Most model kits found in a hobby shop come with some specific components: a picture of the model car, boat, plane, spaceship, etc.; the pieces of the model; the glue or adhesive; the paint or stickers; and finally, the directions.
But imagine creating a model of a building from scratch; selecting and shaping your own materials; and having nothing to guide you as a pattern but the building itself.
That is exactly what Lakeville Elementary second graders in Judy Bozynski, Holly Wollerman and Melissa Douglas? classes did as a part of their ‘Build a Model of an Oxford Building? social studies project.
In the project, students were given instructions for a walking tour of Oxford’s historical buildings, particularly those in the downtown. They were asked to select a building and encouraged to contact the property’s owner to learn three important points: what the building is used for today, what was it used for in the past and one interesting fact about the building’s history. The students were then asked to build a replica of the building.
‘In the second grade we focus on community, especially the local community,? said Bozynski, Lakeville’s second grade social studies teacher. ‘It’s kind of a neat project. I have all kinds of pictures I show them and such.?
There are three main goals with the project: to make sure the students are aware of how the community has changed over the years, to help them understand that businesses are a part of the community and to link the historical background with the present community. Bozynski said she’s been having students do the project now for four years.
‘The best part is the fact that they really seem to enjoy the historical aspects of the buildings,? said Bozynski. ‘It’s been a real learning experience for not only them, but their whole family.?
The kids are given three weeks to complete the model and answer their research questions.
Bruce Wright, almost 8, built the Northeast Oakland Historical Museum: ‘The building’s important because it’s from long ago. The project’s important because you need good grades.?
Alyssa Geissler, 8, picked the same structure: ‘I decided I would do that one because it’s been in Oxford a long time. My favorite fact about it is that it was a savings bank. We could find out what use to be inside of it.?
Some students picked their buildings not because of historical significance, but because of personal taste. This is exactly what Tyler Fox, 8, and Kelsey Kadrich, 8, did when they each built a model of Oxford 7 Cinemas.
‘The easiest part was making the window on my project because all I had to use was glitter glue,? explained Fox. ‘It’s my favorite because you get to see a lot of great movies there.?
‘The hardest part was drawing it first,? said Kadrich. ‘To make the shape of it – you don’t always know how to draw that. I love watching movies there.?
For 7-year-old Evan Nowlan, choosing his building was easy – he selected the fire station where his uncle is a firefighter.
‘I learned the project’s important because we could learn historical things about the buildings,? said Nowlan. ‘I learned that there use to be a school that burned down where the fire station is.?
Shelby Sarver, 7, was one of the few students to not pick a business. She chose the Randall House on W. Burdick St. because she ‘really liked it a lot and stuff.? Sarver received help on the project from her next door neighbor and babysitter. She said she enjoyed learning that an Oxford teacher grew up there, and is ‘happy because everybody was complementing me on the stairs? in her model.
Just a few of the other buildings selected included Tom’s Hardware & Equipment, Red Knapps American Grill and the Oxford Barber Shop. All of the ‘Building Models of Oxford? are currently on display in the media center of Lakeville Elementary.