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Students from River Grove, Lakeridge and other schools present social studies projects to board
Summary
Middle- and high-school students described classroom assignments including cultural studies, mock trials and AP coursework. Board members commended the presentations and emphasized skills such as argumentation and civic thinking.
Students from River Grove Elementary, Elodie Middle School, Lakeridge High School and other district schools presented examples of social studies learning at the Jan. 27 board meeting.
Cody, a River Grove student, described grade-by-grade social-studies work including units on future careers, cultural festivals, community roles, money and primary vs. secondary sources. "We have started with...what you wanted to be in your future career path," Cody said, summarizing lessons that start at kindergarten and build each year.
Walter, a middle-school student, highlighted mock trials, including a class exercise that put Christopher Columbus on trial for mistreatment of Native Americans. "It just creates a fun atmosphere because it's not just sit-down learning, but we're actually creating arguments," Walter said. A high-school student from Lakeridge described taking AP European and AP U.S. history and using social-studies analysis in other classes; that student credited teachers for teaching students how to analyze and form arguments.
Board members praised the presentations. One director, speaking of mock-trial activities, said being assigned to a side helped students develop argumentation skills "from a technical perspective as opposed to an emotion or a passion perspective." The board acknowledged the value of students applying social-studies learning across subjects.
The student presenters also answered questions about public speaking and classroom demonstrations; directors thanked students and their families for attending.
