Ladera’s fourth-grade classes just wrapped up their CKLA unit on Empires and the Middle Ages with an incredible castle showcase. Go, Hornets!
Our students put their creativity on full display by building castles out of sugar cubes, popsicle sticks, and papier mache. Some castles even featured tiny robot knights, others had modern heroes like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles guarding the gates, and a few included working drawbridges that used strings and levers. The imagination and hard work from our students truly shined.
The excitement continued when a parent and a friend of the school arrived dressed as knights. They toured the classrooms, admired the castles, and gave their official approval. Huge thanks to Mr. Shane Gallegos and Mr. Chris Reid for dressing up as knights and helping make this activity even more memorable for our students.
Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts, or CKLA, is all about giving students the chance to explore rich and interesting topics while they grow as readers and writers. Through this program, students build strong vocabulary skills and deepen their understanding of the world around them. Here in our schools, teachers are enhancing this learning by ending reading units with hands-on projects like this one.
Shoutout to Ms. Erika Johanson, Ms. Amy Jordan, Ms. Stacy Maxwell, and Ms. Vickie Waipa for welcoming us into their classrooms and for creating such an inspiring learning experience. Ms. Johanson joined the FMS family in January 2020, Ms. Jordan in September 2016, Ms. Maxwell in August 2021, and Ms. Waipa in August 2008. Their dedication and passion for teaching are making a meaningful difference for our students every day.