How a Classroom Became an Ocean

You can tell that our 2nd/3rd Grade "Hydras" love the sea. After all, their class name is both an ocean life form and a mythical sea monster. It's also why they voted to study Ocean Zones for their final class project.

In addition to the overall group project of ocean zones, each student also chose an ocean-related animal or topic for individual project work. Their teachers, Ms. Kendra Roberts (above) and Ms. Lucy Coria, incorporated ocean studies into reading time, story writing, math and science classwork. The Hydras enjoyed a Field Trip to the Shedd Aquarium to learn more about ocean zones and the unique life each zone hosts.

For their final presentation, they had a great idea: "Let's divide our classroom into different areas, with each representing a different ocean zone."

How would you turn a corner of your classroom into an ocean zone? Our Hydras created colorful murals with the life forms specific to each zone, hung models of ocean life from the ceiling, and strung glittering fabric to separate one zone from another. The result? They succeeded in creating a magical ocean atmosphere for their final presentation.

Finally, on project presentation day, the Hydras welcomed fellow students from other grades, as well as their own families, to a special immersive experience of ocean zones -- right in their classroom! Visitors spent time in each zone, seeing, hearing, and learning about the conditions of each zone and what life forms the zone could support. Individual topics augmented the group presentation as children practiced their public speaking and presentation skills.

It's easy to understand how the project-learning experience is so engaging, and why students will remember and carry what they learned about ocean zones for life! That's why hands-on project-based learning is a cornerstone of progressive education at TCS.