LAS Students Bring History to Life Through Children's Book Project

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LAS Students Bring History to Life Through Children's Book Project

At LAS, learning isn’t confined to the pages of a textbook—it’s an immersive, hands-on experience. Middle school social studies students recently participated in a project that showcases our commitment to experiential learning. Taking inspiration from the "I Wonder Why" series of children’s books, students embarked on a journey to write and illustrate their own educational books for children centered around the fascinating topic of early human ancestors.

The project began with research, as students explored multiple sources to gather information on early humans. Students focused on the importance of corroborating facts—checking whether the information is consistent across different sources—a crucial skill in today’s age of internet research. As the students delved deeper, they were challenged to find out how all the information fit together. This led to organizing their findings into groups, subgroups, and orders, helping them process complex historical data and engage in critical thinking.

The students began crafting their stories, transforming what they learned into accessible, engaging stories for younger audiences. This approach strengthens their understanding of history and sharpens their communication and organizational skills.

Experiential learning is at the center of this project. By diving into research and creation, students experienced an important process used in lots of industries: researching, synthesizing, and presenting information. Students gained practical skills like critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving.

The project's final phase involved sharing their books with younger children, including children of staff members, who had the chance to enjoy the stories written with their age in mind. Additionally, the books will be displayed in the LAS library, showcasing the fantastic work of our grade 9 students for the whole community to see.

Projects like this embody the LAS belief that hands-on learning transforms education. Students take ownership of their learning when they engage with materials like writing a book, conducting experiments, or solving real-world problems. This active involvement develops a deeper academic understanding that will serve their studies now and in the future. 


 

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