As part of Polk Central Elementary’s commitment to fully engage students in learning, eight Polk Central teachers are participating in RootEd, a year-long project-based learning initiative through Constructive Learning Design.
Teachers discussed the overall scope of the project on Thursday at Blue Ridge Community College in Hendersonville and, on Friday, the full Western North Carolina cohort of teachers met at Polk Central Elementary School for the second day of training.
The group accompanied Polk Central fifth graders on the nature trail behind the school, where students brainstormed ways to improve the 17-acre Polk Central campus. Throughout the remainder of the morning, teachers and students had a great time attending breakout sessions to elaborate on ideas, practice giving descriptive and interpretive feedback, use empathy to consider the perspectives of others, and interview a local expert, Laura Baird of the Polk County Parks and Recreation Department.
Teachers and students in their classes will now decide on specific projects to study and complete, including growing food, improving the nature trail, planting pollinator gardens and doing related art projects for public exhibition.
