Week 29: A group of Civics and concurrent college credit US History students attended a National Constitution Center Scholar Exchange Zoom on women's suffrage. Through this interactive program, students could speak with a scholar about the history of women's suffrage, participating in questions and discussions. Pictured at right are students during this event. This used the Explorer Mindset Attitudes of Curious and Empowered, the Explorer Mindset Knowledge of Seek Interconnections, and the Explorer Mindset Skills of Problem-Solve and Communicate.
Week 29 continued: In a project similar to a first semester project we did, concurrent college credit US History students painted watercolors showcasing landscapes of the 1920s and 1930s. Pictured below are students participating in this activity. This used the Explorer Mindset Attitude of Curious, the Explorer Mindset Knowledge of Learn About Human and Natural Systems, and the Explorer Mindset Skill of Use Geographic Perspectives.
Week 29 continued: Caroline Speir from the Fort Smith Museum of History was a guest speaker in concurrent college credit US History classes. She spoke about the many historical connections present within this area of Arkansas and gave a presentation as well. Pictured below are some of the students with Caroline Speir during this event. This used the Explorer Mindset Attitude of Curious, the Explorer Mindset Knowledge of Seek Interconnections, and the Explorer Mindset Skill of Communicate.
Week 30: On April 2nd, Ozark High School students read to Ozark third graders as part of April's "Teen Teach-In" for Financial Literacy Month. The Ozark High School students read books that taught economics and finance to the Ozark third grade classrooms. Pictured below are some of the students who participated in this activity, with Ozark Lower Elementary Principal Mrs. Kelly Burns. Mrs. Burns was the principal for these seniors when they were in kindergarten, and also when they were in first grade, and they are now able to visit her and the lower elementary students as seniors! Other pictures that follow are of students participating in this activity. This used the Explorer Mindset Attitude of Empowered and Curious, the Explorer Mindset Knowledge of Seek Interconnections, and the Explorer Mindset Skills of Problem-Solve amd Communicate.
Week 33: Mr. Jason Vest from Leding & Hogan CPAs of Ozark spoke to Ozark High School Economics students about many aspects of taxes; students learned more information about income taxes, filing taxes, tax forms, and tax questions. Pictured are some of the students who participated in this event. This used the Explorer Mindset Attitude of Curious and Empowered, the Explorer Mindset Knowledge of Seek Interconnections, the Explorer Mindset Skills of Communicate and Problem-Solve.
Week 33: On April 22, Ozark High School Stock Market Club students planted flowers across the Ozark School District, thanks to generous funding and support from Tokai Carbon and the Ozark Chamber of Commerce. Pictured are some of the students who participated in the event, along with volunteers from the Ozark Chamber of Commerce and Tokai Carbon. Below that are more pictures from the day. This took place on Earth Day, with students planting flowers at Ozark Junior High School, the Ozark Schools gym, Ozark Kindergarten Center, Ozark Lower Elementary, Ozark Upper Elementary, and the Ozark Administration Office. This used the Explorer Mindset Attitude of Empowered, Empathetic, and Curious, the Explorer Mindset Knowledge of Seek Interconnections and Learn About Human and Natural Systems, and the Explorer Mindset Skills of Apply Geographic Practices, Use Geographic Practices, and Problem-Solve.
Week 34: Economics students made "Economics Comics", using art and a comic template to creatively express ideas about economics and personal finance. This used the Explorer Mindset Attitude of Curious, the Explorer Mindset Knowledge of Seek Interconnections, and the Explorer Mindset Skills of Communicate and Problem-Solve. Examples of some of these student's Economics Comics are below.
Week 35-36: Concurrent credit history juniors became the teacher, and they created lessons to teach their fellow classmates! This allowed the students to select a topic that interested them, study/research that topic, create a lesson over that topic, and then teach that lesson to their fellow classmates. This was a great way for students to share their interests and learning with others. At right is a picture of one of these students presenting their lesson. This used the Explorer Mindset Attitude of Curious and Empowered, the Explorer Mindset Knowledge of Seek Interconnections, and the Explorer Mindset Skills of Collaborate and Communicate.
Week 36-37: Concurrent history juniors participated in a virtual partnership with virtual pen pals in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania teacher Dr. Barbara Weikert and I had virtually collaborated through the Fulbright program, and over the last two school years we put together a virtual partnership so that our Ozark High School students and Norristown Middle School students could learn from each other. This virtual partnership included students teaching each other about Pennsylvania and Arkansas through an online Padlet and holding a Google Meet during school hours to virtually meet each other and discuss issues related to Arkansas and Pennsylvania. The students in Arkansas and Pennsylvania were able to compare what it was like to live in a rural versus urban environment and share about the landscapes around them. What a fun and educational activity! My students also made videos about our school and community, for the Pennsylvania students. Below are pictures from some of the videos the Arkansas students made for the Pennsylvania students. We also had a virtual Google Meet with the Pennsylvania students, and the students were able to learn from each other! Pictures from this virtual Google Meet are also below. These virtual Pen Pal activities used the Explorer Mindset Attitudes of Curious, Empathetic, and Empowered; the Explorer Mindset Knowledge of Seek Interconnections; and the Explorer Mindset Skills of Communicate, Collaborate, Use Geographic Perspectives, and Apply Geographic Practices.
Week 37: Economics student participated in the unit I created called "Yoganomics". This unit was created years ago with a grant I received from Economics Arkansas, and it won the Bessie B. Moore Award for Excellence in Economics Education. We did a shortened version of this unit for the end of the school year, and students loved it! In Yoganomics, students learn about the connections between health and economics, and they learn decision-making skills. This used the Explorer Mindset of Attitude of Curious and Empowered, the Explorer Mindset Knowledge of Seek Interconnections, the Explorer Mindset Skills of Collaborate and Communicate. Below are pictures from this activity.
And that's the end of the 2024-2025 school year! What a wonderful year!