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Flower City Atlas

School: Genesee Community Charter School

City/State: Rochester, NY

Grade(s): 3

Format(s): Book: Nonfiction/Informational

Subject(s): Science and Technology, Social Studies

Project Overview

3rd grade students from the Genesee Community Charter School, in Rochester, New York, created this historical/environmental guide to the City of Rochester as part of a learning expedition on local history. The following guiding questions served as an entry point for students: How did Rochester become the Flower City? How has land use in Rochester changed over time?

The guide combines climate, weather, botany and cartography as a means for exploring the impact each of these has had on industrial growth in Rochester. The students’ specific foci were the flour industry and flower industry – both vital in Rochester’s growth - across time.

Students worked with many local experts, including a meteorologist, botanists, a cartographer and people from various local industries.

This product is a collage of student writing, student-drawn maps, student-taken digital photographs and scanned historical images. The original product was produced in-house on glossy, magazine like paper, with center-staple binding. This book, and many others like it, are available for purchase on the schools’ website.

How This Project Can Be Useful

  • A model of celebrating a city’s unique history or qualities
  • Highlights a project that connects students to the industrial base of their city - through the study of how the city has evolved as per changing industry
  • A project that incorporates weather and climate authentically, through its impact on local botany and industry
  • Shows a product with high quality, professional layout, using in-house binding
  • A creative and effective format to address and deepen content required by district frameworks

Common Core State Standards

Standard Long Term Learning Target
W.3.2
  • I can write an informative/explanatory text.
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.3.6
  • I can accurately use 3rd grade academic vocabulary to express my ideas.
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