ISLAND SOCIETY PROJECT
Mr. Roeber Civics and Economics Objective: Through this project, the students will learn about responsibility and teamwork while considering the concept of utopia. They will see how difficult it is to agree about the characteristics of a perfect world. Students will have an opportunity to use a variety of educational disciplines; some will design a Constitution, a map, a flag, a seal, while others will form transportation systems and spoken language. This project will give the students an important insight in to the minds if those that control our lives through politics everyday.
WLECOME TO THE ISLAND SOCIETY
“Attention, attention. This is your Captain speaking. Please may I have your attention!” We have been working day and night for two months trying to regain communication with the U.S. We have failed. We have run out of food, and there is no way we will ever be saved. (ok, that’s stretching it, but this is only hypothetical…… so deal with it…. And smile!) We will all die unless we fight for our lives. (Aren’t we glad we have all seen Cast Away and Lost and countless other bad sci-fi movies!?) The island on which we have landed is surprisingly similar to our country before it was civilized. We will be forced to settle here and start a new life. Our time is running short: we are about to run out of food and fuel. We will spend the next couple of days planning our new society. You are responsible for the success of our new residence. You will choose a group to work with and complete the task assigned. Obviously, it is in the best interest of the group and yourself to pick the group that best utilizes your unique talents, EVEN IF THAT MEANS NOT WORKING WITH YOUR FRIENDS!!! Work hard, for later we party!
Thank you, over and out!!!
We will divide into groups based on the following tasks:
GROUP 1 Flag, Seal, and Anthem – Design and construct a flag and seal that will
serve as the official symbols for the new society. Every community must have its own national song. Select music, composing your own if possible, and write the lyrics to go with it. The song should be about our new home or how we got here.
Constitution and Government – You must write a basic Constitution
setting up the basis for our new government and law. Organize a system of community government and write the basic laws by which we may live together in harmony. You should consider the Bill of Rights, the court system, the police, etc. How will we deal with complex legal and moral issues like abortion and gay rights?
GROUP 2 Educational System – On our island, we can correct the errors made in
America, including those in the educational system. Decide at what age students should be taught, what our educational goals should be, what our curriculum should be, how will students be evaluated, etc. How will our teachers be trained? Also, consider our need for a library and how we might recover the literature we have lost.
Map and Transportation – The new land must be explored and charted.
You should design and plan the construction of our community and a system of public and private transportation. Design our homes, school, stores, and whatever other dwellings you think we might need. This may be done in 2D or 3D.
Recreation and Entertainment – All work and no play makes this a dull
island. Decide what games or sports might be suitable for our new island’s terrain. What diversions can we create to keep morale up and ourselves occupied?
GROUP 3 Language – Every community develops a body of colloquial or slang language
along with their formal language. This is a new society, so we need some new words. Write a dictionary of new words to be used to describe the unique features of and events on our new island.
Customs, Costumes and Food – We have left behind many of the
traditions of our native land. You should decide what customs our new island should observe and how our family life should be organized. Consider moral standards, as well as social norms. You should design the dress for our people and determine what types of food we will eat and how we will get it. Think about the resources we will have on the island.
Occupations and Currency – Many new kinds of jobs will be necessary on
our island. Remember, we have no machines except what was salvageable from the ship. Develop a system of currency and credit so that people will be able to buy what they need.
Work together, be creative and HAVE FUN! Let your imaginations run wild! As in the real world, if any group works totally independently of the rest of the groups, the society will not work. I will be available for questions, but I want you to consult your group members first. I have left things intentionally vague so that you can be as creative as possible. Students will present their work on __________________________________ Each group will have 30 minutes to present. Each group member must play some role in the presentation. The following rubric will be used to evaluate students’ work: