By: Principal Williams
Amy Monkiewicz and Caleb Dubofsky (Grade
4 teachers) have been developing a new
student exploratory learning project called
the
Grade 4 Map Museum Project. The
year began with students learning more
about the places they visited over the
summer. Students studied features of maps
and developed a deeper understanding of
how cartographers use these features to
create maps. Their studies included field
trips to the Boston Public Library where they
visited the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center.
This center is the holding place for maps
dating back to the 15th century to the
present. Students synthesized all of their
learning into their personal map project. A
concluding event celebrating their work was
held on Thursday, November 6, 2014.
Grade 4 will continue their studies by focusing
on the five regions of North America in the
1600’s. They will understand how geography
impacted the lives of different tribes.
Students will create research books
connected to this study. The Discovering
Justice Curriculum will be a resource for their
continued work. The student’s studies will
extend to the present day with the regions of
the US. Integrated with this understanding of
Native Americans is a literacy project.
Students read many legends and wrote a
legend of their own. Map work will also be an
important part of this study and students will
explore the essential question: How does
where we live influence our lives? Students
will be engaged in this topic up until the end
of January or mid February. The next huge
topic of study is immigration. Students will
learn more about who came to America and
what were their experiences.
Family support is a crucial ingredient. Grade
4 parents can support classroom learning by
sharing information about their family’s
journey to America with their child(ren). This
will support his/her learning in the class and
is one way for every family to participate.
Please contact your child’s teacher to learn
about more ways parents can be supportive.