Global Scale Problem
Cities and human settlements are not always inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable as climate patterns shift.

Outcomes

Students will learn about issues related to sustainability and urban design. This can cover a range of problems people are facing including infrastructure, population shifts, and rising sea levels. The United Nations has named sustainable cities and communities as one of its Sustainable Development Goals. Specific areas of AWE-aligned focus include:

David Felsen

Week 1

Coastal Flooding Documentary Project

The 6th grade Co. Lab students will be creating their own documentaries in groups about coastal flooding. Over the course of J-Term they will travel around the city on different field trips to learn more about coastal flooding threats and mitigation measures. On location, they will collect footage for their documentaries.

On Monday, January 9, they heard from David Felsen, an award winning Avenues Upper Division teacher with a background in documentary television production. The students learned more about documentary making and different filming techniques.

Community Meetings

Each day, the 6th graders gather as a community to play games, review the agenda, go over community values, and to celebrate each other! This is an important part of the day for Co.Labs to work together and build community. During this time, they also review all of the details and logistics for the upcoming trips.

Field Trip to Battery Park

On Tuesday, January 10, the 6th grade Co.Lab students traveled to Battery Park to learn more about coastal flooding in the area and to collect footage for their documentaries. They talked with the Battery Park City Authority to learn more about their plans to combat coastal flooding. Click the arrows below to swipe through pictures from the trip!

Field Trip to Pier 35

On Thursday, January 12, the 6th graders in the Co.Lab took a trip to Pier 35 to see firsthand the impact that coastal flooding can have on the city and the community. Sixth graders had the chance to speak with community leader, Trever Holland, about the community's plans to combat coastal flooding. They were also able to collect more footage for their documentaries. Click the arrows below to swipe through pictures from the trip!

Week 2

Classroom Work

In the classroom, 6th graders have been using their time to practice their research skills in service of creating a documentary about what they have learned about coastal flooding in New York City and abroad. They are watching documentaries, reading articles, taking notes, organizing information, and writing scripts among many other activities. As their learning grows, they add more to their documentaries.

Metro Flood Defense Speakers

On Thursday, January 19, the students were visited by Sam Jackson and Sally Bowman from the Metro Flood Defense. "Metro Flood Defense is formed for the civic and charitable purpose of promoting the preservation, protection, and safety of the Greater New York City Metropolitan regional area, and all its residents, from the dual threat of inland and coastal flooding caused by storm surge, sea level rise, and extreme precipitation in the era of climate change. The corporation will promote scientific based solutions and provide support and resources to residents and community stakeholders." They spoke about what the organization does and more about the issues of coastal flooding in NYC. This conversation was beneficial in providing more footage and context for the students documentaries.

Field Trip to RISE Rockaway

On, Friday, January 20, the students went out to the Rockaways to meet with an organization called RISE Rockaway. They learned all about the plans being put in place by the Army Corp of Engineers as well as more "green" solutions such as the planting of sea grasses to increase the resilience of protective sand dunes on the beach. They were also able to collect some more footage for their documentaries. Click the arrows below to swipe through pictures from the trip!

Week 3

Class Work

Over the course of this week, the sixth grade Co. Lab students are taking all of the information and footage that they have gathered over the course of the last two weeks and synthesizing it into a formal written piece and their documentary. The kids are looking forward to sharing both on Friday and demonstrating their knowledge as well as the growth in their research, writing, and presenting skills.