2020-21 Topic Round-up

I’m excited to present this year’s Topic Round-up. It’s a good one! As always, these are student-selected topics based on their interests and care for the world. This is the first year we’ve dedicated our 9th and 10th grade Local Issues curriculum to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

SIP is one of the ways Sequoyah School demonstrates its commitment to experiential learning. In the face of COVID-19, we’ve taken that learning online. Since March 2020, our students have met with over 40 people by Zoom. Video meetings have been normalized and in many cases, people’s work-from-home schedules make it easier to find time for conversations with students. I’m confident that by the end of the year, we will have topped 200+ conversations organized and led by students.

As you review this list, please consider whether you or someone you know might be willing to chat with our students for an informational interview or, perhaps, consider a more substantial collaboration. A large part of the work we do in SIP is helping students mature into gracious researchers and professional communicators so they are poised to maintain respectful, lasting relationships. They’ve just finished learning about the art of interviewing through Interviews About Interviewing.

Thank you for your consideration.

RJ Sakai
Director of Social Innovation
rjsakai@sequoyahschool.org

Do you know someone who does work related to these topics? I’d be happy to steward any introductions and answer any questions about what it means to visit with our students. Please contact me at rjsakai@sequoyahschool.org.

• UN Sustainable Development Goals (9th & 10th grade)

  • Oceans: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources

  • Peace: Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies

  • Inequality: Reduce inequality within and among countries

  • Education: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

  • Cities: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

  • Consumption & Production: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

  • Energy: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy

  • Gender Equality: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

• Impact Projects (11th and 12th grade)

  • LGBTQ Youth

  • Science/news literacy

  • At-home agriculture and indoor plants

  • Refugee and asylee experiences

  • Teen dating violence

  • Blood donation supply/demand

  • Ethnic studies in secondary education

  • Criminal justice reform

  • Dual-language education

  • Zero waste initiatives

  • Diversity and access in outdoor education

  • Getting out the vote

  • Body image issues amongst teens

  • Teen mental health

  • Citizen science initiatives

  • Veteran experience

  • Green architecture

  • Gender equity

  • Whales and marine ecology

  • Living near airports

  • Sexual abuse amongst youth

  • Interpretation, translation, language justice

  • Homelessness amongst students

  • Children’s book writing

  • Prostate cancer testing