Third graders showcase nonfiction research, artwork and a cross-curricular zoo project

Third-grade students in Rockland Public Schools’ Garden Pod presented nonfiction research projects, artwork and a math-based "I Zoo" design at the School Committee meeting to demonstrate a cross-curricular unit in reading, writing, art and math.

Students said they used online resources such as Epic and library books to research animals, took notes organized by topic, converted sentences into paragraphs, and compiled their work on Google Slides using Chromebooks. The classroom’s next steps include a field trip to the Franklin Park Zoo and a parent "author's share" on June 11 where families can view slideshows and artwork.

Students displayed examples including Alice Almeida’s slideshow on Blanding turtles and Loretta Rachelson’s presentation on ring-tailed lemurs. Student presenters described habitats, diets and conservation status; one student said, "Blanding turtles are endangered in Massachusetts." Teachers described classroom art sessions where students made posters using crayons, markers and watercolor, and a math project in which students designed zoo exhibits and used a $5,000 hypothetical budget to list animals and calculate area and perimeter for exhibits.

Committee members praised the students for their presentations; a committee member said they were "most impressed by how brave you are to stand up and do this presentation." Staff supporting the presentation operated slides for the meeting. The classroom's cross-curricular unit will conclude with the Franklin Park Zoo visit and the June 11 author's share for families.

No formal committee action was required for the presentation; it was presented as part of the meeting’s reports and community engagement segment.