February

Research Question:
In what ways can "play" be incorporated into the Grade 5 Curriculum to best support student engagement, learning, and growth?

The President Biography Project gave students the chance to learn by combining research, writing, art, and presentation in a way that felt both meaningful and fun. Instead of a traditional report, students explored the life of a U.S. president through curiosity and creativity. They acted like “history detectives,” digging into books, websites, and videos to uncover both important facts and surprising details. Students decided how to organize and present what they learned, which gave them a sense of ownership over their work. Once their writing was complete, they chose how to bring their research to life. The project ended with students sharing their work with the class. This experience reflected key elements of Project Zero’s Pedagogy of Play—especially student agency and imagination—while still meeting expectations in reading, writing, and social studies.