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Flower City Almanac

School: Genesee Community Charter School

City/State: Rochester, NY

Grade(s): 3

Format(s): Report: Social studies

Subject(s): Science and Technology, Social Studies

Project Overview

3rd grade students at the Genesee Community Charter School created this booklet as part of a three-month Learning Expedition on how and why Rochester became to be known as the Flower City (i.e. city business making a transition from mills and flour production toward seeds and flower production).

The product was modeled after a farmer’s almanac and includes scientific drawings, timelines, poetry, and stories. The result is a collage-like format that tells the story of historical and scientific information students learned during their investigation. Each student worked on all of the different elements of the book (poetry, drawings, stories, word map) and then chose her or his best work for the final product.

Students worked with many experts, including people from the national weather service, local business owners, and botanists.

This booklet was produced in-house using photocopying and center-staple binding and is 8 ½ by 5 ½ inches. This book, and many others like it, are available for purchase on the schools’ website.

How This Project Can Be Useful

  • Allows students to show understanding through multiple formats – expository writing, drawing, poetry and story telling
  • Shows an example of a format that conveys student knowledge while also teaching them about a historical/cultural artifact –the Farmer’s Almanac
  • Some nice examples of student’s poetry – see “The Seasons” by Nick

Common Core State Standards

Standard Long Term Learning Target
W.3.2
  • I can write an informative/explanatory text.
W.3.3
  • I can craft narrative texts about real or imagined experiences or events.
L.3.1
  • I can use grammar conventions to send a clear message to a reader or listener.
L.3.2
  • I can use conventions to send a clear message to my reader.
L.3.3
  • I can compare how people use language when they write versus when they talk.
L.3.6
  • I can accurately use 3rd grade academic vocabulary to express my ideas.
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