Heroism Project Curriculum
Introductory Note to Teachers & Facilitators
by Judy Logan
Young people need heroes. They need to find the heroes in their communities, their culture and themselves. They need to be guided and inspired to recognize and value the small acts of daily heroism that make profound differences.
These guides are intended to help teachers teach about heroes and to help students become heroes in their own lives. They have been designed to be flexible. The format of the Greek Mythology unit, for example, can be applied to African, Native American, Asian, Hebrew or Nordic Mythology, or any study of gods, goddesses, heroes and mythic creatures. The pedagogy of each unit is designed to give students experience in researching, writing, speaking, listening and creative expression.
Numerous stories and examples of heroism from real life will be used, repeatedly asking core questions such as: What is a hero? Does a hero always have to be in danger? Can a hero be very young? Very old? Is a person a hero all the time? To all people? Are there differences between a hero, a role model, or a mentor? Using popular culture as examples, we will provide students with tools to analyze how media affects our knowledge and views of heroes and heroism.
Building on their interests, talents, and strengths, students will produce curriculum on heroes through a choice of vehicles such as murals, comic books, drama, music, dance, poetry, rap, photography, dioramas, board games or other student choices.
The Heroism Project explores the complex relationship between Americans and our heroes. The curriuclum materials take students on a journey where they discover themselves as storytellers, artists, and/or writers. Building on their interests, talents, and strengths, they produce their own heroes curricula through murals, comic books, quilts, drama, music, dance, poetry, rap, photography, dioramas, board games or other choices.
To facilitate and encourage use of materials by teachers, the program focuses on heroism in the context of existing state standards and content requirements for Language Arts, English, History and Art. It is designed to supplement or supplant existing curriculum in classrooms and after-school programs.
The Heroism Project Gurriculum Guides will provide a journey whereby each student discovers himself or herself as storyteller, artist, and/or writer. The ultimate goal is to help all students recognize, claim and act upon the hero within.