G N I T O V I P PIVOTING in a Project-Based Classroom b y A B B E Y L E TTS 4TH - G R A D E S O C I A L STU D I E S TE AC H E R
Five years ago, I found my teacher “sweet spot” working in 4th grade. Fourth graders strike a balance between an eagerness to please and striving for independence, which makes it a special age group to teach. My students are high-energy, enthusiastic and love to connect with their friends and me. I try to capitalize on these traits as often as possible in the classroom.
learning uniquely prepares students for life in the classroom and beyond.
While I aim to provide a rigorous curriculum and equip students with essential skills for the upper grades, my passion for project-based
enjoyed planning and executing several other hands-on projects that align with the 4th-grade curriculum. From a Teach-the-Class exercise on
A favorite project is a cross-curricular initiative studying ancient symbols. This collaborative effort with SMES STEAM Coordinator Wade Hanse yielded a project based on the unit covering the Aztec, Inca and Maya civilizations of Central and South America. Using content As the 4th-grade social studies teacher at knowledge from the unit, students worked in St. Martin’s, my curriculum kicks off what I groups to design and create a symbol representing an ancient civhope will be a lifelong love ilization. Symbols were of history for our SMES designed incorporating students. Classwork rangTHIS YEAR HAS TAUGHT s y m met r y, sc a le a nd es from note-taking and ME THAT CREATIVITY measurement concepts organization to general AND PERSEVERANCE from math class. A nd study skills while learnPUT UP A GOOD FIGHT students wrote a museing about early American AGAINST UNCERTAINTY um text describing the history. The year began AND LIMITATIONS. symbol and design prowith the Land Bridge Thecess in language arts. ory, studying how Native Americans came to North Of course, the best part and South America, and proceeds through of the project was utilizing the laser cutter in the American history touching on European explo- STEAM lab to create tiny, scaled-down models ration of North America, the 13 colonies and of the student designs etched into wood. the American Revolution. While all projects aren’t quite as involved, I’ve
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WINTER 2021 | ST. MARTIN’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL
