Throughout the school year, seventh and eighth grade students were busy making projects for history and geography. Mr. Culler’s class has been focusing on maps and their World Research Projects, while the eighth grade students have been focusing on the Renaissance Project as well as the Thirteen Colony Project.
The Thirteen Colony project showcases the history and origin of the 13 colonies. As well as how they became colonies. The Renaissance Project gives facts about the Silk Road and allows students to use their creativity to make a Roman art piece.
Mr. Culler’s project focuses on Europe, South America, and the countries around the world. Each student gets the chance to pick one country of one of the different regions and research it.
These projects give students a large diversity of learning in history and geography. They learn geography and history through maps and colony content, which allows students to learn more about history not just through one subject.
“I like many things about these projects. I like that a lot of students are well aware that they will have to do these projects in my class because their older siblings remembered doing them. Watching the students get excited first by the fact that they get to make food for the project. Then as they’re doing research I love it when they just randomly come up to tell me interesting facts about their country. Then I always enjoy when they ask when we are doing the next one. These projects look at all aspects of that particular country’s culture today. How they dress, what they eat, types of jobs they work, religion they practice and the government they live under – just to name a few. I want students to see other countries through eyes and not their own. I did this project for about 16 or 17 years,” Mr. Culler, seventh grade geography teacher, said.
“The Spice Trade/ Renaissance Project is an enjoyable student-independent project, which allows the students to explore different areas of interest and enables them to immerse themselves in topics they find fascinating. Moreover, the students are given and gain the independence of constructing marvelous innovations that are unique to their personal preferences/skill sets (scholarly and/or artistic.) I always look forward to being amazed by what they have learned through their research and creation. Not going to lie, I like to show off my students’ work to everyone so my students get the recognition they deserve. I have done this project since I started teaching. I can tell you about 95% of the grade completed this project and produced some awesome work! I recommend those who would like to see what the students created to stoup down by my classroom to check out some of the student’s work,” Mr. Denome, eighth grade history teacher said.
My favorite thing about the Mr. Denome project (The Renaissance Project) was that I could create art. I would do the project again because I loved recreating Renaissance art. I would rate this project a 9/10,” Madison Caphart, student said.
“ My favorite thing about Mr. Culler’s projects is probably how they look when they are finished. The final product looks amazing. I think his projects are ok. I feel like they can be stressful at times, but if you take your time with them, and meet all the checkpoints you’ll get there,” McKenna Kalinoski, student said.
Overall these projects help students learn about around the world and its history of some major events. As well as use students’ creativity and research skills to come up and make amazing projects about history.
