Cooperative project
While working on the unit on Native Americans, I always have my students build their own pueblo in class. This is a cooperative project for my students. The native people had to work together in order to survive in the hot dry desert region. So we work together to construct ours.
The students decide if they want to make a ladder, a room, or a kiva. All the parts are made at home and then brought to school. You can see the variety of student work. I try to emphasize that this is a student, not a parent, project.
The pieces are hot glued to the base and background. We try to alternate the size, shape and orientation of the boxes to achieve a more realistic appearance.
These pictures were take in Arizona of an ancient Native American ruin.
We are trying to represent the different levels of the pueblo.
Three classes worked together, during their own class period. They realized that no one person in a desert southwest Indian tribe could have constructed the massive structure by themselves.
I know I could have assigned this as a at home project. The children would have brought in magnificent, elaborate projects, many of which were made by well meaning parents. I like to have my kids realize that they, 5th graders, can do wonderful things by themselves.
I hope this project gives other teachers an incentive to try a pueblo project.
Monday Made It.
www.4thgradefrolics.blogspot.com
Please leave a comment or suggestion if you have the time. I really enjoy hearing from other teachers.
Enjoy your day!
Beti
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