The Rookery

    Sometimes, when we're in the flow of a theme, it can be hard for students to do anything but theme.  The first thing they check for on the daily schedule right now is "maps" and, if I've scheduled anything else during the sacred afternoon theme time, I'm met with a barrage of questions.  

    So, what to do?  Over the years, I've learned to ride the coat tails of this kind of enthusiasm.  I weave as much of the "must dos" of fourth and fifth grade into the curriculum that is emerging from their work.

    For example, I know that paragraphing is an important skill for our writers' workshop in 4th and 5th grade.  Teaching it in the context of talking about one's invented country is a natural way to introduce the skill.  Students are hungry to tell others about their country and they are grateful for a way to organize their thinking.  Revising and editing are also sought after skills so that they can publish booklets about their beloved lands.  Developmentally, the concept of a paragraph with a single focus can be difficult for students.  But having them use the physical features, climate, flora/fauna and culture of their countries gives them a concrete starting place.  Their imaginations are full and now they have a format in which to share their ideas.

    In another example, a student's flag design sparked a discussion of our own flag and its symbolism.  Students were eager to know about the stripes of the Sons of Liberty flag that provide the background for the United States Flag.  They were fascinated to look at the similarities among flags of former United Kingdom colonies.  This is civics education but, within the context of our theme, it took on a new meaning and import.  Students quickly began to apply the idea of symbolism to what would make sense for their invented country flags (not an assignment from me, but an assignment they were giving themselves.)

    Our math work in rates was applied as students figured out how large their countries were (using the scale they had assigned to their maps.)  One student pointed out, laughing, "Oops.  The scale I used would make my country bigger than the whole globe…I think I'd better change it."

    Pangea, the seasons, species adaptation, governmental systems, bartering, and proper nouns have all been a part of the lessons during "maps" in the Herons.  The art of progressive education is recognizing the moments when you can use the students' interest and passion to teach new ideas in a meaningful way.