Our Community Project!

P.S. 207 in the Bronx recently partnered with Digital Age Learning, Materials for the Arts, and Thinking Maps to complete a pilot project for a learning technology grant. Through this collaboration, students had the opportunity to explore a variety of art forms, including collage-making and creating how-to books. They were then encouraged to present their art in a medium of their choice—whether through a podcast, a green screen interview, or another creative format. Throughout the project, students used Thinking Maps to plan their presentations and learn how to navigate technology on their own. The goal of this initiative is for the skills developed during this pilot to spread throughout the entire school, fostering a culture of creativity, technology fluency, and collaborative learning.

Thinking Maps!

Thinking Maps are powerful visual tools that help children organize their thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively. By using specific map types for different cognitive processes—like comparing, sequencing, or describing—students can plan their writing with purpose and structure. These maps guide young writers through brainstorming, organizing details, and developing coherent narratives or arguments, making the writing process more manageable and boosting overall confidence and creativity.

Materials For the Arts!

Creating collages and "how-to" books allows students to express their creativity while building important literacy and sequencing skills. Through collages, children visually represent ideas, emotions, or stories, encouraging imagination and personal connection to their work.

Digital Age Learning

Learning to use technology tools like iMovie and green screens empowers students to become confident digital creators. These tools encourage collaboration, storytelling, and critical thinking as students plan, film, and edit their own multimedia projects. By integrating technology into their learning, students build valuable 21st-century skills—such as communication, problem-solving, and digital literacy—while having fun and bringing their ideas to life in dynamic, engaging ways.