Home Curriculum JEDI
The Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (JEDI) class at Park Day School empowers Middle School students to engage with critical social issues through research, discussion, hands-on projects, and experiences in the field. By analyzing complex topics from multiple perspectives, students build a deeper understanding of systemic inequalities and explore ways to create meaningful change in their communities and beyond.
Media Literacy & Storytelling
Students delve into media literacy by analyzing various forms of media, from TikTok videos to advertisements. Through assignments that dissect content and production, they explore who creates media, the intended audience, its purpose, and identify missing voices and perspectives, sharpening their ability to distinguish reliable sources. Their final project—a podcast on a topic that matters to them—showcases these skills, with three students’ work featured in KQED’s Youth Media Staff Picks!
Environmental Justice & Tree Equity
7th graders dive into environmental justice through units on climate change, food insecurity, and the water crisis. Students explore tree equity scores, examining how unequal tree canopy distribution in urban areas fosters environmental injustices. After analyzing Park Day School’s score, they research low tree equity areas in Oakland, tracing systemic causes from slavery to modern racism. Students apply this research to propose solutions, with one group designing a social media campaign to demonstrate how activism can drive change.
Electoral College Debates
8th graders take on a thought-provoking debate in JEDI class, tackling the topic of the Electoral College. In preparation, students research the history of the system, examine current opinions, and explore opposing perspectives on the Electoral College to craft compelling arguments. The debates are a powerful exercise in critical thinking, perspective-taking, and respectful dialogue around a key issue in American democracy—one that ties directly to the ‘isms’ they examine and confront in 8th grade JEDI.