Understanding By Design

Established Goals

Students will understand:

• The nature and structure of curiosity as an energy for learning

• The relationship between violence, vulnerability, and transformation

• How questions shape consciousness and meaning-making

• The role of creativity in expanding human understanding

• The connection between mortality, suffering, and vibrant living

Essential Questions (World-Class Quality)

Overarching Questions:

1. What if curiosity is not a behavior or trait, but an energy we channel?

2. How does violence shape the questions we are afraid to ask?

3. What does it mean to be human in a world we don not understand?

4. When darkness becomes unbearable, what makes vulnerability a worthy risk?

Topical Questions:

5. What is the relationship between comedy and tragedy, laughter and loss?

6. How do we build ourselves as our own imaginary friend?

7. What if "mattering" is about the texture of Tuesday morning?

8. Are you willing to surpass the given?

9. How can death and destruction be transformed into engines for curiosity?

10. What happens when technology eradicates intimate conversation?

Understandings

Students will understand that:

U1: Curiosity functions as an energy for expanding consciousness and sense of meaning.

U2: There are at least six distinct Curiosity Archetypes representing different ways humans channel curiosity.

U3: Violence and vulnerability may exist on a spectrum of human responses to fear and disconnection.

U4: Vibrant questions emerge from lived experience and create spaces for aliveness.

U5: Learning requires something old to die—a willingness to try on new ideas like hats.

U6: Comedy and education share a foundation in processing experience through levity.

Knowledge

Students will know:

K1: The six Curiosity Archetypes: Observer, Seeker, Artist, Storyteller, Strategist, Coddiwompler

K4: The relationship between curiosity and mortality in human experience

K5: How questions function as creative uses of curiosity

Skills

Students will be able to:

S1: Identify their dominant Curiosity Archetype and practice moving between archetypes

S2: Engage in vulnerable, face-to-face conversation about difficult topics

S3: Use comedy and storytelling as tools for processing experiences

S4: Practice trying on ideas like hats—testing perspectives without permanent commitment

S5: Create spaces where others can build themselves as their own imaginary friends

S6: Live the Fourth Day—translate peak learning experiences into daily practice