Join us for our “Celebration of Learning: March of the Giraffes”
A few years ago, we broke our double block of ELA (English Language Arts) into two courses, ELA1 and ELA2. We did so for we saw a need to change and build in our students skills and strategies they would need in their lives inside and outside of school.
ELA1 would be considered your "typical" middle school English Language Arts class with students learning through works of literature and writing.
For ELA2, though, we wanted to center on 21st Century learning of communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. In the sixth grade, where Ms. Leo and Ms. DiSpina are teaching, their course is called "Read Your World," which has the students learning about themselves and how they are as a reader/learner to help them succeed in the world around them.
ELA2 in 7th grade is centered on writing through journalism with newspaper articles, and they have demonstrated this writing in Blogs. This course is being taught by Ms. LaPerriere and Ms. Weaver.
ELA2, in 8th grade, the teachers, Ms. Delano and Ms. Evans have named the course, "21st Century Learning," and here we wanted to have a "capstone" project be the culmination of all the skills the students have practiced over all three years to connect our students and their learning to the community around them.
This 8th Grade ELA2 class has emphasized six "power words" that they have discussed throughout the year: communication, collaboration, leadership, individuality, problem-solving, and critical-thinking. For this "Giraffe" project, students were "leaders in their own education" and chose a community issue that interested them to "stick their neck out" and help to make a positive change in our community.
The Giraffe Project is based on the "Giraffe Awards" an idea that hopes to move students to be courageous, compassionate and responsible members of the community, and in doing so tells students about real heroes, to eventually give them something to say "Yes!" to.
On Wednesday, June 1st from 2:30 – 4:30, approximately ten teams of Grade 8 students will showcase their 21st Century Skills capstone projects in the NMS Media Center.
Throughout this assignment, students have been “leaders of their own learning” collaborating to complete this capstone project.
Students were challenged to use skills like problem solving, critical thinking, communication, leadership and perseverance in order to make the world a better place as they tackled our essential question: What does it mean to be part of a community?
Here are some pictures of some students completing their project. Hope to see you on June 1st.
Here are some pictures of some students completing their project. Hope to see you on June 1st.
