Fourth Graders Study the Industrial Revolution
February 21 – Families and friends caught a wonderful glimpse into how project-based learning brings history alive when they attended the fourth grade performance and presentations on America’s Industrial Revolution.
Students began the program with a play that showcased what they had learned about the changes in our nation from 1750 to 1914, which included songs about whaling, mill girls, railroads, and canals. After the performance, families were invited to view student work on display in the Sky Room. Fourth graders had written articles about social issues (for newspaper The Industrial Times), and prepared posters about inventions from the Industrial Revolution period. Students were encouraged to try to find out the inventors’ inspiration, as well as what future inventions were made possible as a result. They also shared inventions of their own that are still in process – a “Shark Tank” activity that gave students an opportunity to play the role of young entrepreneurs.
As teacher Ken Jordan said in an email to the students’ parents, “Your children really know how to put on a show!”
PHOTOGRAPHY: Rhonda Spevak
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