Spring Break?

DC public schools may be closing for spring break, but here at Live It Learn It, we are hard at work!

In DC public schools, preparation for and administration of standardized tests, as well as spring break, take up a lot of time in March and April. This means there are fewer opportunities for Live It Learn It to take students on trips during these months.

Though we miss interacting with students on a daily basis, we feel fortunate to have this time to reflect on what has been successful thus far, to further expand and refine our lessons and trips, and to make new plans for our ever-growing organization.For example we focus on:

5th grade Turner ES students at the MLK Memorial

Designing new programs: MLK Memorial. Hard Bargain Farm. Last April we started creating these new programs -- now two of our most popular. What should we create this year? We'd love your thoughts!

Improving existing programs: A benefit of being a small non-profit is that we can be adaptable and flexible. We make changes to our curriculum continuously to reflect new exhibits and resources in the city, and to more closely support DCPS and Common Core standards.

Non-profit administration: Scheduling, ordering supplies, organizing materials for pre-lessons, post-lesson and trips, managing permissions slips…the list goes on! These tasks are critical to the seamless and effective nature of Live It Learn It programming.

Strategic planning: Spring is an important time for Live It Learn It to think about the “big picture." We are proud of the work we do with over 1500 DC students, but we know there are many more students to reach! We use this time to think critically and strategically about how to further our mission and increase our impact.

Do you have questions, comments, or ideas to share with the Live It Learn It team? This is a great time to reach out! We are here, through spring break, (as well as the rest of the year) and would be delighted to speak with you!

Unlocking history at the Library of Congress

By Rachel Gordon
Program Director for the LOC Box program
Library of Congress

I have had the pleasure of getting to know the Live It Learn It organization and staff over the past 18 months. The LOC Box program is a 2 – 2 ½ hour hands-on exploration of the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building for students in grades 4-6.  In the two seasons of the LOC Box Program so far, Live It Learn It has brought in 12 groups of 5th graders from 9 different DC schools.  Using a variety of reading, writing, drawing and observation skills as they work through different activities in small, chaperone-led groups, the students discover information that teaches them both about the building and the Library.

Looking for symbols related to knowledge and wisdom

We have collaborated since before the program went public in September 2010, working closely to enable the Live It Learn It staff to tailor the program to best serve their students. It has been impressive to see how much care the organization takes to prepare the children before the trip.  The results of these efforts are evident as soon as the groups arrive at the Library; their pleased recognition of their surroundings and their excitement at how they are going to put their knowledge into practice is palpable.

Analyzing the Minerva mosaic in preparation for creating their own artwork

In true 5th grader fashion they are particularly impressed by the first stop, the fancy bathrooms (“Whoa! It’s all marble!” is a commonly heard refrain at this stage of the visit) and their sense of awe at the beauty of the building only increases when they get to the magnificent Great Hall. The children are so pleased to make the connection between the physical building and their pre-visit lesson and to use this knowledge as they work their way through the different activities with the Live It Learn It staff.

Exploring the occupations represented by the putti sculptures

The visit concludes with a tour of two of the building’s highlights, the Main Reading Room & the Thomas Jefferson Library. Here again, it is clear how much information the students have absorbed from their Live It Learn It preparatory lesson. In Thomas Jefferson’s Library in particular, hands fly into the air in their eagerness to share what they know about the third president and his books or to ask questions about his life and interests.  

As well as interacting with the children during this part of the tour I enjoy watching the reaction of other visitors in the space. Many of them are clearly impressed that a 200 year old book collection would generate so much enthusiasm in a group of elementary school students. 

Creating a mosaic

One of the most rewarding aspects of the visits is the students’ sense of accomplishment as we wind up the visit. Each child leaves with the workbook he or she has used for the program. These books contain additional activities for them to do at home or school as well as more information about the Library. Live It Learn It staff will reinforce what they have learned during their follow up classroom visit by incorporating questions and subjects that came up on the trip.

But best of all, they leave knowing that they can come back. The imposing granite façade that might have seemed rather forbidding just a few hours ago is a place that they now realize they are free to explore further. Were it not for Live It Learn It, most of them would probably never have even entered the Library of Congress, let alone become budding experts in the construction of a mosaic or the way in which Thomas Jefferson categorized his books. This sense of ownership and of empowerment is something of which Live It Learn It and the organization’s dedicated staff members can be justly proud.

I look forward to our continuing collaboration during future seasons of the LOC Box Program.

Kidumentaries

Could you tell someone about your life in two minutes or less? Seems hard right? Well that is exactly what our students are tasked with in our Kidumentaries program! This program introduces students to the art of telling a story in the form of a documentary. Students experience each step in making a documentary – from creating a vision for the story to writing a script and even operating a camera. After learning the necessary skills, students are given Flip video cameras to go out and film their documentary. Back in the classroom, students review and edit their footage until their movies are complete. 

In addition, students get to envision a future career in documentary film making as they meet and learn from National Geographic professionals who actually make documentaries for a living. As a grand finale, students screen their videos at National Geographic in downtown DC. Students from River Terrace ES, Ferebee-Hope ES, and Burroughs EC have participated in our Kidumentaries program. 

Be sure to check out the documentary above, and you can view the rest on our YouTube Channel here!

From the Live It Learn It Office

Quay Dorsey, LILI Teacher, shows students a surprising image related to slavery

When I was in 6th grade, I visited the site of the battle at Gettysburg, where my peers and I were free to aimlessly roam around the open field. Later that night, we also went on a ghost walk where we explored "haunted" locations in Gettysburg. Upon returning home, the only story I had for my mother was related to the creepy ghost walk - which was clearly not the purpose of the trip.

Students contemplate various motivations for participating in the slave trade. 

Live It Learn It has a unique approach to learning outside the walls of the classroom that I wish I experienced as a student. Every day I get to engage young people in critical learning at monumental locations around our nation's capital. Recently, I had the opportunity to teach 4th grade students about colonial slavery. First, in the classroom, students learned about the daily plantation life of slaves, the Underground Railroad, and the history of American slavery.

A students tries out a yoke used to transport water.

Then we visited Woodlawn Manor, an actual Quaker plantation, where students were able to try their hand at some common chores that slaves would have done --- crushing corn, carrying water, and churning butter. Students also had the opportunity to explore a simulated UGRR path at the plantation. What did students have to say about the experience?

“I loved the trip because I learned so much!” – Treasure G.
“Live It Learn It is the best thing that ever happened to me.” – Isha C.
“Live It Learn It has inspired me in so many ways. Thank you.” –Debbie P.

Why did the students react so different than I did on my trip to Gettysburg? Because, with Live It Learn It, students are fully engaged because they can make direct connections from classroom learning to the academic trip. As a teacher, I find this experiential learning model far more engaging and inclusive of all students. In short, my job is awesome!

Highlighting Student Artwork

During the post-lesson of Art and Culture programs, students create their own artwork. Live It Learn It designs each art project to reinforce and extend the learning from the pre-lesson and academic trip. Below are examples of student artwork:

Student with landscape drawing after Kreeger Museum trip

Abstract portrait inspired by Picasso

More abstract art

Sculpture inspired by Alexander Calder

Class set of pastel landscape drawings

Student with abstract self portrait