Ms. Brown's Class Whirligig Novel Project

New 7th Grade Tradition revived for today's Maker Movement-Driven Education World!

In the spirit of Mr. Milligan's now-famous Pigman Mock Trial, Piedmont has another 7th grade active learning language arts project.

This year, Ms. Alexander-Brown's classes read Whirligig by Paul Fleischman. Students then participated in writing and Socratic seminar discussions around the novel. For a culminating project students chose to either create a book trailer , build an actual 3D whirligig themselves (in the real world or in Minecraft), draw from the book and then write up its meaning and analyze its symbolism.

This project allowed students to use their personal strengths and interests in tech, art, engineering, or the maker movement to grow in their English Language Arts  skill. Some even grew in their tech, art and engineering skills.

Thanks to Ms. Brown, we may have to add some more letters to the latest education acronym. First it was STEM, then it was STEAM, now it may have to become STE-ELA-M! 

ELA makerspace here we come!