WEST DUNDEE—The fourth-grade students of St. Catherine of Siena School here recently completed a social studies project on the 50 states. 

 

Students chose one of the states and researched its different components through Internet sites and reading nonfiction texts. They wrote a five-paragraph speech, practiced it using video discussion software and took part in a USA state parade. 

 

The students paraded their floats through the gym while their fellow students and parents watched. In true parade fashion, students also handed out candy to the other students. 

 

“This project was powerful ... as it crossed many different content areas while maintaining 100% student engagement,” said fourth-grade teacher Sally Quinlan. 

 

“It is through this type of student centered hands-on learning that students ... (provide) life long lessons for future individual growth. Moreover, the students learned how t... to create a video of themselves practicing their speech. The benefits of learning how to (speak) ... will hopefully go with them throughout their formative learning years.”