Dows Lane Elementary School second graders stepped into the roles of historians as part of an exciting curriculum enrichment program through the New York Historical Society. Thanks to a generous grant from the Irvington Education Foundation, students embarked on a nine-week journey to uncover how New York’s landscape has evolved over time.
Guided by educator Angela Sheldon, the students dove deep into history, using authentic artifacts, objects and images from the New York Historical Society’s collections. They made meaningful connections to their social studies curriculum, comparing the daily lives of people from the past to those of today and critically analyzing these changes. During a recent lesson, the students explored New York City’s transformation from a rural community to a suburban one and, eventually, an urban community.
“The students were encouraged to use evidence from historical and modern photographs to help explain ways in which the community had changed and how the changes impacted the community,” second grade teacher Katherine Falcon said.
Divided into collaborative groups, the young historians analyzed their assigned images, writing down observations to support their conclusions.
“They worked together to present their photographs and identify whether the scenes depicted urban or rural settings,” second grade teacher Michael McQuillan said.
Throughout the immersive experience, the second graders developed historical thinking skills as they explored the geography of New York and learned how New York became the city it is today.
The activity seamlessly aligned with the district’s Portrait of a Graduate, which aims to create courageous learners, effective communicators, engaged citizens and self-aware individuals.
