Project Edison, the exemplary project for Hoffman-Boston Elementary, promotes excellence in education through communication arts. The 2020-21 theme was podcasting. Learners shared stories only they can tell, hearing the stories of their peers and community members and meeting communication arts goals such as:
- Raising the level of enthusiasm and engagement in the learning process
- Supporting Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs)
- Improving speaking, writing and presentation skills through communication experiences
- Exploring diverse perspectives and stories
- Building proficiency in technology skills to communicate their ideas and viewpoints with others
You can check out our podcast, All-Star Stories, from 2020-21 here!
In the 2021-22 school year, we researched science topics related to grade-level SOLs. Learners contributed to non-fiction anthologies by writing non-fiction text and creating illustrations connected to the text. Classroom teachers received a copy of their students’ work, as did our school library, who invites learners to check out these incredible resources!
In 2022-23, learners will focus on design in Project Edison and STEM with Ms. Fields. Project Edison classes will support Social Studies SOLs and focus on interior design, monument design, and/or architecture by studying identity and history and how that is communicated through a space people inhabit.
Project Edison 2022-2023 Schedule:
- Kindergarten, 2nd & 4th Grade – 3rd & 4th Quarters
- 1st, 3rd & 5th Grade – 1st & 2nd Quarters
Project Edison switches halfway through the year with STEM taught by Ms. Fields!
The Project Edison schedule is closely related to and integrated with the STEM schedule with Ms. Fields. As teacher partners, Mrs. Burgin & Ms. Fields want their programs to help make school an exciting place to learn and apply knowledge and skills!
Meet Mrs. Burgin!!!!!!!!
Jennifer Burgin (she/her) has loved teaching Kindergarten, 2nd, & 3rd grade and embarked on a new adventure in 2020 – serving as the Exemplary Project Educator with Project Edison!
Burgin was named a 2017 Grosvenor Teacher Fellow, made possible by National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions. Her expedition was to the Galápagos in June 2017. This experience changed her personally and professionally and was the genesis for her new identity – #EducatorExplorer. Burgin now works to ensure that using established explorers as role models and guiding learners to seek exploration opportunities is a part of her instructional style.
Burgin is the co-author of the nonfiction children’s ABC book A is for Arlington, a National Board Certified Teacher, National Geographic Certified Educator, and a Changing Education Through the Arts (CETA) Certified Educator with the Kennedy Center. She was named the Oakridge Teacher of the Year in 2015 and the Arlington Teacher of the Year in 2016. In 2019 she was named a Mount Vernon Education Life Guard teaching fellow and will co-write a bilingual picture book about life at Mount Vernon in the 1700s. In 2020 she was named a National Geographic Explorer. She will use the grant in 2021-22 to co-create Explorer Imprint – a mentorship system for educators of young learners to imprint exploration on the hearts of their students. In 2021 she went on an expedition to Iceland with GeoCamp Iceland, a program through National Council for Geographic Education, and studied the geography, geology, and culture of the country.
Burgin’s work is profoundly inspired by the diverse families she serves. As a result, she co-creates every learning experience to show students “windows and mirrors,” or reflections of themselves and glimpses of others (Sims Bishop). She is also a huge proponent of joy and glitter.
Follow her adventures on Twitter @MrsJBurgin!
HFBTV
HFBTV is the Morning News show associated with Hoffman-Boston Elementary School through Project Edison. You can check out the new show on our YouTube Channel or on Vimeo!
@ProjEdisonHFB
