Oyster Bay-East Norwich

Second graders at Theodore Roosevelt recently completed an integrated thematic unit on communities that brought together social studies, literacy, art, music, movement and technology in an impressive project that turned the second floor into an interactive learning experience for their peers.

The unit, designed to combine social studies learning with all aspects of literacy, gave students choice in how they demonstrated their understanding of urban, suburban and rural communities. Working collaboratively with not only their classroom teachers but also all special area teachers, students created a comprehensive field trip that allowed others to explore different types of communities through multiple formats.

Following a road that wound through urban, suburban and rural settings, visitors encountered signs explaining the features of each community type. The experience included student-created videos showcasing additional community projects, offering multiple perspectives on community life.

A Menu of Project Choices

Students selected from six different project options, allowing them to showcase their learning through their strengths and interests:

* Model builders constructed three-dimensional representations of the communities
* Artists created detailed drawings of community features
* Researchers worked in groups to design informational educational posters that accompanied the models, drawings and videos
* Marketing teams developed real estate advertisements promoting the benefits of living in urban, suburban or rural communities
* Safety Town architects transformed the gymnasium into a suburban community modeled after Oyster Bay and East Norwich, complete with popular landmarks including the post office and Mario's Pizza. Students earned their Driver's License before navigating the community on scooters, stopping at various locations to complete tasks like mailing letters.
* Songwriters and performers collaborated on an original composition about the three types of communities, writing lyrics and performing their song while accompanying themselves with egg shaker instruments

A Collaborative Achievement

The communities unit was designed by Roosevelt’s second grade teachers teachers with support from Debra Wachtler of the Literacy Matters professional development organization. The collaborative nature of the project extended beyond the classroom, with special area teachers contributing their expertise to help students bring their projects to life.

By developing a “Project Choice Board” and working closely with students throughout the process, the staff created an experience that honored different learning styles while maintaining rigorous academic standards across all aspects of literacy and social studies learning.