Learning About Legacies, Beginning to Leave Their Own

How is one’s legacy impacted by identity and innovation? Ask Coach Tarrik Mabon’s sixth grade Social Studies class.
In just one week, Coach T’s students studied historical/social pioneers by traveling an innovative path of discovery. Using multi-media sources to uncover, analyze and understand what it means to be a pioneer, students explored how one who might have conviction, talent and/or an idea can cascade a legacy. Not surprisingly, most students were already aware of many modern day pioneers who have blazed trails by coming up with an idea and chasing it. These leaders include Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Dr. Tererai Trent, Malala Yousafzai, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Michael Jordan, among others. In groups of four, students supported their findings by diving deep into a single pioneer’s journey.
Exhibiting collaboration, communication and critical thinking, each team ultimately presented their analysis to the rest of the class. Coach T offered feedback on each team’s presentation skills and content, giving them a second chance to share their data. In just one single exercise, the lesson learned was multidimensional — a weave of  history, social issues, public speaking and character-building.
Each team posted a personal video on Digication – an eportfolio platform – discussing not only their findings, but the challenges of the assignment.
Watch this group’s Digication reflection video, with Sutter Guttery, Samantha McCarthy, Sara Reavely and Jackson Toller.
Coach T explains,“This was the first of many creative expression activities we will do this year as I will be big on guiding them through the journey of public speaking and expression through voice!”