DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM A group of Aliiolani School fourth-graders stood earlier this month next to models of Washington, D.C., buildings that their class made last year. In the front, from left, were Damien Toriki, Ashley Kawabata-Bonin, Kalaimoana Garcia and Ashley Au; in the back row, from left, were Gabrielle Perry, Michelle Shiraki, Kiana Sistoza, Caryn Blaisdell and Houston Clemente.

Model students

An Aliiolani School teacher
uses a creative project to help
her kids in their civic education

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By Nancy Arcayna
narcayna@starbulletin.com

In the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, tragedy, many have struggled to make sense of what is happening in the world. Schools have had an even bigger task: They must prepare students to become informed citizens who will support and preserve democracy.

The threat of historic government buildings being destroyed seemed unbelievable, said Geri Cheng, a third- and fourth-grade teacher at Aliiolani School. To highlight the importance of national monuments, her third-grade class "decided to do a research project on the important buildings in Washington, D.C.," she said.

DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM Above, Aliiolani students Michelle Shiraki, left, and Ashley Kawabata-Bonin stuck their heads out between two of the building replicas on display at the Hawaii State Library downtown.

Among the highlighted buildings are the White House, Pentagon and the Library of Congress. Each building is accompanied by a report that notes the building's relevance, interesting facts or special architectural features.

Student groups did the research for the reports by scouring the Internet and various resources at the Kaimuki and school libraries.

And they didn't stop there. They also constructed models to represent each building.

"At first it was difficult. We tried using cardboard boxes and a variety of materials that didn't work so well," Cheng said.

But the end result was three-dimensional buildings made from poster board. The students are now in fourth grade because it took nearly the whole year to complete the display, with details such as cutout paper people sitting outside the Jefferson Memorial amid the floral standing wreaths.

DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM The students stood next to the model they built of the Washington Monument. The buildings, which are made out of poster board, took nearly their entire year in third grade to build.

Flags, created with poster board, colored pencils and chopsticks, surround the Washington Monument.

And Arlington National Cemetery features rows of grave markers.

"Public schools have had so much negative publicity. It gets to teachers, as well as students," said Cheng. "I thought this was a positive way to show the people that students in public schools can do quality work."

The display can be seen in the Edna Allyn Room at the main library, through Saturday.

DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM The students stood next to two other structures that they built. Each building is accompanied by a report that notes the building's relevance, interesting facts or special architectural features.

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