OBJECTIVES:
- Initiate and participate effectively in collaborative discussions pertaining to the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea.
- Respond thoughtfully to diverse perspectives inside and outside of the classroom.
Perception of the Sacred: Mauna Kea & the TMT
TOPIC:
- Native Hawaiian sovereignty, Mauna Kea and the Thirty Meter Telescope
INTRODUCTION:
In this lesson plan, students will learn about the controversy surrounding the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) on the summit of Mauna Kea in Hawaiʻi. The TMT is a large ground based infrared observatory that is proposed to stand 18 stories high and occupy 8 acres of undeveloped land on the northwest slope of Mauna Kea, a sacred space to many Native Hawaiians.
Through a series of reflections, discussions, lectures, and assignments, students explore the connection between colonialism and perception of the sacred using this controversy as a template.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
- What does it mean for a site to be sacred?
- What is the controversy at Mauna Kea and the Thirty Meter Telescope?
- What are the arguments for and against the Thirty Meter Telescope?
- How does Mauna Kea and the Thirty Meter Telescope controversy relate to a larger history of colonialism in Hawaii?
KIT INCLUDES:
- Background Reading for Educator
- Glossary of Terms
- PowerPoint Slides
- Video Links
- TMT: The World’s Most Controversial Telescope
- Why Native Hawaiians Protesting Giant Telescope on Mauna Kea Aren’t Going Anywhere | NBC Left Field
- PBS Short Film Festival | Standing Above the Clouds | PBS
- We Are Mauna Kea
- Native Hawaiian Student Starts Petition Supporting TMT
- Worldwide #Jam4MaunaKea- “Kū Ha’aheo” & “Hawai’i Loa”
- Activities
- Reflection questions, slideshows, group discussion, research project
- Discussion Rubric
Lesson plan created in partnership with Diversify Our Narrative
