"A group of people belong together and who: follow rules, teach each other, respect and help one another, listen to each other, keep each other safe and work together."
Students worked together using their existing understandings, as well as Google maps, to determine the physical components of our community of Chaparral. They represented these components in a model. Students worked to plan and construct our community out of paper, clay, paint, and paper mâché. Reflecting on this process the students commented, "We used teamwork to build our community model."
Students began to wonder about the people in their community. They wrote letters to various people such as, a school principal, T.D. Bank manager, the vet, and the dentist. In each letter, they asked questions to understand each person's roles and responsibilities, as well as, how each of these people contribute to Chaparral. When asked why they were learning more about their community students responded, "Chaparral is important to us because we live here and we love our community."
Victoria Fernandez is a passionate teacher, lifelong learner and strives to engage her students in meaningful learning experiences. She is also a mother to three wonderful children.