Building Village Teaches Kids About Urban Planning

The big urban planning debate in Indian Trail last week was not over the impacts of the 3,000 new homes planned for Pacific Park, but over the benefits of a petting zoo in the “Gingerbread Village.”

Some in Delene Christian’s class at Balboa Elementary argued a zoo was more important to the public than a grocery store, “especially if the animals are endangered,” Christian said.

But, after intense debate, the pro-grocery crowd won and the zoo was axed from plans.

A trio of Balboa first- and second-grade multi-age classrooms learned firsthand the quirks and controversy of urban planning in a month-long project.

They unrolled the finished product Monday on a classroom floor - an 8-foot-by-16-foot village with construction paper streets, milk carton hospitals and houses populated by smiling dough people.

“This is my Sunday school teacher. He’s got sunglasses on,” said second-grader Jon Park, holding up his 2-inch-tall dough person.

In creating the city, the 6-, 7- and 8-year-olds exercised their left and right brains, their teachers said. Quantitative math principles were used to make buildings and art supplies to decorate them.

The project, part of a packaged math curriculum, used strict zoning rules. Each neighborhood needed at least one business for every four houses and business had to be surrounded by parking lots.

Although the project had tight zoning rules, first and second graders tend to color outside the lines. Some students preferred zoos and TV stations to grocery stores and banks.

One girl made her dough person a female minister because she didn’t see why a woman shouldn’t be one. A boy had his on the bomb squad.

First-grader Terren Spencer and second-grader Jonathan Dennie stacked their milk cartons at different angles to make a white, four-story hospital, decorated with a dozen flaming red crosses.

The students have several points of relevance for urban planning. The teachers - Christian, Margaret Lundstrom and Gail Shintani - used the public debate over Indian Trail as an example.

Fairchild Air Force Base - the employer of several of the students’ parents - was mentioned as students debated which businesses to include in their city.

“My mom and dad are in the Air Force,” said Jeff Spangler. The village created by the class that includes his twin brother, Eric, featured an Air Force base.

Consultant leaves mark at M.E.A.D.

When Australian educational consultant Glen Capelli departed for Down Under after a week of motivation and humor at Mead’s alternative school, M.E.A.D., he left behind a group of heart-broken students.

“I’m going to miss him,” said junior Layla McCarter, wiping tears from her eyes.

Capelli, known in the education circles for his success at teaching Australian aboriginal children to read, told the students the secret of learning is to have a “happy brain.”

He taught them memory techniques and showed alcohol, tobacco, caffeine and fatty foods can stagnate learning.

“Some of the kids smiling in the front row haven’t smiled for a year,” said teacher Bernie Kite.

Staff supports student teacher

The Holmes Elementary School staff wrote several local news organizations a letter supporting student teacher Rhonda Rodrigues, who was removed by district administrators for inappropriate conduct.

A Spokesman-Review article described an incident in which a class, under Rodrigues’ direction, wrote a profanity.

“Holmes Elementary is an extremely taxing place to work given the high needs of our students and our community,” said the letter, signed by the staff.

“We are always excited to see a new teacher with the skills to be able to make a difference in education and particularly in the lives of our students. Rhonda is such a person.”

Murder at the class reunion

Many want to see murder at their class reunions. On Friday at North Central High School, an audience will not only see, but try to solve such a crime.

The North Central drama class is performing the interactive play “The Garbanzo High School Class Reunion.” The audience and cast mingle at a reception for the 20-year reunion of Garbanzo High’s class of 1976. During the reception, a cast member is murdered, and the audience is left to figure it out.

Call North Central at 353-3674 for more information. Tickets are $3.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: Education Notebook is a regular feature of the North Side Voice. If you have news about an interesting program or activity at a North Side school or about the achievements of North Side students, teachers or school staff, please let us know. Write: Jonathan Martin, Education Notebook, North Side Voice, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210. E-mail: jonathanm@spokesman.com. Call: 459-5484. Fax: 459-5482.