Lesson 1: Identifying and Mapping Local Community Needs
Duration of Days: 5
Lesson Objective
Students will construct a comprehensive community asset map identifying three areas of critical need in their local municipality.
What challenges are hiding in plain sight in our town? What local resources exist to address them?
MBL Standard 1B; CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.11-12.7.
Day 21: Defining "community" and mapping town demographics.
Day 22: Reviewing local town newspapers and community forums for pressing issues.
Day 23: Analyzing data from local public health and education reports.
Day 24: Interviewing or listening to audio logs of local stakeholders.
Day 25: Developing a Problem Statement for the community.
Students access digital local media (e.g., local newspapers, city council minutes) to catalog recurring municipal complaints or legislative initiatives.
Purpose & DOK Level: Local context immersion; DOK Level 2 to 3.
Pair students for data excavation; utilize text-to-speech software for long municipal reports.
Community Asset Map and verified Problem Statement document.