"As a teacher, I became increasingly aware of just how valuable this project was becoming to my students. It has helped to improve their skills in so many areas. They are working in small group situations much more cooperatively, and their ability to reason, problem-solve, and organize has been incredible to watch. This project has taught me that project-based instruction is a very effective approach to teaching."
–Kelly Storm, Burris Elementary, Mitchell

Incorporating "Create a Landmark" into your lessons
Here are just a few of the ways teachers have been using the Create A Landmark Contest in the classroom:

• Students use various types of research such as interviews, courthouse and library records, Internet resources, historic photographs, and books to answer questions they formulate about the historic landmark they select.
• Students organize themselves into committees that they feel best facilitate the completion of the project.
• Students present the results of their project to authentic audiences.
• Students experience personal growth in the areas of creativity, cooperation, leadership, diplomacy, and problem-solving skills.
• Students learn to use equivalent fractions, proportions and measuring skills through hands-on work to build the model. Although not a contest requirement, many classes construct models built to scale.
• Community "experts" such as architects, historians, and long-time residents are invited to speak to the class.
• Sixth-grade gifted students in language arts analyze and interpret literature, such as Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry and A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck, to evaluate the importance of community and heritage. Activities can include debates, discussion groups, poems, and essays.