About Unit 2

💭 Essential Question: How have origin stories and cultural ways of knowing shaped what communities believe, how they live, and how they understand their place in history?

Unit 2: Origin Stories and Ways of Knowing engages students in an investigation of how origin stories shape the identities, beliefs, and histories of various communities. Students will examine how stories reflect different ways of knowing and how power influences which stories are told and preserved, while also exploring contemporary efforts to preserve, celebrate, and revitalize vital aspects of their cultural heritage. Through family interviews and reflection, students connect these broader histories to their own personal and family experiences. Students develop key historical thinking skills such as causation, continuity and change over time, perspective, and historical empathy. They also learn to evaluate evidence and compare narratives from dominant and non-dominant perspectives. At the end of the unit, students will complete a family interview and an oral reflection to explore and express their cultural identity. Using personal, family, and community histories as evidence, they will reflect on how stories preserve identity, promote healing, and support cultural continuity across generations.