Ms. Meininger’s and Mrs. Gaynor’s fourth-grade students celebrated the culmination of their nonfiction writing unit with a “Wonders of the World” travel simulation. With passports and boarding passes in hand, students navigated three "flight " stations to explore their classmates' research on global icons such as the Great Wall of China, the Colosseum, the Great Pyramid, Chichén Itzá, Machu Picchu, the Taj Mahal, and Christ the Redeemer along with a special stop at a modern marvel: the Empire State Building. Along the way, students left encouraging feedback by responding to prompts such as “What did the writer do well?” and “What is something new you learned?” After visiting each Wonder of the World, students stamped their passport before preparing for their next destination.
This educational journey was more than just a lesson; it was a first-class experience that allowed students to celebrate their writing milestones while navigating the impressive work of their classmates.