Cultures and Religions of the Himalayan Region

Summer 2004

Introduction

National Endowment for the Humanities
Summer Institute: The People and Cultures of the Himalayas
Implementation Plan
August 1, 2004

Karen Enghusen
E.V. Cain Middle School - Grade 6 Language Arts/Social Studies

Auburn, California, a bedroom community of Sacramento, is located in the foothills of Northern California. E.V. Cain Middle School is served by four feeder elementary sites, and supports a student population of about 950 in grades 6-8. The K-8 Auburn Union School District has a lack of significant ethnic diversity. The sixth grade at the Middle School delivers instruction predominately with teams of two teachers plus an additional elective teacher, depending on the students' choice of elective. I am responsible for the Reading, Language Arts and Social Studies portion of the curriculum, while my partner teaches Math, Science and PE. We share a daily common preparation period, enabling us to deliver interdisciplinary instruction to approximately 65 students per day. Classes are composed of a heterogeneous range of student abilities, from Gifted through Special Day students who may be mainstreamed for only one period per day.

In implementing the California Content Standards for Reading, Language Arts and Social Students, I have used an interdisciplinary approach, focusing instruction around Social Studies. It has been my experience that the richer the environment, the more my students get excited and interested in a topic, and the better they are able to demonstrate their knowledge of the subject. To that end, I will use this project as part of a larger unit on the study of Ancient India and Ancient China.