Social

Justice
Inquiry
Michelle Darling
What Social Justice
projects can I get
my students to
start in the
classroom that
would benefit the
local community as
well? AND how the
heck do I start?!
 What do I need to do in
the classroom to assist in
SJ conversations being
successful?
What do resources have to say (there are tons on our SJ classroom
as well!!)?

https://www.c
ultofpedagogy
https://www.edutopia. .com/social- https://www.bc
org/blog/social- justice- ed.gov.bc.ca/ir
justice-projects-in- resources/ p/pdfs/making
classroom-michael-
hernandez _space/mkg_sp
c_intr.pdf
Best Practice for
Beginning the Conversation
Start by RAISING
AWARENESS. Get your
students to develop a mindset

RESPECT is of concern for our society's

inequality in;
WEALTH
key EDUCATION
PRIVILEGE

Set classroom culture before proceeding!!!

Literacy should include culture + tolerance
of diverse people & backgrounds
 1) Small Beginnings

Paper ball toss

Class activity to
build EMPATHY.
Need to make SJ OR
issues tangible
and personal
Slam Poetry
2) Class
Discussion
Allow CHOICE & VOICE

Take a topic (maybe a current event or local

issue) and provide several options OR have
students list concerns & develop a FOCUS

Make it less about your opinions and more about

helping your students uncover & express theirs
 BLOG or SOCIAL MEDIA:

3) CHOICE OF Weekly reflections, online essay or

larger project

PLATFORM 1) research or follow a social justice

AID & ADVOCACY:
Change can happen NOW starting
with YOU
1) Volunteer locally
2) Reach out to local politicians to
advocate for REAL change
3) Raise funds for a charitable
organisation
movement. Start a conversation with
them about a topic of your choice
2) Share your ideas using a common
hashtag. Link to articles/essays you
have written.
BROADCAST JOURNALISM:
With storytelling, explore political and
cultural inequity through documentary
1) Interview people who have made a
difference in your community
2) Series of films that explore problems
in your community. Offer solutions.
3) Film about something great in your
community not very many people know
about.
 Summary of Social
Justice INQUIRY
1 3
2
RESPECT! SHARE
DISCUSSION
Must start by creating a Allow students to choose their
classroom culture of RESPECT. Allow students to explore what platform and whether it be
Some projects may be private matters to them. Develop their private or public. SJ projects
(classroom only) while others mindset of concern for our have the ability to bring about
can be more public in nature. society's inequality in WEALTH, REAL change and improve
Start small and allow CHOICE EDUCATION & PRIVILEGE society - INSPIRE them
 Conclusion
What Social Justice projects can I get my students to start in the
classroom that would benefit the local community as well? AND
how the heck do I start?!
I will give my students CHOICE in their social justice projects.
In doing this, their project will be more meaningful. I will
provide suggestions, resources and have the class
brainstorm together options. I will start by creating a
classroom environment that fosters tolerance and
acceptance of diverse backgrounds. We will share our stories
and celebrate our projects together.