The Urusline School sent us a writeup of a recent international celebration:

 “On April 25th, The Ursuline School’s Social Studies teacher, Carolyn Gallaher and her 6th grade class joined together with their families in the cafeteria to display their year-long projects.  The 6th Grade girls adopt a European or Middle Eastern country, building on their social studies curriculum. Students usually choose a country that has some kind of meaning to them, whether it is through familial heritage or travel.  Then the girls are given guidelines about topics to cover, including the history, government, culture (religion, food and fashion), economy, and they compile the information into a country binder. Over time this project has become an interdisciplinary project.  The Computer teacher demonstrates graphs and charts and helps them create a travel brochure, the Study Skills teacher shows them the proper way to do a “works cited” page and their English teacher has them find a myth or legend to write about from their adopted country.

“Their final product has to contain a report, a tourist brochure, a tri-fold display for the gala in April, as well as a finger food from their country for visitors of the gala to sample.  The Mothers’ Auxiliary has become involved as well, helping with refreshments for the event. On the day of the project, parents, students and friends receive a passport when they enter the display area and they can get it punched at each stop, as they “Travel Around the World.” To add to the experience, the girls demonstrate through power point presentations, music, costume, and dance.

“The ultimate purpose of this project is to help The Ursuline young women hone their writing, oral, and research skills, and have them learn in depth about another country so that the course material (geography, monotheism, renaissance, reformation, industrial revolution, nationalism, economic terms among other topics) takes on more meaning, and   is not just from a textbook but comes alive as they study a specific country.  It is a great way to make learning fun for all. These projects have become a favorite of not only the students, but the parents as well.

Photos: Courtesy of The Ursuline School. Top:Olivia Iannoti and Catherine Lang; Bottom: Virginia Garrity and Taylor Murphy.