Lower East Side History Project Partners with PS126 on Neighborhood History Curriculum
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8th grade students of PS 126 depicting Native American life in Lower Manhattan / Source: LESHP
8th graders are getting a helping of the Lower East Side in the classroom with the latest collaborative effort by the Lower East Side History Project and PS 126/Manhattan Academy of Technology. Students of the aforementioned are currently immersed in a school-year’s worth of history and culture of the neighborhood, exploring its transformation over time. The goal is to highlight the importance of community, diversity, and heritage awareness through historical events and personas involved with this particular portion of Lower Manhattan. Pretty progressive curriculum, no?
The pilot program was written by 8th grade history teachers, Alfonso Guerriero and Christopher Piccigallo, in partnership with Lower East Side History Project. Both educators were born within blocks of PS 126, which makes them legit.
We are so excited about creating a partnership with LESHP and through their support, start our pilot program that teaches 8th grade American history through the school’s Lower East Side community,” says Alfonso Guerriero. “The young historians of PS 126/Manhattan Academy of Technology are deeply invested in exploring and understanding the history of our community.
LESHP director Eric Ferrara suggests, “This is an awesome opportunity to get kids interested in not only history but other cultures these students may encounter on a daily basis. They get to learn about our shared and individual histories which I believe helps create stronger community relationships and inspires involvement in future preservation efforts.
The program ends May 2014, culminating with a gallery exhibition (photos, art installations) that showcases what the students learned.
Sounds much more engaging than this class.
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