SK students learned about and explored transportation systems. We started the project with reading a variety of books that featured different types of transportation. Students talked about all the different types of transportation they are familiar with and see around the city in their daily lives. We then took a walking "field trip" to Clark Street and Webster Ave. During this short walk out our front door and around the corner, students were able to identify dozens of parts of a trasportation system. Students pointed out cars, buses, scooters, taxies, delivery trucks, parking meters, cross walks, stop systems, stop lights, and more.  

After reading The Last Stop on Market Street, students thought about the public transportation system and buses. They imagined different buses they would design. Some of their bus ideas included: a library bus so riders had books to read, a double decker bus with a glass dome and plants so people could enjoy nature on their ride, and a stuffy bus filled with stuffed animals to cuddle during the ride. 

Senior Kindergarteners learned about housing and how important it is for cities to have a housing system. We talked and learned about the different types of housing we see in the city of Chicago, including apartment buildings and houses. We shared that housing is an essential system because everyone needs a safe place to live. We read two books. The first book, Going Up, is a book about all the neighbors in an apartment  building coming together to celebrate a birthday in the community. Then we read If I Built a House, a silly story about a character named Jack and the amazing, creative over-the-top house he would build. We added images of different types of houses in Chicago to our SK City board. 

Next, senior kindergarteners explored parks! Students started with reading two books. The first book was Water at the Park, a delightful story about all the people and animals that use the park on a hot summer day. Students noticed the families with dogs there early in the morning to get exercise, the families with young children there in the morning to play, adults on lunch breaks getting some sun and fresh air. Students also enjoyed the part in the book where families went back to the park after dinner for some play and exercise before bed, and one last visit from the dogs before the city went to sleep. The second book, Chalk, is a wordless picture book about children using their imaginations and using chalk at the playground to create amazing images that come to life. Students then shared their experiences at parks, parks around Parker, parks in their neighborhoods, what they love to do at the park, and talked about why parks are important to a city or community. They made connections with the need for parks so people have open spaces to spend time in nature, places for children to play, and green spaces for animals. 

After exploring and learning about existing parks in Chicago and around the world. SKers took on the challenge of designing the parks of the future! Working in small groups, students planned, designed and built prototypes for new parks. They collaborated and used all different materials, from cardboard to egg cartons to build amazing prototypes of parks that had climbing walls, ropes, water features, and more for kids to play. They also designed rest spaces for people to take a break and plenty of green spaces and trees for all the animals that live in the city! 

Students explored businesses and how important businesses and services are to a community. We started by reading three books. The first book, Top Job, follows the story of classmates sharing the jobs their grownups have, including one child whose parent changes the light bulbs at the top of the Empire State Building. The next book, All Through the Night: Important Jobs that Happen at Night, shares the story of all the jobs that happen when many of us are sleeping, and how those jobs are essential to keep a city working.  The final book, How Did That Get In My Lunchbox? A Story of Food, follows items in a lunchbox from farm to factory to store, and all the jobs and people that are necessary to fill up our lunchbox. Senior Kindergarteners kept a list of all the jobs they noticed in the books and then added to it to all of the jobs their family members have, all the different jobs they notice at Parker, and jobs they see in their neighborhood.

Senior Kindergarteners explored libraries and schools next. We started with reading two books: No Cats in the Library and Splat the Cat. In the first book, a cat finds its way into the library and keeps getting sent back outside. Soon the librarian realizes that the cat is a wonderful listener and is invited to stay and be the library cat. The next book follows the story of Splat the cat who is very nervous for his first day of school, but soon learns so many amazing things and has such a fun day at school that he cannot wait to go back. 

Students then talked about why libraries and schools are important for communities. They shared that libraries are important places to get books and learn new things. Students pointed out that schools help students learn math and reading. They also shared that both schools and libraries are places to meet new people and share ideas.