It was that time of year again where the Grade 8 students at Princeton Secondary School prepared for their Socials Fair. The Fair is part of the curriculum - a part which brings some intriguing results. “Every year there are some students who really put a lot of work into their projects,” stated teacher Paula Barchard. “Those who do have a project that really stands out.”
The students find the Socials Fair challenging for many reasons. They have to research their topic, plan a lay-out that depicts their topic in an interesting manner, figure out a way to engage the onlookers with a balance between information and pictures and coordinate the project with a partner. “Not only was it a challenge for them getting the research and putting the project together,” noted Barchard. “It was also challenging for the students to work with partners. Some of the kids figured out that is not always best to work with friends, while others found a way to really work cooperatively with their partner,” Barchard continued. “It is definitely different to work in a partnership than on your own. It is a good experience for the students... one, I hope they learned some lessons on cooperation.”