In honor of PS, I Love You Day, Ms. Meininger’s 4th grade and Ms. Dano’s 2nd grade classes teamed up for a ‘Be the Light’ project. This buddy-class activity focused on spreading positivity and leadership through the symbolic building of lighthouses.
The students began by reading Sophie Blackall’s Hello Lighthouse, a beautifully illustrated story that follows the life of a lighthouse keeper through the changing seasons and the eventual shift toward automation.
The lesson concluded with a hands-on STEM activity where pairs constructed model lighthouses. The 4th grade students truly excelled as mentors, providing the leadership and encouragement their 2nd grade buddies needed to build their projects and help their lighthouses shine bright.
The journey didn't end in the classroom; each student took home a poster featuring various Long Island lighthouses, encouraging them to visit these local historic landmarks and see their lights firsthand.
Through this project, these buddies proved that when we lead with kindness, we all have the power to be the light for someone else.