Project Overview

Eighth-grade students at Open World Learning Community (OWL) in Saint Paul, Minnesota created this publication as part of a yearlong expedition focusing on the Mississippi River. OWL is located within a mile of the Mississippi River, yet many students do not fully comprehend the social, cultural, and economic impact this river has on St. Paul, Minnesota, and the United States.

The expedition began with a multi-day trip to the river’s headwaters at Lake Itasca in Northern Minnesota and included additional trips to local fieldwork sites, ranging from Fort Snelling to Indian Mounds Park. At each of these sites, the students collaborated with experts from the National Parks Service,  the organization Friends of the Mississippi River, and other members of the local community. These experts provided students with a rich background of the history, geography, and science, which helped students understand the true significance of each location.

Back in the classroom, students experimented with a variety of types of writing about the river, including historical fiction, feature writing, and descriptive writing. Each student then focused on a specific piece to work on for the publication. With help from peers and instructors on critique and
revision, students focused on the attributes of high quality to prepare their pieces for publication. 

One team of students coordinated the design and arranged the writing -- from north to south -- in a magazine format. Additionally, students worked with the art teacher to develop skills around drawing and sketching of natural objects and landscapes. These drawings, along with photography from the field, helped to highlight each fieldwork location and the writing that accompanied it.

The final publication was shared with the public National Parks Service as part of their 100-year anniversary celebration.