Students in the 4th/5th grade Brisbin and Hansen Crews spend half of their school year examining and learning about Pioneers and Adventurers who traveled overland west via covered wagons in search of Manifest Destiny. Our two expeditions, "Gold Dust and Grit: Adventurers, Outliers, and Mining in the California Gold Rush," and "Rewriting the Revolution: Freedom Stories of Courage and Change," highlight the tenacity of people who lived during the California Gold Rush and the American Revolutionary time period. Students learn how people traveled west in covered wagons by examining the routes they took, and even engineer a small wagon model to demonstrate learning about these vehicles. On fieldwork to Marshall Gold State Park, students participate in a simulation where they "pack" a wagon that is leaving for California, and at Malakoff Diggins, they examine wagons that prospectors drove west. Bringing this learning experience onto our campus, we are requesting funding for materials to build an actual wagon replica which would hold 24 students at a time. Students came up with the basic design, and parents will aid in the construction of the piece. All classes on campus will be able to use the wagon for classes, quiet reading, and solitude and reflection.
There are so many benefits to this project being brought to our campus. Not only will students be able to visualize themselves as Pioneers traveling west, but they will understand the importance of travel, migration, and survival. They also will connect learning across the curriculum, working with math (measurement, geometry, problem-solving), ELA (journaling, storytelling, research, presentations), and science (simple machines, force, materials), as well as hands on learning through art. Students will learn through collaboration and teamwork as they build the wagon, and will use critical thinking and problem solving skills to work through issues that arise. Finally, students will leave a lasting legacy for future students and crews!
Outcomes for this project would be another space for learning on our campus, and one that is applicable to the learning content for many grade levels, not just 4th and 5th graders. We will measure success by using the space for learning regularly!
Students have made models of covered wagons already in our Crews. We have a parent project leader that has talked with the Crew about what materials we will need to build the wagon. Students have written grant proposals as a project, to learn about the grant writing process. Students will also work with the numbers in determining the final cost for the material, students will graphically design and write an informational paragraph for a public documentation panel. Finally, students and parent helpers will construct the wagon. We will hold a groundbreaking ceremony at our school to introduce it to our SELS community.
This project will be able to be shared with the entire school, as well as future Crews.
We have not looked into another option for funding.
Thank you for your consideration!
~ Julie and Nicole