The Joyful Flexibility of Learning

Isn't it great being flexible enough to follow your interests?

The fifth graders and I have started a new block—North American Geography. We’ve been easing into the work this week, as it’s been a busy one at school, so I’m still finding my footing and figuring out where to put our focus.

Several years ago, I started doing a form drawing for every title page. I’ve found it to be a very economical use of time, which is great since I don’t have a lot of time with my students outside of morning lesson.

As I often do, I pulled out my lesson book from last time around and took a look through the stories I told and the content we covered. Usually, when I do this, I reflect fondly on those stories, they resonate, and I decide to do something pretty similar again.

I was pretty sure I was going to do the same this time, but in class today, I told the story of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) nation, and though it went over just fine, and it’s meaningful for the students to learn about these people, it didn’t quite hit.

Later in the day we had a little extra time, so while they were working on their North America maps, I read aloud from a John Muir biography book I have (which is great, by the way). When I read Muir’s description of Yosemite, it was so compelling I had a thought and just spoke it out loud.

“Maybe during our North American Geography block we should just learn about all of the national parks and beautiful places across the country.”

The students responded—YES! Someone even suggested, “We could do a national park project instead of a state report.”

I think we’ll stick with the state report—that’s already in the works—but I am excited to make my class presentations about the national parks and beautiful places. I’m thinking I’ll start with the Florida Everglades. I’ve always wanted to learn more about that place!

It makes me grateful that we have the freedom to choose content that resonates, knowing that any of it can provide the medium for the skill-building practice we do in class every day.

And just because I can’t help but share something. . . Paid members can scroll down and hit the button to download my fifth-grade state report assignment. I’ll keep you posted about how that progresses.