Fourth graders dig up history in their classroom closet

by ParentCo. May 29, 2015

At the Children's Workshop School in New York City's East Village, a fourth grade classroom's closet has been turned into an archeological dig site. Inspired by a book his class had read about a migrant farm worker who found old coins in a field, one of the students, 10 year old Bobby Scotto began looking for treasures of his own. Starting with the gaps in the closet's floorboards. His first efforts unearthed wheat pennies (which haven't been minted since 1958), a buffalo nickel, and decades old candy wrappers. It wasn't long before he and his best friend implemented a few simple tools and the rest of the students caught on. The classroom teacher, Miriam Sicherman, rather than shutting it down, saw in their excitement an opportunity for learning.
And so began an improbable exercise in hands-on archaeology that soon attracted all 21 students in the class. “There’s something about the degree of difficulty that’s just perfect,” said the class’s teacher, Miriam Sicherman, 43, who has been teaching at the school for 15 years. “You can’t just reach in and grab something, but it is possible to get something. There’s just enough gratification.”
Since the start of the project, the students have found dozens of pieces of ephemera which they've connected with lessons in history, research, preservation, and documentation. See the gallery of treasures on their instagram account. Read the full article on the New York Times: Young Treasure Hunters Dig Up History Lessons in a Classroom’s Closet - NYTimes.com


ParentCo.

Author



Also in Conversations

girl crying in a field
Finding the Fun in Teaching Patience to Preschoolers

by Joy Turner

Building patience through flexibility, resiliency and carefulness at an early age can give your children a significant advantage in life. Here's how to start.

Continue Reading

boy with a cardboard box over his head
All the STEM Treasures Lurking in Your Recycling Bin

by ParentCo.

Kids don’t look at toilet paper rolls, old markers, or cardboard and see trash. Pair that creativity with some extra supplies and they're a STEM gold mine.

Continue Reading

4 Things Everyone Should Know About Early STEM Learning

by ParentCo.

Take a look at these four facts everyone should know about early STEM learning, and consider what you can do about them.

Continue Reading