Exploring Change-makers in 3rd and 4th Grade
/“Studying a changemaker from history or present day was not only to give them practice in research but to build their empathetic skills and see how listening to others and making connections is how change begins.” ”
The change-maker unit is one that generates palpable excitement and curiosity in the 3rd and 4th grade classrooms. This year-long unit explores the questions; How do I tell my story? How do I listen to others’ stories? How do I make change? Students start by first examining their own lives and how they tell their own stories before embarking on a research project to learn more about someone who has made significant change in the world. By first learning how to tell their own stories, students are able to identify their personal character traits and become more self aware in the process. Especially this past year, teachers observe how students interpret the news and what is going on in the world around them. 3/4 teacher, Yazi Azel, shares, “studying a changemaker from history or present day was not only to give [students] practice in research but to build their empathetic skills and see how listening to others and making connections is how change begins. Students grow to feel self-aware and empowered by telling their stories and learning more about someone they have genuine interest in.”
This year, students chose to focus on a variety of change-makers in technology, environmental, and social justice issues. After students shared what topics they were most interested in, 3/4 teachers Yazi Azel and Alicia Amy, paired them with a change-maker to learn more about. Research topics focused on individuals such as Jane Goodall, Susan B. Anthony, Nikola Tesla, Katherine Johnson, Malala Yousef, Amelia Earnhart, Jackie Robinson, Ghandi, and Greta Thunberg among others. As students learned more and more about their change-maker, they were excited to share new information with their peers and truly take ownership over their learning. Everyday students were excited to share a new cool fact with their friends and listen to what others were learning about. This year, students showcased their research by creating videos to share with parents and caregivers at home and presenting their learning with younger students during an outdoor presentation. Watch 3rd and 4th graders showcase their work to their classmates and younger peers in the linked video above!
With their new found knowledge of these inspirational change-makers, the next step is for students to identify a need in the community and work to find a solution by answering the question ‘How do I make change?’. Yazi notes that during this stage of the unit, the teachers are the organizers and students are the directors. “As teachers we try to capture that excitement and help guide them to achievable goals,” Yazi shares. Students have been increasingly curious about rivers - specifically what threatens them and what they can do to support freshwater ecosystems. Students are brainstorming ways they can make change and how to best encourage those around them to get involved. With inspiration from their research, we are excited to see where these Breakwater change-makers go next!
