Archive: Around Town

Last week fifth grade social studies students had a treat -- they got to spend two days studying each others' brochures and posters about U.S. states and regions.  Maureen Trowbridge and her students transformed her classroom into a 'USA Museum'.  The walls were lined with posters students made about six regions, and four tables were set up with brochures kids made about individual states.  "Right now they're making connections between the individual states and what puts them in that region," Trowbridge  says.


The text book Trowbridge uses divides the country into six regions.  The class studied the South and the Midwest together to learn note taking skills.  Then she assigned groups of students one of the remaining four regions.  The groups created posters.  Finally individual students were assigned a state and created a brochure about it.  "It's really through the brochures and the posters that some of the kids will learn about the other regions," Trowbridge explains.  "They like to see each others' work.  This allows them not only to see their own work, but they see the work of all their peers."

Trowbridge required drawing on the brochures.  "One of the things I am very proud of is that the 5th grade artists are amazing.  I think they enjoyed it."  A brochure for Arizona shows a map of the state overlaid onto the state flag, while a New Mexico brochure has many drawings of local politicians, animals and plants.


The brochures have maps on the covers and they show geographical features.  Information about states includes tourist areas, farm products, a short history, the current governor, and a bit about animal and plant life.  The back has the state flag, state motto and the state's location in the country.  "Actually that's been interesting to see different state mottos.  They are bizarre.  The kids have talked about that, too."  Jacob McKinney, who studied Montana, agrees.  "It's motto is only three words, 'Gold and Silver,'" he says.  "That's sort of weird to me."


Trowbridge says the research process is something that is being reinforced across many subjects.  She uses a similar method to that taught by English teacher Lisa Waldrop, and reinforced by librarian Kathy McHugh.  "We've had a lot of conversations about making the language and common procedures as similar as we can as individual teachers," Trowbridge  says.  "To the student these things are being repeated and being told it's important."  She says it works, because students recognize the process.  "It's not as frightening to them," she says.  "I've got to say I'm amazed at how they tackled the research, and I believe it's because they've been practicing that skill throughout the year."


Carter Freije clearly enjoyed researching California.  "It is called the Golden State, because during the early 1900s and late 1800s they tried to find gold in California and they were successful," he explains.  Carter says he would like to visit the state one day, especially Los Angeles and San Diego.  "I would want to go to Los Angeles, because I've heard there are a lot of skate parks there and I like to skate board,"  he says.  He'd also like to visit San Diego to see the zoo there, "and because it's a very historical place."  The project has interested other students in travel as well.  "I'd like to see what Dallas looks like," says Tiffany Jones.


The study isn't all work and no play.  To reinforce the material students play 'State Jeopardy' each day, turning in slips of paper with the answers on them.  For each correct answer they get a card punched.  Five punches earns them a card in a bucket that will be drawn for prizes.  They also earn candy for each card submitted.  The following week she set up her blackboard like a real Jeopardy board with state regions as categories.  Answers had to be submitted in the form of a question, just like on the game show.

In a nutshell, the project has been about learning and research, sharing and fun.  And those odd state mottos.  Do you know ours?  (scroll down for the answer)

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New York's State Motto is: "Excelsior" 
DIsplayed on the state flag over a white ribbon, the motto is meant to express the desire to reach for higher goals.