Building Our Future: Design a Society
Inquiry Framework
Question Framework
Driving Question
The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we design a thriving society that balances individual needs with the common good, addresses potential challenges, and prioritizes essential values and beliefs?Essential Questions
Supporting questions that break down major concepts.- What are the necessary components of a successful society?
- How do political, economic, and social structures interact and influence each other in a society?
- What values and beliefs should be prioritized when designing a society?
- What are the potential challenges and trade-offs in creating an ideal society?
- How can a society balance individual freedoms with the common good?
Standards & Learning Goals
Learning Goals
By the end of this project, students will be able to:- Students will be able to collaboratively design a hypothetical society, outlining its political, economic, and social structures.
- Students will be able to define roles and responsibilities within their designed society.
- Students will be able to articulate the governance system of their society.
- Students will be able to analyze and discuss the potential advantages and disadvantages of their proposed societal structure.
- Students will be able to justify the values and beliefs that underpin their society's design.
- Students will be able to explain how their society balances individual freedoms with the common good.
- Students will be able to identify potential challenges and propose solutions for their designed society.
- Students will be able to describe the interaction and influence between the political, economical, and social structures of their society.
- Students will be able to define the key components of a successful society in their own terms, based on brainstorming and initial discussions.
Teacher-specified Standards
Entry Events
Events that will be used to introduce the project to studentsMessage from the Future
A mysterious, undated letter arrives, supposedly sent from a future descendant pleading for help. The letter describes a dystopian society plagued by unforeseen consequences of decisions made by our current civilization. Students must analyze the letter, identify the key issues, and begin planning a new society that avoids these pitfalls.Portfolio Activities
Portfolio Activities
These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.Society Blueprint: Brainstorming Session
Students brainstorm the core components of their ideal society, focusing on political, economic, and social aspects. This activity encourages creative thinking and sets the foundation for more detailed planning.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA mind map or brainstorming web outlining initial ideas for the society's political, economic, and social structures.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with standard SS1: Students create an ideal society with political, economic, and social structures.Role Allocation: Building the Workforce
Students define specific roles and responsibilities within their society. This activity helps them understand how different jobs and positions contribute to the overall function of the civilization.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA detailed list of roles and responsibilities within their ideal society, including job titles, descriptions, and required skills.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with standard SS2: Students define the roles within their society.Governance Structure: Rules of the Game
Students delve into the governance system of their society, discussing how decisions are made, laws are created, and conflicts are resolved. This activity encourages them to think critically about power, authority, and justice.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA written description of their society's governance system, including how leaders are chosen, laws are made, and disputes are resolved.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with standard SS3: Students discuss the governance of their society.Society SWOT Analysis: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats
Students analyze the potential advantages and disadvantages of their society's design. This activity fosters critical thinking and encourages them to anticipate challenges and trade-offs.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA balanced analysis of the pros and cons of their society, identifying potential challenges and proposing solutions.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with standard SS4: Students describe the pros and cons of their society.Rubric & Reflection
Portfolio Rubric
Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolioIdeal Society Design Rubric
Brainstorming and Idea Visualization
This category assesses the breadth, depth, and organization of ideas presented in the mind map, as well as its visual clarity and coherence.Idea Generation and Organization
Extent to which the mind map or brainstorming web effectively captures and organizes a diverse range of ideas for the society's political, economic, and social structures.
Exemplary
4 PointsThe mind map showcases an exceptional variety of innovative and interconnected ideas for the political, economic, and social structures, demonstrating sophisticated understanding and creativity.
Proficient
3 PointsThe mind map effectively organizes a thorough range of ideas for the political, economic, and social structures, demonstrating clear understanding and thoughtful consideration.
Developing
2 PointsThe mind map presents a limited range of ideas for the political, economic, or social structures, showing some organization but lacking depth or detail.
Beginning
1 PointsThe mind map is incomplete, disorganized, and presents very few ideas for the political, economic, and social structures, demonstrating minimal understanding.
Visual Clarity and Coherence
Clarity and coherence of the mind map in visually representing the relationships between different political, economic, and social elements of the society.
Exemplary
4 PointsThe mind map is exceptionally clear, visually appealing, and coherently represents the complex relationships between the political, economic, and social elements of the society, enhancing understanding.
Proficient
3 PointsThe mind map is clear, well-organized, and represents the relationships between the political, economic, and social elements of the society in a coherent manner.
Developing
2 PointsThe mind map is somewhat unclear, with some difficulty in understanding the relationships between the political, economic, and social elements of the society.
Beginning
1 PointsThe mind map is disorganized, unclear, and fails to represent the relationships between the political, economic, and social elements of the society.
Role Allocation and Responsibilities
This category evaluates the comprehensiveness of role definitions, the clarity of job descriptions, and the justification for the inclusion of specific roles in the ideal society.Role Definition and Detail
Comprehensiveness and detail in defining various roles within the ideal society, including the clarity of job descriptions, responsibilities, and required skills.
Exemplary
4 PointsThe list of roles is exceptionally comprehensive, with detailed and insightful job descriptions that clearly articulate responsibilities, required skills, and importance to the society, demonstrating advanced understanding.
Proficient
3 PointsThe list of roles is thorough, with clear job descriptions that outline responsibilities, required skills, and importance to the society, demonstrating solid understanding.
Developing
2 PointsThe list of roles is limited, with basic job descriptions that vaguely outline responsibilities, required skills, and importance to the society, demonstrating emerging understanding.
Beginning
1 PointsThe list of roles is minimal, with incomplete job descriptions that lack detail about responsibilities, required skills, and importance to the society, demonstrating minimal understanding.
Role Justification and Rationale
Justification and rationale for the inclusion of specific roles, demonstrating understanding of how different jobs and positions contribute to the overall function and success of the civilization.
Exemplary
4 PointsThe rationale for including specific roles is exceptionally well-justified, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of how these roles synergistically contribute to the overall function, stability, and success of the civilization.
Proficient
3 PointsThe rationale for including specific roles is clearly justified, demonstrating a strong understanding of how these roles contribute to the overall function and success of the civilization.
Developing
2 PointsThe rationale for including specific roles is somewhat justified, demonstrating a basic understanding of how these roles contribute to the overall function of the civilization.
Beginning
1 PointsThe rationale for including specific roles is poorly justified or absent, demonstrating a minimal understanding of how these roles contribute to the function of the civilization.
Governance Structure and Decision-Making
This category assesses the clarity, coherence, and feasibility of the described governance system, focusing on the processes for making laws, resolving disputes, and enforcing rules.Governance System Clarity
Clarity and coherence in describing the society's governance system, including the process for making laws, resolving disputes, and enforcing rules.
Exemplary
4 PointsThe description of the governance system is exceptionally clear, coherent, and insightful, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of the processes for making laws, resolving disputes, and enforcing rules within the society.
Proficient
3 PointsThe description of the governance system is clear and coherent, demonstrating a strong understanding of the processes for making laws, resolving disputes, and enforcing rules within the society.
Developing
2 PointsThe description of the governance system is somewhat unclear or incomplete, demonstrating a basic understanding of the processes for making laws, resolving disputes, and enforcing rules within the society.
Beginning
1 PointsThe description of the governance system is unclear, incoherent, and lacks essential details about the processes for making laws, resolving disputes, and enforcing rules within the society.
Governance System Feasibility
Feasibility and practicality of the proposed governance system, considering the challenges and complexities of real-world governance.
Exemplary
4 PointsThe proposed governance system is exceptionally feasible and demonstrates a practical understanding of the challenges and complexities of real-world governance, offering innovative solutions.
Proficient
3 PointsThe proposed governance system is feasible and demonstrates a practical understanding of the challenges and complexities of real-world governance.
Developing
2 PointsThe proposed governance system has questionable feasibility and demonstrates a limited understanding of the challenges and complexities of real-world governance.
Beginning
1 PointsThe proposed governance system is not feasible and demonstrates a lack of understanding of the challenges and complexities of real-world governance.
SWOT Analysis and Problem-Solving
This category assesses the depth of the pro/con analysis, the balance of identified advantages and disadvantages, and the creativity and effectiveness of proposed solutions for addressing potential challenges.Pro/Con Analysis Depth
Depth and comprehensiveness of the pro/con analysis, identifying a balanced set of potential advantages and disadvantages of the proposed society.
Exemplary
4 PointsThe pro/con analysis is exceptionally deep and comprehensive, identifying a balanced and insightful set of potential advantages and disadvantages of the proposed society, demonstrating advanced critical thinking.
Proficient
3 PointsThe pro/con analysis is thorough and comprehensive, identifying a balanced set of potential advantages and disadvantages of the proposed society, demonstrating effective critical thinking.
Developing
2 PointsThe pro/con analysis is superficial and incomplete, identifying a limited set of potential advantages and disadvantages of the proposed society, demonstrating basic critical thinking.
Beginning
1 PointsThe pro/con analysis is minimal and lacks balance, failing to identify significant advantages or disadvantages of the proposed society, demonstrating minimal critical thinking.
Solution Creativity and Effectiveness
Creativity and effectiveness of the proposed solutions for addressing potential challenges or mitigating disadvantages identified in the analysis.
Exemplary
4 PointsThe proposed solutions are exceptionally creative, effective, and demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of how to mitigate the identified disadvantages, offering innovative and insightful strategies.
Proficient
3 PointsThe proposed solutions are effective and demonstrate a clear understanding of how to mitigate the identified disadvantages.
Developing
2 PointsThe proposed solutions are somewhat effective or incomplete, demonstrating a basic understanding of how to mitigate the identified disadvantages.
Beginning
1 PointsThe proposed solutions are ineffective or absent, demonstrating a lack of understanding of how to mitigate the identified disadvantages.