The Tikkun Project
About this unit
In this unit, students consider what it means to be a positive Difference-Maker by creating, refining, and reflecting on a personal plan to make a positive difference at home, at school, or in the community. Unlike other Tikkun units, this module has three distinct challenges. First, students create a community agreement as a way of developing an understanding of the values and actions that support strong learning communities. Second, they research a diverse group of Change-Makers (including people like Wangari Maathai, Rosalie Abella, David Suzuki, Deborah, Ruth, Esther, Judah Maccabee, and Greta Thunberg, alongside local difference makers) to learn how to make a positive difference through a personal action project. Lastly, students create a presentation designed to teach others how to make a positive difference.
critical challenge
Students will choose an action that they believe will make a positive difference in their families or communities.
critical challenge Criteria
- • The action must make a positive difference for others
• The action must be done by the student
• The action must be achievable with the time and resources students have, address a real
• problem, and have a measurable and lasting impact
Unit Goals
Curriculum Connections
- What values can be noticed in a positive class community, and how can they best inform our actions?
Students develop their understanding of values by connecting them with actions that are aligned with them. Students then choose the values and actions that are most important at home and at school.
How can we best apply the lessons we learn from important Difference-Makers to make positive changes in our home or school?
With a comprehensive understanding of values and actions, students look for patterns in diverse Difference-Makers to determine which (if any) are common among those who create positive change.
What makes an effective personal action plan, and how do I know if it's working?
Students apply what they've learned about values and role models to design, launch, monitor, and revise their own feasible action plan, using explicit criteria and real evidence to judge and adjust its effectiveness.