Envision: Chicago Neighborhood Dioramas

Our Fourth graders at Belmont-Cragin have been working on a long term Social Studies collaboration throughout this school year involving the study of the history of inventions along with architecture of the Midwest. In addition, we have been investigating how the rise of industrialization has effected people's lives. Last September, we took a walking tour of the loop guided by the Chicago Architecture Foundation. The students took many photos. During the school year, we engaged in research and short-term projects to learn more about the formation of Chicago as a place.

For our culminating project, students worked in teams of four, to research, plan, and construct a 3-D neighborhood or event in Chicago - either past or present. Students used a variety of materials including recycled food product boxes, cardboard, pipe cleaners, corks, popsicle sticks and other ordinary objects to build their structures into their folded tri-fold presentation board.

Following are several examples using the Habits of MInd: Envision and Engage & Persist:

Model of Chicago at the Chicago Architecture Foundation

Gathering materials to build a model of the Loop

The buildings begin to emerge and the El structure takes shape

Envision: The team wasn't happy with the El track structure an decided to tear them down and begin again.

View of final diorama - looking east on Wabash Avenue between Jackson and Monroe (with artistic license)

Engage and Persist: Comments by student with teacher feedback.