Cities like New Haven have cross-cultural issues to address. We need to build bridges of understanding and break down barriers. After completing the research and lessons on this topic, the students will design a friendship bridge for their community.
The mission of this bridge is to increase respect among people from different races, cultures and religions. This bridge will be the site of community dialogue that will enhance mutual understanding and encourage everyone to participate in community problem solving through action groups. There are abundant websites about building relationship bridges.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead
"Not everything we face can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced."
James Baldwin.
A bridge builder is one who has made a commitment to understand people with different backgrounds. Say to the students, "Imagine receiving a phone call informing you that you have been selected to become a New Haven Ambassador. What and Honor! What is your plan?" How can our lives build bridges to the world? We need education to construct better bridges. Three of the greatest bridge builders of the 1800's grew up poor but realized reading and learning was the only way to accomplish their dreams.
Project steps:
Using all your research and a creative mind, design a friendship bridge for your
community on graph paper. Consider the:
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· purpose
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· site choice
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· size
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· type
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· materials
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· colors
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· detail
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· weather
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· traffic
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· other constraints you have studied