• Introduce students to the big idea or overarching statement. Post the big idea on the board.

• All forms of expression have multiple meanings.

• Lead a discussion with students about the big idea to elicit the following responses:

• A definition
• A set of examples

• Create a chart to document the prior knowledge students have about the big idea. Following is an example of a chart:

• Engage students in a discussion to analyze the relationship that exists between the environment, the types of souvenirs available for purchase and people’s motivation to seek such items.

• Use the information displayed on the chart and the students’ discussions to create general statements about travel. Note that examples could include:

• - “Travel takes time.”
• - “Different places make and sell different things.”
• - “We want different souvenirs as adults than we do as children.”

Notes to Teacher

Traditionally, a big idea is a theory, principle, law or generalization that is applicable across the disciplines.

The purpose of a big idea is twofold: (a) to involve students in a student centered-inquiry- base lesson, and (b) help students understand that a single statement has multiple meanings across all disciplines. In this way, big ideas help to reinforce the concept of interdisciplinarity.

The purpose of this motivation is to engage students in thinking about how multiple meanings or interpretations exist in things (stories, movies, etc.) that they are familiar with.