of data to express information and enhance understanding of presentations.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.6 Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and communicative tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.
Anchor standards for Language:
Conventions of Standard English:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.L.1 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
Objectives
- learn about varied aspects of the design process
- explore the Design for the Other 90% exhibition
- conduct internet research
- create a story based on objects from the exhibition
- create a class presentation
- participate in small-group and large-group discussion
- work collaboratively in small groups
Resources
- “Tell A Story” handout (attached)
- https://www.designother90.org/about/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_g37QUl6RPI
- https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11032381
Materials
Procedures
- Group One: Shelter
- Group Two: Health
- Group Three: Water
- Group Four: Education
- Group Five: Energy
- Group Six: Transport
- What did you learn from your classmates’ presentations?
- What was the best part of each presentation?
- What different ways did your classmates choose to tell a story?
Assessment
- Rate the quality of your group’s brainstorming.
- Rate the quality of your group’s ability to analyze the elements of your task.
- Rate the quality of your group’s story.
- Rate the quality of your group’s presentation in conveying its ideas.
- Rate your creativity.
- Rate how well your group was able to collaborate.
Eric Gomez said on June 30, 2014
As a warm up to this lesson, I would have the students bring in one objects that they value highly. At the start of the lesson, you can create a warm up in which the students analyze the object’s features and functions. They will then be required to use their analysis of their object to try to “sell” it to the class. By doing this the students and class can see the design components that were involved with the object.