My students live in a rural, primarily native Hawaiian community, in a severely impoverished neighborhood. Many students come to school without any literacy experience. Their only engagement with reading and writing is at school, which starts them at a disadvantage. When they don't meet grade-level standards in lower grades, they continue to struggle in upper grades.
The students in my class are proud of their Hawaiian culture and learn best through hands-on experiences.
My students are eager to participate in literacy activities to become the best readers and writers they can be, but their limited access to materials keeps them from reaching their potential. Every child deserves equal access to materials at their reading level. They deserve books they can take home to practice their reading skills.
My Project
My students learn best through hands-on learning experiences. In fourth grade, we study Hawaiian history. My students are eager to learn more about their culture. Hawaiians lived in an Ahupuaa system, where the land was divided from the mountain (mauka) to the ocean (kai).
The paint and clay from this project will help students to create a clay model Ahupuaa system that illustrates how Native Hawaiians lived and worked in pre-contact Hawaii.
This project will help my students visualize what life was like in the Ahupuaa, and how it operated. Students will learn about sustainability practices and connect with their culture on a deeper level.
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