Kindergarten Students Explore Community Change and Citizenship Through “Harlem Grown”

Kindergarteners in Ms. Swiecka’s class engaged in a powerful lesson on community, change-making, and citizenship while reading Harlem Grown by Tony Hillery as part of the Arts & Letters ELA curriculum. The true story follows how an abandoned lot in Harlem was transformed into a vibrant community garden through the efforts of one dedicated volunteer and hundreds of local students.  

As they listened and reflected, students practiced asking thoughtful questions and expressing their ideas –– strengthening their skills as Courageous Learners and Effective Communicators. They explored how one person’s actions can inspire an entire neighborhood, discovering what it means to take initiative and make a positive difference.  

Working alongside Ms. Swiecka, ENL teacher Mr. Manzi supported multilingual learners by building essential vocabulary and guiding language development throughout the lesson. His collaboration ensured that all students had access to rich discussion and shared meaning-making.  

The experience helped students see themselves as Engaged Citizens, capable of contributing to their classroom and community. Inspired by Tony Hillery’s story, they learned that even small actions can lead to meaningful change.