My Old School

You know that old song. Well Lou has been going back to "her old school" this week. Fourth grade at the Waldorf school (like almost any 4th grade, I think) is a time to expand the children's understanding of their own place in the world. One way this is done is by taking up the study of local geography, history, and maps.

I have been having a good time hunting about in the school's filing cabinets and at the local historical society for photos of the school at the time it was built. Here's the 4th grade classroom "now" (actually, this is Hels' class in 4th grade as I don't have one of Lou's):


And here is the 4th grade classroom "then."

The kids are FASCINATED by these old photos of the school and town (I'm also making large posters out of old photos from town). Lou has decided that she is going to become a "town historian".

In combination with their exploration of history and development of their sense of place, the children are being introduced to maps.

One of my favorite books is Mapmaking with Children. In this book, Sobel, takes a very developmental approach to teaching about maps and geography with children. He argues that often we introduce the world to young children at a scale that they are just not developmentally ready for. He argues that they need to begin their exploration of the world through what is closest to them. And so, Lou began by drawing a map of her desk. She will eventually go on and to explore her school, community, and state as she develops place, scope, and perspective.

I love local history and helping children to find a sense of place in their lives. I'm so grateful that Lou's teacher is open to exploring new ways of doing this using the real stuff of history.