Some Samples of Student Work
Short Film Project
Our students learned about filmmaking and then applied the lessons to a movie of their own creation. Students met with experts in the field - screenwriters, directors, and producers - to understand the different aspects of filmmaking. Then students worked as a team to create an idea, write the screenplay, storyboard, act, direct, film, edit, and score the movie.
Climate Change Website
As the conclusion to our weather and climate unit, each student picked an aspect of climate change to research further. Some were curious about causes, others wanted to understand the effects, and other students wanted to know what solutions are being developed. Once they researched, each student created a page on a website to share their learning. Each student also created an infographic to help communicate their message.
Economics and Entrepreneurship Project
Our students learned economic concepts and the basics of running a company through lessons, simulations, and field trips. Then, they put that knowledge into action! Students created their own small businesses from scratch. They conducted market research, decided what to sell, created a name and logo, and made a pitch for investors. They presented their ideas at a “Shark Tank” night to receive funding needed to produce their products. Then they went through production, packaging, and creating a booth display for the Richmond Holiday Market. Students sold their products at the market and then paid investors back with interest and calculated their profit.
Local history project
Did you know that Richmond used to have a livery stable, multiple factories, and more than ten hotels? Or that there are rumors that one of the early 20th century business owners was also a smuggler during prohibition? All these facts and more were discovered by Mansfield Cooperative School students as part of their research on local history. Each student chose a building or other site in downtown Richmond to track through time, from it's original owners to it's modern use. Though this project, students collaborated with local organizations, engaged in research and developed a web page.
Click on the link below to be taken to the website and learn the history of Richmond:
https://sites.google.com/view/richmond-a-town-through-time/home
Literary Performance Art
Our students put on an evening of performance art at Richmond Free Library. The students had read the VT Reads book, Bread and Roses Too, and identified important scenes and themes. They wrote poetry based on those topics and then cooperatively choreographed movement and tableaux to pair with each poem. Each student had a chance to be the director of a scene to help the movement communicate the message of the poem, and at the event, students read their poetry and acted out the choreography. Later, students edited the video of their performance.
immigration website
Our students studied immigration, both past and present, and the debate surrounding it. As a response to their learning, each student connected with an immigrant from our local community to interview. Some of the immigrants were refugees, some came as adults to work, while others came for college or to further their education. Our students have been exploring the diversity of immigrants and giving voice to their stories, struggles, and triumphs. This website is a collection of those stories. We hope that in sharing, we strengthen ties in our community and celebrate the beauty found in diversity.
Click on the link below to be taken to the website and read each immigration story:
https://sites.google.com/view/immigration-stories/home
