EVERlab

The 9th grade EVERlab unit focuses on the integration of the concepts, themes and structures from two different courses: Tanach I and Ancient World Civilizations. The unit begins with students brainstorming the overlapping content from each course and moves through scaffolded design, collaboration, and critical thinking exercises in order for students to refine and deepen integrated topics they have chosen themselves. Students ultimately develop projects that demonstrate this integrated thinking.

EVERlab sessions involve JCHS faculty as “expert consultants” who help students to refine their integrated thinking and assist in project development. Faculty from Art, Music, History, English and Judaic Studies bring unique perspectives to the conversations and challenge students with probing questions designed to further their integration.

The EVERlab unit concludes with a Pitch Festival where students present their project plans to a panel of JCHS faculty, upperclassmen and professional design consultants from the wider community and field questions about their designs.

Session One: Exploring

• World Civ and Tanach Content Inventory-yellow and red make orange

Session Two: Exploring

• Discovering deeper connection between World Civ and Tanach
• Concept mapping

Session Three: Exploring / Connecting

• Back to the sources: Exploring topics through research
• Conversations with JCHS Experts

Session Four: Connecting

• Connecting with a Venn Diagram
• Brainstorming Projects

Session Five: Connecting

• Making Integrated thinking visible through projects
• Conversations with JCHS Experts

Session Six: Connecting / Creating

Workshop: Students develop individual integration project prototypes / mock-ups

Session Seven: Creating

• Students present and receive team feedback on individual project prototypes / mock-ups
• Conversations with JCHS Experts

Session Eight: Creating

• Students learn structure of a project pitch
• Students refine and practice pitches

Session Nine: Pitch Festival

• Students pitch individual project prototypes / mock-ups to design panel with representatives from MKThink Design Firm, JCHS Faculty and upperclassmen.

EVERlab Integration Warm-up

In this video, ninth graders at JCHS share their integrated “products” from an EVERlab warm-up that mashes up a household object and a common tools.

EVERlab Sample Pitch

In this video, a student presents her own Integrated EVERlab Project: A Kibbutz that teaches and embodies multiple mind-sets at the same time: a religious and scientific view of the world. All EVERlab students select their own topics and mode for integration.