Unit 1: Curiosity, Inquiry & the SEL Foundation

• Teacher shares a personal curiosity story (vulnerability, emotional spark, growth)
• Define curiosity and inquiry; brainstorm associated words as a class
• Group activity: "Curiosity Poster" in mixed groups, with home language and cultural metaphors encouraged
• Journal reflection: a time they followed curiosity, noting emotions, bodily sensations, cultural influences
• Pair share with active listening and one clarifying question

• Open-ended vs. closed questions; discuss cultural and moral weight of certain questions
• Mindful visualization: students imagine encountering a puzzling aspect of their topic, noticing bodily cues
• Question brainstorm on sticky notes from a visual prompt
• Small group selection of the most open-ended, culturally sensitive, morally thoughtful question
• Journal reflection linking powerful questions to passion project direction

• Teacher story: a cultural tradition that spurred intellectual curiosity
• Updated interest inventory with cultural/family prompts and emotional cues
• Pair discussion on culturally-connected interests
• Group reflection: selecting an interest that ties identity, cultural relevance, and moral purpose

Criteria: Cultural/identity connection, respectful listening, passion project link

• Teacher story: facing a learning curve, and how persevering also meant becoming kinder
• Growth mindset phrases; reframing struggle as moral growth opportunity
• Mindfulness exercise: breathing, noticing bodily responses to a current difficulty, metaphor of "stepping stones"
• Journal reflection: reframe a challenge using growth mindset, connect to passion project and helping others
• Group discussion: affirming language, how empathy is embedded in resilience

Criteria: Growth mindset language, embodied awareness, passion project connection

• Discussion: how different cultural metaphors shape problem-solving approaches
• Group activity: sorting culturally significant inventions; communicate respectfully, acknowledge cultural insights
• Pair check-in: what went well in group dynamics (positive language, fairness, cultural examples, calm)
• Journal reflection: how collaboration changed perspective; connection to passion project

Criteria: Effective collaboration, cultural/ethical perspective, passion project link

• Teacher story: feeling overwhelmed while exploring a challenging topic; pausing, noticing, recalibrating
• Class discussion: how the body feels when curious, stressed, excited
• Guided mindfulness: body scan, labeling feelings kindly, not as obstacles
• Journal reflection: how mindful breathing supports research focus and moral decision-making
• Pair discussion: sharing reflections, acknowledging physical calmness and empathy connection

Criteria: Mindful engagement, reflection quality, peer interaction

• Ethical dilemma scenario: studying local wildlife while respecting indigenous ecological knowledge
• Group discussion: morally sound approaches with careful language choices and cultural respect
• Journal reflection: how moral perspectives shape their own project inquiries
• Whole-class sharing: metaphors representing ethical inquiry ("planting seeds in a community garden")

Criteria: Ethical engagement, cultural sensitivity, passion project application

• Teacher story: a linguistically rich tradition or proverb that guided persistence
• Discussion: growth mindset language vs. language that shuts down curiosity
• Individual writing: invent a metaphor for their passion project as a dynamic, morally grounded journey
• Pair share: refine metaphors with feedback on inclusivity, cultural influences, emotional drive
• Group nomination: one metaphor that fosters respectful inquiry, cultural depth, and persistence

Criteria: Linguistic creativity, feedback engagement, passion project application

• Teacher story: a school or community that changed a policy, transforming belonging and curiosity
• Class discussion: what environment helps you learn best, linked to fairness and cultural representation
• Small group brainstorm: environmental/policy changes to support passion projects (quiet reading corners, culturally diverse books, peer discussion time)
• Individual reflection: how a desired change would support calm, motivation, respect, and ethics
• Whole-class sharing: student voices recorded, reinforcing that advocacy is a collective effort

Criteria: Environmental insight, collaborative engagement, passion project connection

• Review all eight SEL dimensions; ask: "How does each dimension turn a simple interest into a passionate, ethically-minded, community-oriented project?"
• Individual vision statement: reference at least two SEL dimensions
• Pair share: exchange vision statements, highlight a cultural or moral strength
• Whole-class synthesis: communal discussion reinforcing that everyone's vision is part of a larger ecosystem

Criteria: Integration of dimensions, cultural/ethical reflection, peer feedback use