Our eighth graders had a powerful lesson last week that connected to our essential question, “What factors shape our identity?” and our enduring understanding, “Our society provides us with labels we use to categorize the people we encounter.” They got to know 9/11 victims’ individual stories, created identity charts and talked afterward about how they saw the victims in a new light after learning more about them. 

It was a perfect segue to continuing our discussion around identity and connecting to our Habits of Mind and Heart, reflection and empathy.

Avi Minder is the dean of student culture and eighth grade history teacher at JCDS. The School Sparks blog appears periodically by various writers among the JCDS educational team. Learn more about JCDS, Boston’s Jewish Community Day School.

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