Box Town Opens Tomorrow

Commonly known as Box Town, the 1st grade’s urban planning unit explores the relationship between people and their environment. Students study their local neighborhoods and discuss how neighborhoods are organized to meet people's needs and wants. As students learn about communities and habitats, they come to understand the distinction between living and built environments.

 

Last week, 1st graders displayed their in-depth knowledge of city planning as they deliberated over where the buildings they constructed should be placed on the city grid. Using a SMART Board, students stood in front of the class to explain where they thought their buildings should go and to get approval from the rest of the classes. The first structure placed on the grid was a houseboat. With only a few water plots available, this was an easy decision for the group. 

 

First graders recognized that the plots closest to green spaces would be best for residential homes. Placing restaurants on the grid was more challenging, as students needed to consider what locations would be most successful. The 1st graders didn’t want the restaurants to be too close together and create more competition, but they wanted the restaurants to be convenient for people to get to. When it came time to place the airport, students considered noise pollution from the planes and the safest take-off and landing patterns.

 

The urban planning unit is rich with hands-on activities throughout, including field trips to Federal Hill in Baltimore and the National Building Museum in Washington, DC. Sitting on Federal Hill, students got a unique perspective of the city’s features: “it showcases what a city needs to function—[including] roads, sidewalks, trains, and even large boats,” explains Art Teacher Loriann Signori. At the National Building Museum 1st graders participated in a workshop entitled "City by Design.” They learned about different types of buildings—industrial, commercial, institutional, residential— and about the value of green space, as well as other forms of land use. The museum trip also serves as an inspiration to the students who then identify the buildings they want to construct out of boxes.

 

Each student has a voice throughout the process as they choose the buildings, name the town, and hand over the keys to the city to Head of School Debbie Gibbs and Director of Primary School Jason Novak. This year’s big reveal begins at 8:30 am  with a dance performance of “Jazzy Cars.” After the opening ceremony, parents will then be escorted into the lobby where their children will proudly tell the story of how their town came to be.