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Building Box City

Local Leaders, News
11.4.2011
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Editor

For some it’s just a box, but to others it can be a learning experience!

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The City of Franklin Planning and Sustainability staff will be at Oak View Elementary School at 2390 Henpeck Lane in Franklin on November 15, 2011, at 9:30-10:20 a.m. in the Art Room for the construction of a Box City planned and zoned by the City and the School’s second graders.

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The City is providing a large canvas template which contains a road network, river, and railroad. The students have been working since mid October, creating businesses, stores, homes, schools, and other buildings vital to the functioning of cities out of cardboard boxes collected by the City and students.  The students decorated the boxes in their art class.

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City staff, including Jonathan Langley, Amanda Hall, Kathleen Sauseda, Susan Coleman, Emily Hunter, Andrew Orr, and Katy Daughtery met with the students in October to teach them about zoning and how cities grow and change over time.  Staff explained the differences between residential, commercial, and mixed-use, floodplains, and how downtown Franklin has changed over time.  The classroom instructions provided by City staff will enable the students to apply those zoning concepts towards the construction of the city on November 15.

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“Alderman Margaret Martin incorporated this activity into her curriculum when she taught at Johnson Elementary, with much success,” said Planning and Sustainability Director Catherine Powers. “Martin’s encouragement along with the willingness of the 2nd grade teachers at Oak View Elementary allowed this partnership to happen.”
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Stephanie Neimuth, art teacher at Oak View Elementary said “Box City is a perfect way for students to combine art, social studies and the world around us in a hands-on, multisensory activity, where students act as city planners. Our students couldn’t be more excited!”
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This activity will create a memorable experience for students.  City staff hopes to increase the students’ understanding of how cities grow and develop over time, and demonstrate the importance of civic engagement.