The theme for 2015-2016 at Ettrick Elementary in Chesterfield this year is “Super Heroes.” Utilizing this theme, third grade teachers Maria MacLaughlin and Lynne Johnson applied for a Community in Schools Cynthia Henshaw Grant. The detailed outline included components for each content area. The grant was awarded and third grade students began their super adventure.
The teachers named their project “I am a Super Hero!” Third Grade students would be tasked to design, create, and develop a super hero that exemplifies a positive trait they find within themselves. Students would also design and manufacture their super hero at home incorporating techniques from children’s engineering using a design brief. Each student would also create a book about their super hero adventure or develop a comic strip about their super hero. In addition, the grant would support four CIS Basics: A Safe Place to Learn and Grow, A Healthy Start and a Healthy Future, A Marketable Skill, and A Chance to Give Back to Peers and Community.
On the evening of May 3, grant supporters, all third grade students, along with their third grade teachers, Lynne Johnson, Maria MacLaughlin, Bonnie Dance, Arlene Cary, and Lesley Harris hosted a special program to reveal their creations. A capacity crowd of parents and family members viewed the Super Heroes that were displayed onstage along with books and comic books. Parents and relatives viewed a slide presentation featuring all super hero projects and books. The slides were accompanied by super hero music.
Ettrick Elementary teachers thanked the CIS Cynthia Henshaw Grant Committee, Anne Trask, Jay Swedenborg, and School Board Member Robert Thompson for their support of this worthwhile and memorable endeavor.
