Godwin Heights — Mayan civilization is celebrated for its remarkable achievements in astronomy, mathematics, calendar-making and monumental architecture. But due to ongoing discrimination, Mayan people today experience significant economic, social, and political inequalities.
“People are surprised and not aware of the problem,” eighth-grader Joostyn Ramirez-Morales said, as he talked about an exhibit he created with classmate Yezniel Cruzado-Bosque. Because of racial profiling, he explained, many Mayans live in isolation and poverty, producing their own food and clothing.
Joostyn and Yezniel’s project was one of three from their middle school to earn top honors at the district-level National History Day competition held in March at Grand Valley State University. All five students behind the winning projects will advance to the April 19 state competition at Central Michigan University.
“This is the first time we have ever participated in this,” said social studies teacher Patrick Snyder. “To have five students advance on to state and possibly head to (the) national (level), really says a lot about the students and how they (have) taken to the assignment.”
Deeper Engagement
Snyder teaches an enhanced social studies elective focused on active learning and critical thinking. The semester-long class encourages eighth-graders to engage more deeply with historical topics.
While searching for a meaningful project for his students, Snyder discovered the National History Day competition, a project-based learning program and competition for students in grades 6 to 12. Students conduct research on a historical topic, create a project, an exhibit, paper, website, documentary or performance, and compete at district, state and national levels.
Every year there is a theme; this year is “Rights and Responsibilities.” Snyder’s students researched a related topic they chose, then created an exhibit, presenting 16 of them at the regional event at Grand Valley State University in March.
Through the process, Snyder said, they pursue college-level research, plan, find sources and secondary sources, write anecdotes and a bibliography and finally, present what they have learned.
Joostyn’s family is from Guatemala, so he recommended the topic of “Mayan Inequality” to his group. The Mayan population is located in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Western Honduras and El Salavador.
“I wasn’t aware of this until (Joostyn) told me about it, and I really liked the topic because it shows how (inequalities are) going on in other countries,” Yezniel said.
The students are now taking the judges’ comments and working to improve their exhibits to prepare for the April 19 state competition. Joostyn said the team plans to replace the paper drawing of the exhibit’s temple with a 3D version and include a piece of cloth made by Mayans that his mother has.
Building on what they’ve learned
Across from Joostyn and Yezniel, Raylin Mitchner also was working on her exhibit about redlining, a discriminatory practice where financial services were denied or limited in residential areas with high racial or ethnic minority populations.
Her focus was replacing a small, hard-to-read map that showed redlined areas with a larger one.
“I really enjoy learning about African Americans and the struggles that faced them,” Raylin said about why she picked the topic.
It was her mother who suggested redlining, and Raylin said she spent several weeks researching the topic before putting together her exhibit.
Raylin said she gained valuable skills in presenting, public speaking and creativity as she put together and presented her project.
Valery Crona and her partner, Milton Grandados-Castro, created an exhibit on baseball legend Jackie Robinson.
“We picked him because he not only represents the African American community, but he was the first to represent them by playing in the major leagues,” Milton said.
Valery said she learned a lot about the baseball legend and the impact he had on the game. The project also had an impact on her.
“At first it was a lot of work, but as we studied about him, it got a lot easier,” she said. “It built up my confidence so that I am not afraid to talk in front of others.”
Read more from Godwin Heights:
• Sixth-graders honor youngest Holocaust victims
• Eighth-graders reenact the Constitutional Convention from their own perspective
