Golden Apple: Riverside Elementary Students Team Up For Special Activity

It started off with reading a book to the class. But before getting to the end, it was up to Riverside Elementary First Graders to solve the mystery.

“We had a lot of fun; we were able to learn in a different way. My job was to completely stay out of it, I did not get to talk or guide them. As a teacher, that is really hard, that’s what we are trained to do. They learned from each other today,” said First grade teacher Amanda Ramey.

The students were completely on their own with only one hint card per group to help them if they got stuck.

After each group completes the puzzle they were given, they’re off with their magnifying glasses to find the matching picture that will eventually lead them to the key. Once a group collected their key, they would step up to help others since they needed to find all six in order to see what treasure lay inside.

“The main objectives really are, collaboration, critical thinking and communication. They are really the goal of this,” said Brainerd School Technology Director Sarah Porisch.

Teaching this skill of teamwork is crucial for first graders.

“They’re still trying to understand their emotions and how their behavior and actions affect others. When they are working together in a group, that naturally comes out,” Ramey said.

Sarah leads these projects all across the Brainerd School District from kindergarten to 12th grade, but was impressed with how well and how quickly this class worked together.

“Students who I thought might sit back and be a little bit more reserved were out there and excited, talking and sharing,” Ramey said.

It was a day full of discovery for everyone involved.

“It just makes some more excitement for the sciences, math and technology. You get to have hands on experience with it and things come to life for them,” said Riverside Principal John Clark

It was a lively classroom as all the pieces of the puzzle were put together one student at a time.