“My Town” is the name of the community project local seventh-graders are immersed in, prior to harvest break. To incorporate the requirements of the Maine Learning Results criteria the seventh-grade teaching team including, social studies teacher, Jodi Peabody, developed an interdisciplinary unit that involves learning about the community. Students research when a community was settled and how its’ name was chosen. Does the name honor a person or a physical feature or was it in memory of the place the people came from? Does it have a Native American or ethnic name? How did the community relate to their environment and how is it changing today?
Students are finding their answers by reading archived newspapers and publications, interviewing senior citizens and looking on the Internet. Students viewed the local DVD video produced for Houlton’s 2007 Bicentennial called, “The Story of Houlton”.
Through this research they are becoming more aware of their environment. They have become more observant as they ride through Market Square and look at the style of the historic downtown. They are quizzing their parents’ and grandparents’ knowledge of the buildings’ architectural design. They note the style of many of the beautiful turn-of-the-century homes that still grace the streets of this town. The students will be visiting several destinations to learn first – hand more facts about the area they live in.
On September 19 and 20 students will be on a fact-finding mission at the following places: Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum and Cary Lake, in Littleton, Houlton’s Cary Library, the Aroostook Historical and Art Museum of Houlton, a potato farm, and the historic district of the downtown. They will participate in a Houlton scavenger hunt, identify architectural styles of the Market Square buildings and interview business leaders of the community.
As a culminating activity the students are creating their own booklet entitled “My Town”. The booklets will be evaluated and a numerical grade will be given. Each area of the project is scored in relation to a given rubric. This grade-level activity incorporates all subject areas in relation to the requirements of the Maine Learning Results. Students were also offered independent work for extra credit.
Parents will be invited to see their child’s book at an upcoming open house.
