Schools
Rockwood School District: Collaboration Leads To Enhanced History Lesson For Rockwood Elementary Students
In Rockwood, teachers work hard to create fun learning activities that get students involved.
May 10, 2021
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In Rockwood, teachers work hard to create fun learning activities that get students involved.
Recently, Jordan McGaughey, coordinator of Rockwood K-12 social studies, and the third-grade social studies curriculum writing team worked to produce an engaging learning experience for students that involved artifacts and a giant map of Missouri. But a challenge they encountered was finding a map large enough.
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That's when Dr. Paige Carlson, a 6-12 content facilitator for career and technical education (CTE) in Rockwood, reached out to Libby D'Angelo, a business education teacher and CTE department chair at Rockwood Summit High.
D'Angelo and her Algebra 1 in Manufacturing Processes, Entrepreneurship and Design (AMPED) students crafted 19 tarps out of durable outdoor vinyl banner material and distributed one for each Rockwood elementary school.
The third-grade teachers designed the map they wanted, and D'Angelo digitized them to their printer specifications.
"I was super happy to help them out through our AMPED program," D'Angelo shared. "I love it when teachers try something new, and AMPED will help out any way we can."
Debbie Fox, a third-grade teacher at Wild Horse Elementary and a member of the curriculum writing team, utilized the 9-feet by 9-feet map of Missouri during a hands-on artifacts lesson with her students on May 7.
"When we heard that the AMPED class was going to be able to make our idea become a reality, we were thrilled," Fox said. "It made it extra special that Rockwood high school students were able to make this for our elementary schools."
Fox and her students reviewed a variety of artifacts that included a canoe, steamboat, trumpet, the Gateway Arch and coonskin cap. The objectives were to identify the artifact, describe how it relates to Missouri and determine where on the state map the artifact should be placed.
"The ability to hold the artifacts in their hands, study them closely and actively place them around the map engaged and excited the students," Fox shared. "It is a creative, cooperative way to review our learning and show the students just how much they have learned."
Fox first introduced the Missouri artifacts lesson to her students at the beginning of the school year and that lesson had to be completed virtually by looking at pictures.
"This lesson showed that even though Missouri history is brand new to them, third-graders have understood and retained what was taught," Fox said. "As each student talked about their artifact, I loved how the other students were eager to share additional details and add to the conversation."
McGaughey was on hand to observe the lesson.
"We wanted to ensure that our students participated in a lot of primary source analysis where multiple perspectives were celebrated and honored and that the history of the state of Missouri came alive for our students," he said.
This is the first time that Rockwood rolled out a new K-5 social studies curriculum since the 2007-2008 school year.
In Rockwood, teachers work hard to create fun learning activities that get students involved.
Recently, Jordan McGaughey, coordinator of Rockwood K-12 social studies, and the third-grade social studies curriculum writing team worked to produce an engaging learning experience for students that involved artifacts and a giant map of Missouri. But a challenge they encountered was finding a map large enough.
That's when Dr. Paige Carlson, a 6-12 content facilitator for career and technical education (CTE) in Rockwood, reached out to Libby D'Angelo, a business education teacher and CTE department chair at Rockwood Summit High.
D'Angelo and her Algebra 1 in Manufacturing Processes, Entrepreneurship and Design (AMPED) students crafted 19 tarps out of durable outdoor vinyl banner material and distributed one for each Rockwood elementary school.
The third-grade teachers designed the map they wanted, and D'Angelo digitized them to their printer specifications.
"I was super happy to help them out through our AMPED program," D'Angelo shared. "I love it when teachers try something new, and AMPED will help out any way we can."
Debbie Fox, a third-grade teacher at Wild Horse Elementary and a member of the curriculum writing team, utilized the 9-feet by 9-feet map of Missouri during a hands-on artifacts lesson with her students on May 7.
"When we heard that the AMPED class was going to be able to make our idea become a reality, we were thrilled," Fox said. "It made it extra special that Rockwood high school students were able to make this for our elementary schools."
Fox and her students reviewed a variety of artifacts that included a canoe, steamboat, trumpet, the Gateway Arch and coonskin cap. The objectives were to identify the artifact, describe how it relates to Missouri and determine where on the state map the artifact should be placed.
"The ability to hold the artifacts in their hands, study them closely and actively place them around the map engaged and excited the students," Fox shared. "It is a creative, cooperative way to review our learning and show the students just how much they have learned."
Fox first introduced the Missouri artifacts lesson to her students at the beginning of the school year and that lesson had to be completed virtually by looking at pictures.
"This lesson showed that even though Missouri history is brand new to them, third-graders have understood and retained what was taught," Fox said. "As each student talked about their artifact, I loved how the other students were eager to share additional details and add to the conversation."
McGaughey was on hand to observe the lesson.
"We wanted to ensure that our students participated in a lot of primary source analysis where multiple perspectives were celebrated and honored and that the history of the state of Missouri came alive for our students," he said.
This is the first time that Rockwood rolled out a new K-5 social studies curriculum since the 2007-2008 school year.
This press release was produced by the Rockwood School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.