Mrs. Enlow’s third-grade class at Corydon Elementary School recently completed a meaningful project, diving into the history and culture of Native tribes from the Midwest. Students worked in small groups to research tribes like the Miami, Potawatomi, Delaware, Shawnee, Wyandotte, and Kickapoo. They explored various aspects of each tribe’s way of life, including their homes, food, clothing, art, and tools.
After gathering their findings, students used the information to create informative writing stories. Informative writing encourages students to organize facts clearly and concisely, strengthening both their comprehension and writing skills. They collaborated with peers to revise and edit their stories, focusing on structure, accuracy, and creativity. Once complete, students illustrated their stories to bring the information to life.
The learning didn’t stop there—Mrs. Enlow’s students shared their work with Mrs. Adam’s second-grade class. This peer teaching experience reinforced their knowledge while building literacy confidence. Research shows that teaching others helps students deepen their understanding, and the act of presenting to a younger class gave the third graders an opportunity to practice communication skills.
Projects like this connect history, research, writing, and creativity, helping students develop essential skills while engaging with important cultural topics. Through hands-on learning and collaboration, Mrs. Enlow’s class took a step toward becoming confident writers and thoughtful learners.