Because Transcendentalism is one of my favorite American Literature units to teach, it only recently came to my attention that lots of other English teachers (and students) find these texts extremely boring. Since this hasn’t been my experience, I thought I would share some ways to make your Transcendentalism unit engaging and meaningful with Transcendentalism projects!
Nature Transcendentalism Projects
Incorporating outdoor ELA activities is always fun, but doing Transcendentalism projects outdoors makes it even more meaningful. As we know, Transcendentalists like Emerson and Thoreau gained insight through nature, and your students can too! Here are some ideas:
Plant Symbolic Seeds: As a project pairing for Emerson’s Self-Reliance essay, have students make and decorate paper cups that show their individuality as well as which talents they would like to grow. As a hands-on metaphor, have students plant and take care of the seeds. Talents can only grow if one tills and nurtures those talents. I did this project on Earth Day a few years back, and my students LOVED getting their hands dirty and watching their seeds grow. This was before my blogging days, so I don’t have any pictures, but you can get the idea above. As they nurture their plant, they’ll also be nurturing their trait, watching it grow along with their seedling.
Go on a Nature Walk to Journal: Transcendentalists believed that a deep connection with nature was essential to living a fulfilling and meaningful life. Take your students on a nature walk, and ask them to observe their surroundings and respond to some nature journaling prompts. This exercise will help them cultivate mindfulness, creativity, and appreciation for natural beauty. If you want a pre-made nature journal specifically for teaching Transcendentalism, you can download one here.
Write from Nature’s Perspective: In this project, students will put themselves in the shoes (roots?) of nature and write from its perspective. They can choose a natural element like a leaf or tree and imagine what that object sees and experiences. This activity pairs well with Emerson’s “transparent eyeball,” and you can even have students go on a scavenger hunt for things that look like eyes (think callouses on a tree). This exercise encourages empathy, creativity, and imagination.
Art Transcendentalism Projects
Transcendentalism is a movement that values creativity and expression. Here are some ideas to help your students tap into their imagination:
Create Artistic Poetry: Have your students create poems that reflect the key themes of Transcendentalism. This can include “found poetry,” where students cut and rearrange words from a text to create their own poem, or “art out” poetry, where students use texts like “Self-reliance” by Emerson or Walden by Thoreau to create a form of blackout poetry.
Make a Mood Board: The Transcendentalism project choices in this Transcendentalism Unit prompt students to start their project with a mood board. A mood board is a visual collage that encapsulates the desired aesthetic, emotions, and thematic elements to serve as a creative reference and inspiration for a project. Tapping into the aesthetics and symbolism of Transcendentalism, students design mood boards for a coffeehouse, classroom, or game room. You can find this Transcendentalism project along with examples, directions, and a rubric here: Transcendentalism Unit Plan
Play a Video Game: Game design is an art form and Walden a Game is such a beautiful example. While mainstream video games are full of fast speeds, gruesome violence, and blaring sounds, the award-winning computer game, Walden, a Game is refreshingly different. Instead of playing faster, gamers can only win by slowing down. Instead of gruesome violence, players face challenges in a peaceful forest. Instead of blaring noise, participants hear the soothing sounds of nature and acoustic melodies. Here are some ideas for use:
- Show the game trailer as an intro to Thoreau.
- Incorporate informational texts like: In Walden Video Game, Stillness is the Challenge from the New York Times, or Can a Video Game Capture the Magic of Walden? from the Smithsonian .
- Study the “Behind the Sounds of Walden” video to teach how sensory language helps create mood and pace (or as a model “text” for projects with sounds, see project choice above).
- Give the game as a project or essay option so that students can play it then connect the design of the game to the text.
Transcendentalism Poster Project
Transcendentalism is an inclusive movement that values diversity and equality. Transcendentalists were idealists. Here are some meaningful Transcendental project ideas that can be displayed in a presentation or post-project.
Assure Nature for Everyone: Have your students research the inclusivity of state parks near you and create an action plan poster for making parks more welcoming to all people. This exercise promotes social justice, community engagement, and activism. Want more ideas for diversifying your Transcendentalism unit? Keep reading here: Teaching Transcendentalism
Watch Transcendentalist TED Talks: For a more modern take on transcendentalist ideas, have your students watch TED talks about nature or environmental issues then create an infographic poster. These short TED-ed videos are a great place to start: Who owns the “wilderness”? and What happens if you cut down all of a city’s trees?
Test Different Mindfulness Techniques: Mindfulness is a key component of Transcendentalism. Have your students test different mindfulness techniques and report on their findings. They could even create a “March Mindfulness” bracket poster like in this post. This exercise encourages self-reflection, mindfulness, and personal growth.
Transcendentalism offers a valuable framework for exploring the world and oneself. With these Transcendentalism projects, you can help your students develop a deeper connection to nature, enhance their creativity and self-expression, and promote social justice and activism. I hope you find these ideas helpful and inspiring!
Do you want more ideas for your entire unit? Keep reading here: Teaching Transcendentalism or download this comprehensive Transcendentalism unit.
