Project-MOONSHOT ACADEMY

Distant Voice

Disciplines/Subjects: History, Political Sciences, Economics Key Themes: Afghanistan, Women, Rights, Empathy At the Same Time, in Different Spaces, How Do Different Lives Unfold? While our children sit in classrooms diligently studying high school courses and completing assignments, what educational and material challenges are Afghan girls of the same age facing just next door, in Afghanistan? As our children dream, plan, and choose their paths for the future, what hopes and disappointments are these Afghan girls experiencing? Without the right to control their destinies, what aspirations do they hold for the future, and what resistance can they muster? Amidst so many inequalities, these girls yearn to be seen and heard. Understanding and seeing their struggles not only illuminates their darkened world but also broadens our hearts and minds. In this project, you will research information about Afghanistan to understand the current living conditions and stories of Afghan women. Your task is to create a storybook about Afghanistan and organize an exhibition on Afghan women. Through these two efforts, you aim to achieve the following goals: Highlight the political, economic, and cultural background of Afghanistan. Present the challenges and struggles faced by Afghan women through their personal stories, offering profound insights through seemingly small narratives, and amplifying their voices. Inspire readers and attendees to take concrete actions and participate in initiatives to support Afghan women. Sell the storybook and donate all proceeds to an online English school for Afghan women.

Impact of Protected Areas in Brazilian Amazon

Disciplines/Subjects: Environmental Science, Ecology, Political Science, Economics Key Themes: Impact of Protected Areas (PAs) in the Brazilian Amazon, highlighting both the benefits and costs associated with these conservation efforts The article, "Impact of Protected Areas in Brazilian Amazon," examines the complex relationship between Protected Areas (PAs) and their impact on the Brazilian Amazon rainforest. The Amazon rainforest plays a vital role in regulating global climate and is home to a significant portion of Earth's terrestrial species12. Deforestation, driven by the need for ranching and agriculture, threatens this ecosystem, leading to biodiversity loss and increased carbon emissions2. PAs have emerged as a crucial strategy to mitigate deforestation and preserve the Amazon.

The Western feminism assertion on veiling oppression and clarification from Islamic perspectives

Key Themes: Western feminism, Veiling oppression, Women's autonomy, Socialization impact This academic paper examines the conflicting perspectives on the Islamic veil, contrasting Western feminist interpretations with Islamic viewpoints. Western feminists frequently characterize veiling as a symbol of oppression, restricting women's autonomy and hindering their socialization, while also arguing that it reinforces patriarchal structures and is a product of Orientalist biases. Conversely, the paper presents Islamic perspectives that view veiling as a personal choice expressing religious identity and empowerment, promoting social engagement, and even enhancing women's honor and respect within their communities. The paper's central purpose is to deconstruct the Western feminist narrative by highlighting the diverse interpretations and agency surrounding the veil within Islamic culture, arguing against the simplistic notion of oppression.

Presenting the "Hero"

Disciplines/Subjects: Advanced World Literature Key Themes: In this study of Mikhail Yurievich Lermontov's A Hero of Our Time, we explore how Lermontov's romanticism shapes themes such as "the edges of empire", "agency & fate", and "loyalty & betrayal". The unit begins with an introduction to imperial Russian history and culture and how these were shaped both by internal and external influences, such as geopolitical, intellectual, and artistic currents. With this base, over a month we explore how Lermontov explored such issues in his classic novel A Hero of Our Time (1841). The summative assessment for the unit is for learners to plan and perform a presentation that both knowledgeably and creatively explores an artistic or thematic concern that arises from the text.

Decolonizing Psychometrics: Artifacts on Intelligence and Eugenics

Disciplines/Subjects: History of Psychology Key Themes：Psychometrics; Intelligence; Eugenics; History of Science; Primary Source Analysis The British Museum is planning an exhibition that showcases archival research on the topic of WWII eugenic movements and the role that psychologists and neurologists played in perpetuating systemic violence and discrimination. You are a novice historian of psychology who conducts archival research on relevant topics. You are tasked to identify, arrange, and interpret primary sources to put up a display that chronicles the above topic. Your work needs to engage a large, public, and global audience informing them about the history of how science is used to perpetrate racism. You will also connect the role of psychologists in intelligence research by showing how early psychologists have been complicit in creating and advancing eugenic claims and practices. Your goal is to construct a research-based, engaging narrative that brings your audience close to the archival evidence on your chosen topic/focus area.

Exploration of China and the World, Closure and Openness, and Their Impacts

Since ancient times, the interaction between China and the outside world has never truly been severed. In the process of Sino-foreign interaction, on one hand, the Chinese nation has participated in the advancement and development of world civilization; on the other hand, the external world has profoundly influenced the rise and fall of Chinese civilization. Therefore, the interaction between China and the world is a question worth exploring. This project is based on the course of China and the world, focusing on the theme of Sino-foreign exchange and interaction, particularly examining the relationship between China and the outside world during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It aims to guide learners to explore the consequences of China's closure and openness towards the outside world, ultimately generating a scholarly argumentative essay.

The Power of Pandemics

Disciplines/Subjects: History, Political Sciences Key Themes: Pandemics, History, Virus, Bacteria Speaking of the aftermath of COVID-19, Melinda Gates believed that “this pandemic [had] magnified every existing inequality in our society — like systemic racism, gender inequality, and poverty.” Gates had made a critical point that diseases and societal tensions are rarely separated. Indeed, there is a reason that we call perpetual social issues, social ills. Where is this global pandemic leading us? What effect - social, political, and cultural - will it create? How do we, as a collective, prevent the next pandemic? We are still amid the torrent to produce a clear vision of the future, so let's pause, and look back in history. For this project, you are expected to create two history magazines (May edition, 2024) catering to students in Grades 5 and Grades 7-8, respectively. Your goal is to introduce and delineate the causes and effects of five pandemics — plague, smallpox, Malaria, Influenza, and HIV/AIDS — to your audience. Keep in mind that you need to demonstrate: the biological and social causes of pandemics the social, political, and cultural effects of pandemics more crucially, the awareness of your audience's ability to read and understand your message Individually, you will also submit a 1200-word essay discussing the causes and effects of your chosen pandemic.

Finding the Right Location with GIS

Discipline/ Subject：GIS, Design Key Themes: GIS Campus Map, Sign Design This was initially a "boarding project" course, where the teacher designed the research questions, project outcomes, and all the acceptance criteria in advance. However, the teacher, Mora, found this approach uninteresting. So, after analyzing examples of how GIS can impact everyday life, she would always ask the learners, "Do you have any issues you want to vent about, or projects you'd like to tackle, or problems you think can be solved using geographical thinking? Let's work on them together. If not, you can work on the project I've prepared. Your choice." In the fall semester of the 2024-2025 school year, a group of 9th-grade freshmen who wanted to create their projects found an area of interest: modifying the school's map and wayfinding system (landmarks and signage). As freshmen, they often found themselves lost on campus, unable to navigate properly. After some complaints in class, they decided to tackle the school's map and wayfinding system. Mora suggested they consult other members of the community to determine if this was indeed a real issue. They interviewed students, teachers, school administrators, and parents, and distributed surveys to all students, teachers, and parents. "Have you ever had difficulty finding a classroom on campus?" In the 175 valid surveys, 90% answered "Yes." "What do you think is the biggest problem with the school's map, landmarks, and signage system?" Missing or incorrect information on the map; the inner circle signage system provides no information. Based on the survey and interview results, they corrected errors in the school's map, added a more user-friendly "current location" feature, and focused on improving the inner circle wayfinding system. They thought this would solve the problem, but as the project progressed, an obstacle appeared: the school's classroom numbering was chaotic and irregular. To quickly locate classrooms, the room numbers needed to be rearranged. Without this, adding more maps and signage would still result in people getting lost. Reordering the room numbers for the entire school was far beyond their capability.

Project

Real-world projects creating positive impacts for self, others, communities, and the planet.