As students advance through grade levels, the delineations between different subject matters become less clear and the importance of connecting subject material across disciplines becomes more important. Teaching students new material in topics like basic economics or business requires a degree of hands on activity for students to fully grasp the concepts we are aiming to teach them. This is where Chub-Chub comes into play.
This past month, we planned for blended activities that incorporated Technology, Math, and English to teach our 4th graders about the economy, the world, and the nature of business. We used "loom band" bracelets -which are all the craze with children across Jordan and the United States. These bracelets allow students to learn about the principles of supply and demand and how businesses operate. The students made new bracelets using the bracelet-making kits, and then sold them to other students at Modern American School and at home. For this project, they used their own money. This gave them a sense of ownership and stake in the project, so they were really able to understand what it means to make a profit and create a service. Moreover, it integrated a review of math concepts they learned earlier in the year and helped them relate math to real-life situations. This is crucial for retention of learned material as it gave our 4th graders a chance to play with real numbers.
In order to help build positive character traits and teach responsibility, the class has purchased their very own guinea pig named "Chub-Chub" with the profits they made from the project selling Loom Bands. They also purchased a crate to be used as a home for Chub-Chub. Every day, they take turns feeding him and cleaning his cage. On the weekends, they take turns bringing him home and caring for him. The amount of care that these students devote to Chub-Chub is inspiring. I am watching them mature and grow right before my eyes and it’s the most rewarding experience a teacher can have.
For a writing exercise, we integrated English into the class pet project. Students were asked to write a persuasive letter to convince me, as their teacher, why it is a good idea to have a class pet before proceeds from the sales were allocated. That included details of how they were going to take care of him and ensure his well-being. At Modern American School, and as teachers, we continuously aim to provide students with exciting learning opportunities like this one. We have many more projects planned for our Elementary School students, so stay tuned for news updates!
Ms. Pilar Fradin
4th Grade Homeroom Teacher
Modern American School
