Bright Lights, Big City

Out here in the sweet little town of Saxapahaw there isn't very much hustle and bustle.  We are a very small, rural community with a ridiculous amount of Southern hospitality.  When my students were introduced to a Big City theme this week, they were all entranced by the dazzling lights of the city!  We passed around photos and discussed different types of cities all over the world and every child chimed in with enthusiastic questions and comments.  And there it was.... the spark!  The light bulb of curiosity that warms every teachers heart!  I knew immediately that this was going to be one very fun week of learning!

Here is a little tidbit of discussion that took place during group time, using initials in place of the children's names:
Me:  What do you think of when you hear the word city?
A:  Buildings!
G: And cars! And people!
R:  I don't think they have cows though.
K:  Lots of people live in the city.
L:  It's so loud there!
A:  Yeah, really really loud.
Me:  I heard L say it is very loud in the city.  Why do you think it is so loud?
K:  Because people talk really loud!
G:  Or maybe there is always construction?
Ja:  Mrs. Cruz!  Did you know there is construction in Burlington?  They are building a hotel and it's really big.
Jo:  When I grow up I'm gonna work construction too!

This is pretty much how group discussions work in our classroom.  I throw out a general idea, the children talk (it can be difficult to remember our inside voices with all the excitement), I help them take their ideas and questions one step further with probing questions, and then we come up with amazing lessons.  Together.  Teacher and students working together.  Which allows us to achieve some pretty incredible learning. The little discussion that I mentioned above led to me printing up a few construction signs and using materials that we already had to create a hands on construction site in the classroom!

Which led to some pretty amazing blueprints and structures!

Which led to a large group activity where we actually built our own city from recycled items!

I have to admit, playing cars in a city that was student designed and constructed is a pretty cool way to end the week!