On Thursday, November 14, students in grades 3-5 at Parkway Village Elementary School had the opportunity to exhibit their incredible artistic skills during the Project-Based Learning (PBL) Showcase. Parents, classmates, and teachers were able to enjoy the event along with the creative students.

“At the PBL Showcase, the third graders brought history to life, one model at a time. Students not only built a landmark, but also crafted informative posters to share the stories behind them,” said Kayla Pyron, a third-grade teacher. “Through their hard work and creativity, they deepened their understanding of our nation’s heritage. The hall was filled with pride, excitement, and the spirit of learning as families gathered to celebrate the incredible work of these young minds,” she added.

According to Hajar Nelson, the school’s assistant principal, the PBL Showcase is an annual event; however, their goal is to have it multiple times throughout the year – at least one per semester. She said each PBL is often tied to the units that are being studied in their classrooms.

Regarding the exhibit, the third-grade students worked on 3D replicas of national landmarks, including the Golden Gate Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, the skylines in New York, and the Gateway Arch in St. Louis.

Fourth-grade students created 3D visuals of the different environments for animals and their habitats. 

Fifth-grade students, for their part, created 3D visuals of fruit salads but keeping in mind how much it would cost to make a fruit salad as well as the appropriate weight, the quantity, etc.

“When we were working on the project, we had to research and write about our landmark. We had to make sure the information was correct. I learned that the Statue of Liberty is a symbol for freedom for immigrants. It was fun to work on this project!” said Jamison K., one of the students that participated in last week’s PBL Showcase.

“It was exciting to work on the project. It was fun to make a model of the Great Smoky Mountains. I worked with my group to read books about the Great Smoky Mountains to learn facts about it. I wrote about what I learned on my poster. I was excited for my parents to come to school to see what we made,” said Emanuel V., another student whose artwork was displayed at the exhibit.

Besides highlighting the students’ talents, the event proved to be another wonderful platform to have parents involved in their children’s education. 

“Thank you so much for the opportunity to see what my child is learning in school and be able to celebrate their work,” stated some of the proud parents that attended the event.

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