Night at the Museum

Once a year we have what we call Night at the Museum at our school.  

The social studies department has students come up with ways of reflecting
on their learning in some manner in which they can display.  As we have just finished
learning about the Gilded Age, noting immigration and child labor, I asked my students
to compare the life of teens in the year 1900 to their own lives today, in 2018.

I love having my students see themselves in their world and reflecting upon what life
might have been like for them if they were born at a different time.  It creates an
emotional response of appreciation for what they have and empathy for those
that have so much less. In 8th grade, they are at the age

that they can begin to decide to do something about injustices in their world.

Parents come in and are also taken to an emotional place as they recognize that their
children are capable of this level of empathy while learning about people like
them at different times, in different places.

Then, the best part of all...the parents of my students and I get to brag about the
thinking and work of their kids while we partner in setting goals and expectations
for the rest of the year.

And...Parent-teacher-conferences are coming in a few weeks. That is the next time
to celebrate the wonderful young people that I get to partner with in learning.

Be Mindful.

Peace.

Mark Levine

#Mindfulliteracy

@LevineWrites