Students Look to Future, Make Own History at Middle School

It’s hard enough to imagine what will come a month, year, or even a decade from now, let alone 30 years down the road.

Matt Marciano’s sixth grade class at the Long Valley Middle School has peered into the future, though, and it looks wonderfully bright.

The first few months of the school year have involved a timeline project for Marciano’s 103 social studies students called History in the Making, which asks the pupils to project what he or she will be doing every two years over the next three decades. 

Students took to poster board illustrations for their visuals, and were also required to stage a presentation to their peers outlining what they plan to do when they grow up.

“(Students) had to really think about what they wanted to do,” Marciano said. “It made them think differently about college and careers when they projected outward every two years.” 

Students ran the gamut of careers during the six-week project, looking to become professional athletes, video game makers, and athletes.

“One of the students who wants to be an actor brought in a red carpet and microphone for their performance,” Marciano said. “There was really no common theme this year – a lot of variety.” 

One of the most out of the ordinary occupations Marciano ever encountered came this year as well, with one of his students aiming to become a United Nations Ambassador.

While the project was worth a test grade to the students, it carries far more value inside the classroom.

“It gives me great insight into each student,” he said. “It helps me connect with them better as the year goes on and relate to them more with each class. It’s a feel-good type of project.” 

Marciano was named teacher of the month in October 2012 by Think Teachers Magazine for his work with students on the annual Change The World project, where pupils are required to conceptualize community service campaigns and then carry them out.