It is the end of the K-12 school year in Grand Forks. Some classes are wrapping up projects before everyone takes off for the summer. Students from Mrs. Bethke’s 5th-grade class were off to Valley 4000 to share their completed projects with their partners for the year.
Student and partner have met monthly and become friends. Some of these meetings have focused on social outings – the celebration of Christmas and Cinco de Mayo, playing a little bingo, and a talent show.
The partners also spend time discussing historical events. Participants from Valley share stories and memories of one-room schools, the depression, and life on the farm some 70 years ago. The young students ask questions during interviews and learn. They take notes, they make audio and video recordings, and organize the information they collect. Students are using technology to capture and perserve history – KidPix, Inspiration, audio recording, Library of Congress images, iMovie, and Quicktime.
At the end of the year, it is time to give something back. The students integrative their work, save it as a DVD, and present copies to their partners. The last meeting allows them to demonstrate what they have done. Imagine sharing a DVD of personal reflections with your 95-year-old partner (see below). Her comment – “You are never too old to learn something new.” Well put – no matter what your age, there is always the opportunity to learn from each other.
Some additional details – GF Herald article
