Building Projects for Deeper Understanding
Fifth-graders complete their unit on non-fiction.
The fifth-graders in Ms. Melissa Lamph's reading class recently completed their unit on non-fiction books. Each student chose a book that piqued their interest, and dove in.
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"Our students learned text structure, and what sequence their story was told in," said Ms. Lamph.
The students had to identify if the story construction was problem and solution, cause and effect, or a description.
Then they got really busy. Each student was tasked with using their creativity and what they learned from their book to create a project. They could produce a brochure, a 3-D model, a timeline, or a board game.
Building physical projects is an effective learning technique because it shifts student learning from passive absorption to active participation. This activates deeper understanding and skill development.
It also supports diverse learning styles, as physical projects cater to kinesthetic learners. It also fosters creativity and real-world connections.
The students spent many hours putting together some fantastic projects and presented them to their classes this week.
Ms. Lamph excels at working with students to develop core memories in her class.
"My project was on Alexander Hamilton," noted Andy O. "I did a project on his duel with Aaron Burr, and it helped me remember the scenery of the place he duelled."
What kind of project would Ms. Lamph build herself?
"I think it really just depends on the type of book you have," she said. "Personally, I would probably choose the board game. I love board games!"
Jacksonville Country Day School
Located in Jacksonville, FL, Jacksonville Country Day School is a private school for Pre-K 3 through 5th grade. JCDS prepares students for a healthy and productive lifetime of intellectual exploration, character development, and social responsibility.
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