What's Happening: Smith School 7th graders recently launched their Civic Action projects by using data collection to find ways to impact their school community.
The first step was to identify where and how to help. For this lesson's data collection goal, students walked the halls and considered:
-Where do I spend the most time?
-Where do I spend the least time?
-Where do I feel most comfortable?
-Where do I feel least comfortable?
What's Next: Students used their data to create color-coded maps of the school to identify potential areas of need for investigation and eventual action.
Why it matters: This type of project-based, experiential learning requires critical and analytical thinking that starts from students' own experiences in school. Our course, 7th Grade Social Studies: Civics, is designed for students to learn about and then practice civic engagement.