In their first semester of Humanities, the 7th grade students engaged in a project based learning unit called Community Spaces. Their project work centered around the driving question, “How can we create public spaces based on the values and needs of our community?” For this project, the 7th graders examined and evaluated both contemporary community spaces and those designed and built by the three pre-Columbian Mesoamerican civilizations: the Mexica/Aztecs, the Incas, and the Maya. As part of their project work, the students engaged in three field experiences to Moraga Commons and Moraga Shopping Center, Temple Hill in Oakland, and the Student Wellness Center at Los Perales School in Moraga.
They also met with two guest experts, an urban planner and a designer/builder. For their culminating project product, each student designed their own community space or re-designed an existing space by incorporating elements of architecture, urban design, and infrastructure from the one or more of the three civilizations they studied and from present-day community spaces to meet the needs and reflect the values of a community near where they live.
All Saklan community members are invited to view the community spaces the 7th graders designed on Friday, January 26th after CLAS. The designs will be on display in the Humanities Room, and the students will be standing by to share their designs and answer questions.
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FRIDAY BLOG 