Asia Pacific International School
Hawaii
Stories from
the land
Authors: Matt Manley
Grades: 5, 6
Subjects: Social Studies, English Language Arts, Writer's Workshop, Art
Timeline: 12 days
Essential Question
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How does where you live affect how you live? How do myths and legends show people’s connection to place? How do we learn about other cultures in a deep way?
Project Description​
In this unit, we explored the question “How does where you live affect how you live?” through studying and experiencing Native Hawaiian culture and tradition. Each of our excursions directly connected to a myth or legend we read in class, showing the linkage between Hawaii’s people and landscapes as well as its past and present. These legendary texts also served as mentors and exemplars for our creative writing piece: a myth/legend of the student’s own creation based on a distinctly Hawaiian natural or cultural phenomenon. Drawing from their experiences in class, on field trips, and in Hawaiiana texts, teams of students collaborated to create artistic pieces that represent humans’ relationship to place on these islands.
Project Extensions and Real World Connections:
Trips to visit Professor Walk's Hawaiian Traditional Farm at BYU Hawaii, Outrigger Paddling with Vonn Chee at Kahana Bay, and visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center.
Reflections (student and teacher)
This has been my favorite class to teach this semester. The students have been genuinely interested and motivated to work in class. They have pride when sharing and discussing their projects. Some of them will have exhibition opportunities outside of school.(ie Waikiki aquarium, non profit website, etc).
Standards Addressed:
Narrative Writing, Interviewing and propelling conversations, representing complex ideas through artistic works.
Products and Exhibition
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Team Mural painting showing Hawaiian mythology and traditional Hawaiian practices from our field trips! Myth Narrative Writing piece - A mythological story that you create to explain a natural or human phenomena!