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Who's
Involved
Partners
in Education is a program that allows local teachers to draw
on the resources of business and government to provide additional
learning opportunities. The City of Springfield has "adopted" the
Social Studies curriculum for all local schools - concentrating
primarily on 4th graders to teach them about local government. |
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Goal/Mission
Statement of
City Government as a Partner
To teach
students about local government, to raise their awareness
of and give them practical information about their community.
Specific goals are:
- To
work with all Springfield schools to teach children about
the services of City government.
- To
be available to parents and students alike to show them
what a City employee does, and how it takes all citizens
working together to make Springfield a great place in
which to live.
- To
instill in children the feeling that they are the future
leaders of our community.
- To
instill in future voters a working knowledge of the governmental
process.
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How
It Began
The annual
program was approved by City Council and debuted in 1990. The
first program was called "Secret of the Gargoyles," followed
by "Hands Across Springfield," "Opening Our Doors
to You" and "The Amazing City Hall." Fourth grade
classes are targeted because of their level of learning
about local government. The current broad-ranged program
has evolved from a simple Social Studies lesson into today's
program which encompasses diverse educational avenues including
math, art, science, geography, writing and problem solving. |
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Process
of Development
The City's
Partners in Education Coordinator, staff members and teachers
decide on a theme and how to best structure the goals
to be met. An outline of the event is created. Artwork
and copy are developed to enhance the curriculum. An instructional
packet is created for all the teachers, with materials
which can be distributed among all the students.
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Structure
A teacher's
committee is formed and meets to discuss and refine a packet
of information that meets standardized curriculum requirements
for instruction on local government. The goal of the committee
is to develop an innovative and fun way to educate students
about the local government. |
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"Treasures of the
City" Event Details
- The
event takes place at the City Government Plaza, beginning
at the Busch Municipal Building on the corner of Boonville
and Central streets at 840 Boonville.
- When
students, parents and teachers arrive, they are greeted
by a live pirate and receive a "Treasure Map" of the City
offices marked with different stopping places throughout
the building scattered in different departments.
- Students
begin their hunt for clues, treasure pieces and knowledge
of City government by finding their way to each of the stops.
Their goal is to find each of the departments marked. Their
last stop is at City Council Chambers where they met the
Mayor and City Council members and choose their last piece
of treasure.
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