During Middle School Social Studies classes, students expanded their learning through the completion of hands-on interactive projects. Both the 7th grade and 8th grade classes were tasked with becoming experts on their given topic. Their end products did not disappoint.
Students in 7th grade created exquisite topic-specific presentations that highlighted the cultural/political impacts, key figures, dates, and geographic locations of early Islam. Each student worked tirelessly to create their one-of-a-kind projects. We had an art gallery walk, showcasing the intricacy of Islamic art, architecture, and calligraphy which even included a hands-on geometric design art lesson. We learned about geography and life in Pre-Islamic Arabia through a student who recorded and edited a Travel Talk Show episode. To learn more about the Rightly Guided Caliphs and expansion, one student created a dynamic physical map that explained in detail the trade routes, military movements and key contributions of each Caliph. Spotlighting the sacred five pillars of Islam, a student created a beautiful brochure detailing each pillar carefully, along with a table presentation that included Quran and Hajj information. We had a historical children’s storybook created to showcase the life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad. It was worth publishing! Perhaps the most crucial Islamic contributions that one student focused on was the Golden Age of Islam. During this period, the House of Wisdom made many achievements that have been the beginning of many things we are familiar with today. This particular student created a “science and innovation fair” displaying all the achievements of the House of Wisdom. Overall, students became expert teachers on their topics and helped us learn more vividly about the early beginnings of Islam.
In 8th grade, social studies students were tasked with completing a 3D physical model representing a landmark architectural achievement from the Maya, Aztec or Inca civilizations. Students tapped into their creative sides, almost immediately. The three main building options were the Templo of Kukulcan, Templo Mayor of Tenochtitlan and the Mountain Terrace System. They spent countless days creating their projects through thoughtful brainstorming, collaborative learning and problem-solving. The end result was nothing short of fabulous. Students used various mediums to complete their 3D models. In the end, we had a Templo constructed of cake and frosting, a paper-mache terrace complete with crops galore, a cardboard temple complete with a 3D-printed shrine, foam terrace farming with beautifully painted terraces and a river, two temples constructed of sugar cubes, and a well-built Templo of Tenochtitlan which was carefully crafted and turned out beautifully.
Overall, the amount of effort, creativity and responsibility that each student put into their projects was highlighted throughout every aspect of the project process. Whether they were working alone or in a group, students were excited to learn and showcase their understanding of the history of Islam and Mesoamerica.
