1st Graders Use Problem Solving and Reflection to Explore New York City, Then and Now

March 07, 2019

Last month, first grade launched an inquiry into Then and Now: Change Over Time. Building upon background knowledge from their Communities study, first grade classes used New York City as their classroom to contextualize how innovation has played a part in how and why the New York City community has changed over time. Students learned how the Bowery Boys transported people to Manhattan island in small ferries in the 1600s, but as more people began to travel, this system no longer met the needs of the community. On project day, first grade engineers collaborated in hands-on projects to imagine, plan, and create structures that could span the waterways that surround Manhattan. Following the project, they used the power of reflection when discussing what was working well and what was tricky, as well as how could they make changes next time to build their ultimate vision.