At Carroll’s Lower School, learning rarely lives inside a single subject block. Instead, literacy, math, history, geography, science, and creative expression are intentionally woven together into hands-on projects that invite students to apply their skills in meaningful ways. In third and fourth grade classrooms, two milestone projects highlight this practice, inviting students to deeply explore grade-aligned topics while developing confidence as learners.

3rd Grade : Building a Whaling Town

By spring, a bustling colonial village has taken up residence in each of Carroll’s third grade classrooms. With ten period-specific shops, including a bakery, rope factory, blacksmith, and customs house, it’s clear that the project known as Whaling Town is underway.

It begins with research. Students immerse themselves in colonial Massachusetts life: reading articles, listening to stories, and visiting the Plimoth Patuxet Museums to build a deep understanding of the whaling industry that shaped coastal communities. They then work in teams to design and construct a historically accurate whaling village, building on skills in the process.

“In art, they carve scrimshaw like sailors did at sea. In music, they learn whaling songs. In math, they build captain’s boxes and manage budgets for their materials,” explains Katelyn Murphy, Third Grade Teacher and Team Lead.

As the village takes shape, students also practice collaboration, planning, and public speaking. Each group presents its shop to visiting students, educators, families, and community members, often dozens of times throughout the day.

“By the end, they have such ownership,” Katelyn says. “Students who were nervous at the beginning are standing proudly explaining their shop to adults they’ve never met. The coolest thing is watching our students come out of their shells.”

4th Grade : The State Fair Project

In fourth grade, students turn their attention to geography through the State Fair project, a multiweek exploration of the United States. Each student is assigned a state during the much-anticipated “state reveal” — launching a research journey into geography, culture, and regional differences across the country.

Students investigate their state’s bird, flower, landmarks, and famous figures while learning how to gather and synthesize information from books and digital resources. Though it looks playful on the surface, the project blends multiple disciplines, reflecting core fourth grade skills.

“They’re learning geography and vocabulary, exploring perspective-taking, practicing reading for information and writing complete sentences, and delving into research, organization, and planning skills,” says Michele Hales, Fourth Grade Teacher and Team Lead.

Students create topographical maps, design presentation boards, and even produce short promotional videos encouraging others to visit their state before finally presenting their research to classmates, educators, and families. For many students, confidence is crystallized.

“[My students] realize they can research something, learn about it, and explain it to other people,” says Michele. “It’s a real opportunity to show off their skills, share what they know, and take pride in that.”

Read the full magazine here: Carroll Connection 2026-2027