2019-2020
Embedded Files
Playground Designers - Grade 2
Driving Question: Why are certain materials used for specific purposes?
In this engaging PBL experience, Grade 2 students at Fishkill Elementary School took on the role of young playground designers tasked with creating a multisensory playground that can be enjoyed by all children, including those with diverse sensory and physical needs. Grounded in their science unit on the physical properties of matter, students explored attributes such as texture, hardness, flexibility, color, and sound.
Through hands-on investigations, students tested and compared materials to determine their suitability for various playground components. They applied what they’d learned to design structures like sensory paths, sound walls, textured climbing surfaces, and shaded areas that use materials thoughtfully to enhance comfort, safety, and play.
Working collaboratively, students created detailed designs and modeled prototypes and Roy C. Ketcham students fabricated their playground concepts. The experience fostered scientific inquiry, empathy, creative problem-solving, and real-world application of science content.
Student Voices: Memorializing Life During a Pandemic - Grade 2 & Grade 4
Driving Question: How can we share what we learn in this time with those who come after us?
During the spring of 2020, second graders from Fishkill Elementary and fourth graders from Fishkill Plains Elementary engaged in a meaningful and reflective Project-Based Learning (PBL) experience titled Pandemic Journals. Inspired by Laureen Adams’ blog post, Navigating Uncertain Times with Love: 9 Projects for the Whole Family (PBLWorks), this project invited students to become historians of their own moment in time.
As remote learning unfolded during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, students recorded daily observations, reflections, emotions, questions, and advice to document what it was like to live and learn during a global crisis. Their journal entries became powerful primary source artifacts intended to inform future generations.
Students explored academic content across Math, Science, English Language Arts, and Social Studies—and connected their learning to the real world by meeting with community experts, including New York State Senator Sue Serino, local physician Dr. Daren Garb, and the President of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce Mr. Frank Castella. These conversations helped students better understand the broader impact of the pandemic on health, government, and the economy, deepening both their inquiry and empathy.
Throughout the project, students:
Identified themes and multiple perspectives
Practiced journaling as a tool for reflection and emotional expression
Connected with community leaders to expand their understanding
Created written and digital journals capturing this historic experience
More than an academic task, Pandemic Journals supported students’ emotional wellness and helped them see the value of their voices. It is a lasting reminder of the resilience, curiosity, and compassion students can bring—even in the most challenging times.
Playground Beautification - Grade 5
Driving Question: How might we redesign and beautify the playground for Care 4 Me Inc. ?
As part of their science and engineering units, Grade 5 students at Evans Elementary School stepped into the role of environmental designers and wellness advocates to support a real-world initiative: the Network Child Care Centers Playground Beautification Grant. Students were tasked with researching, designing, and proposing upgrades to a local child care center’s outdoor space, aligning their ideas with grant funding parameters and child development needs.
After learning that the New York State-funded grant program offers up to $19,995 to improve playgrounds at worksite childcare centers, students explored the science of outdoor learning and the importance of environmental design on physical, mental, and social health. Their challenge: create innovative, safe, and educational outdoor classroom spaces that promote movement, nature exploration, and imaginative play.
Plant it Wild - Grade 5
Driving Question: How can we create a natural garden ecosystem for our Wappingers community?
In this life science–focused project-based learning experience, Evans students explored the driving question: How can we create a natural garden ecosystem for our Wappingers community? Using the 5E Learning Cycle, students built their understanding of systems and system models by examining how components within an ecosystem interact.
They constructed food webs, engaged with virtual simulations, conducted research, and made scientific claims to support their designs. The project culminated in students developing models of natural garden ecosystems that connect to broader ecological webs.
Page updated
Report abuse