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Buckley Fourth Graders Launch State Project

January 28, 2025

 

Buckley Country Day School’s fourth graders have kicked off their much-anticipated State Project, a milestone in their social studies curriculum. While they begin by studying the unique features of their home state of New York, each student also becomes an expert on another state, preparing to showcase their knowledge at the annual State Fair in the spring.

 

As part of this interdisciplinary project, students learned about the purpose and format of a business letter before drafting, revising, and finalizing letters to the governors of their chosen states. The activity combined lessons in writing, geography, and civics while also reinforcing the practical skill of properly addressing envelopes.

Each student crafted a personalized letter introducing themselves and asking thoughtful questions about life in that state or the governor’s role in leading it. This week, fourth grader Mia J. received the first response—from Governor Kim Reynolds of Iowa! Her teacher, Denise Powers, praised Mia’s professionally written letter and carefully addressed envelope, saying, “It will be so exciting to learn what Governor Reynolds shared with you about her state! I’m sure her personal input will be very helpful for your State Project research.”

 

As their letters travel from coast to coast, the fourth graders eagerly await more replies from governors across the country. These responses will not only enhance their research but also spark meaningful discussions about the diversity and unity of the United States.

 

Through this project, Buckley’s fourth graders not only learned valuable skills but also embraced the spirit of curiosity, connection, and communication—essential foundations for becoming thoughtful and engaged citizens.

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