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Hands-On Learning At MacDuffie
Eighth-graders in Ms. Nancy LaPierre’s Global Studies class were painting on the wall last week – with their teacher’s approval! As part of their unit on China, they painted a map of China on their classroom wall, labeling all oceans, rivers, mountains, deserts, plateaus, nations, and major cities in South Asia. This exercise reinforced their understanding of world geography, taught key mapping skills, and encouraged cooperative learning - all in a creative (and colorful!) way.
Students worked in small groups, beginning by drawing a freehand map on the wall. Once that was done, they picked different paint colors to represent various areas on the map. They also included symbols, scales, and a legend. Students had to evaluate each other and themselves each day during the project.
Everyone involved learned important lessons on sharing, cooperation, and time management. Since they were working on teams, “they had to learn how to work out their differences,” Ms. LaPierre noted. Student Allison Green agreed as she dipped her brush into a can of red paint: “We’re learning creativity and geography and how to work together.”
These kinds of hands-on exercises are extremely beneficial, especially in the middle school years. Having fun and learning at the same time always captivates students, allowing them to remember material better and participate fully in their education.
The Global Studies class introduces students to East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, allowing them to consider their connection with the larger world. By studying the relationships between the geography, history, and culture of each region, they can recognize the unique contributions these regions have made to the history of mankind and to the United States. On April 9th, as part of MacDuffie’s annual Diversity Day, eighth graders will also participate in a Chinese cooking class, serving their food to the entire MacDuffie community for lunch.
These maps will stay on the classroom wall for years to come, serving not only as an inspiration to future students but also as a milestone for these eighth-graders as they progress into high school. “As they get older, they can look back with pride at how far they’ve come,” Ms. LaPierre said.