These four inquiries explore profound aspects of the human experience—from historical suffering and political ethics to fundamental economics and the nature of the American identity—all of which can evoke a sense of Awe.
The AWEsome stack
Photographs and the Great Depression BBI
Compelling Question
What Stories Do Photographs Tell?
About the inquiry
Photography serves as a powerful window into the experiences of migrants during the Great Depression, offering visual narratives that capture their struggles, resilience, and hopes. Through the lens of historical photographs, we gain intimate glimpses into the hardships faced by migrant families, from the dusty fields they worked to the crowded camps where they sought […]
Instructional Snapshot
The lesson begins with a short discussion of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl hardships that pushed many families westward. Students then analyze an…
1 Supporting Questions
Iran-Contra Affair
Compelling Question
How do breaches of trust affect public perception?
About the inquiry
In the middle of the 1980s, the Reagan Administration had two significant foreign policy problems. In Nicaragua, the US funded and sent military supplies to a rebel group called the Contras who were fighting the communist Sandinista government. In response to their human rights violations, Congress passed the Boland Amendment that banned aid to the […]
Instructional Snapshot
The teacher may start class by briefly describing the core issues of the Iran-Contra Scandal: that the U.S. funded the Contras in Nicaragua to fight c…
1 Supporting Questions
National Budget BBI
Compelling Question
What Should the U.S. Spend Its Money On?
About the inquiry
Economics is grounded in the concept of scarcity, which ultimately means there is not enough stuff (e.g., food, movie theaters, healthcare) to go around. As a result, economic reasoning emphasizes making informed decisions about how to distribute goods and services efficiently and in ways that yield the best outcomes. It seems like a straightforward process, […]
Instructional Snapshot
Class begins with students ranking 10 cards representing competing budget priorities, such as military, healthcare, education, and the environment. In…
1 Supporting Questions
Langston Hughes on America
Compelling Question
How did Langston Hughes offer the African-American community a different version of America?
About the inquiry
While “I Hear America Singing” is celebrated, some critics argue that Whitman’s poem overlooks the struggles and injustices faced by marginalized groups in America, such as enslaved people, women, and indigenous communities. These omissions have prompted responses like Hughes’s “I, Too”, which seek to fill the gaps in Whitman’s vision Langston Hughes’ poem “I, Too” […]
Instructional Snapshot
The class begins with students brainstorming their definitions of “America” before reading and annotating Whitman’s I Hear America Singing and Hughes’…