The curriculum uses local St. Louis history and culture along Jefferson Avenue as a conduit to teach important modern competencies like writing, critical thinking, reasoning, and other humanities skills and to make the content more relatable, useful, and engaging.
K-12 Units and Lesson Plans
We Built (Build) This City
Educator Notes for using the K-12 Lesson Plans
The units in the We Built (Build) This City curriculum supplement both onsite visits to the installations on Jefferson Avenue and virtual visits via a variety of resources provided throughout the unit plans.
Teachers may choose to use unit plans in their entirety or select specific sections of units to supplement existing classroom curriculum. The units are designed to be used across a variety of grade levels and content areas.
It is also recommended that teachers preview all text and materials prior to using with students to ensure they are appropriate for the age level and context in which the materials will be used.
The Missouri Learning Standards define the knowledge and skills students need in each grade level and course for success in college, other post-secondary training and careers. These expectations are aligned to the Show Me Standards, which define what all Missouri high school graduates should know and be able to do.
The STEAM based curriculum targets the very large objective of understanding our local history and doing something about the current issues that face us today.
Studying history
causes and effects
also introduces youth to:
📈 Economics
💬 Psychology
🌍 Anthropology
🔭 Astronomy
⚛ Physics
♻️ Ecology
⛪ Spirituality and
📚 Literature.
By highlighting.the
🔬 SCIENTIFIC,
🎥 TECHNOLOGICAL,
⛰️ ENGINEERING,
🎨 ARTISTIC &
🔢 MATHEMATICAL
... INNOVATIONS ..
of their neighborhoods,
we can relate to our youth’s
everyday lives even more!
The Elementary Level curriculum is designed to be given during class hours.
All classwork is intended to accommodate learning through discussions and readings around the visual representations in the classroom kit and stimulus activities that encourage a basic understanding of the events portrayed.
The curriculum at this level affords an intentional focus on language and vocabulary.
The Mid level curriculum is created to stimulate the understanding of the social relevance of each lesson.
Projects, including group projects, where students are encouraged to discover other history in the area and
through residents who will share their
own experiences with the class.
Students will take an active role in educating each other about what they have learned. They will also begin to form valuable connections with local organizations and landmarks at this level.
The Mid level curriculum is created to stimulate the understanding of the social relevance of each lesson.
Projects, including group projects, where students are encouraged to discover other history in the area and
through residents who will share their
own experiences with the class.
Students will take an active role in educating each other about what they have learned. They will also begin to form valuable connections with local organizations and landmarks at this level.
Jefferson Storyline
Sugarloaf Mound
Mississippi Bluffs
Peace Park
Scott Joplin House
Mill Creek & Chestnut Valley
Griot Museum of Black History
Benton Park
Broadway
State Streets
Cherokee Street
Union Station