Big Idea

By the end of the capstone, students will be able to adequately discuss the question: should we create super humans? As we move throughout the project we will discuss with the students the ethics of altering the human body, what it would take to become a superhuman or super hero in chemistry and engineering, and  the elements of storytelling and character development. The final product of the capstone will be students working in groups to develop their own comic books and creating their own super heroes. Students will also produce a rationale for the ethics surrounding altering genetics and the human body to alter the human race of the future.

Essential Questions

1. What makes us human?

2. Should we create super humans?

Transdisciplinary Connections

English: Students will need to develop a plot and characters which engages an audience. Students will need to include an antagonist and protagonist within the comic. The plot should address a conflict that will be resolved or left as a cliffhanger at the end of the story.

Chemistry: Students will need to use topics in chemistry to explain the differences between their superhuman character and normal humans - using inter/intramolecular bonds, energy, phases of matter (topics from last quarter can also be used!). Must specifically explain how changes allow for the character’s abilities

Engineering: Students will be required to cover at least 1 of the 5 systems covered (muscular, skeletal, respiratory, circulatory, and digestive). The rubric will explain how much detail needs to be added.

Social Studies:

Math: Exponential growth/decay. Should discuss the shape of the function, the equation, end-behavior, and apply to some element of the story (e.g. technological singularity, cellular regeneration, etc…)

End Products

Hand Drawn Comic Book

10 page minimum

40 panel minimum

Complete comic book first, Complete analysis by subject second

Teachable Moments – Collaboration with Campus International

Super Human