Binghamton U Interns Advance Project-Based Learning at Knight Lights

Windsor’s Knight Lights elementary summer camp offers an array of academic and physical activities to K-6 students. But, knowing the needs of older campers are different than those of younger ones, the district worked to provide those more mature students with advanced learning opportunities.
“We revamped 5th and 6th grade with project-based learning,” said Knight Lights co-coordinator Nate Mills.

This summer, eight Binghamton University graduate student interns helped give older Knight Lights campers a new experience. Actually, four new experiences. Each week during camp, the counselors led students through a different theme and culminating project.

“We framed every project through a lens of problem solving. We gave them a perspective about why the issue was important not just in general but also to the school community,” said intern Mikayla Web. “For example, we told them we were building birdhouses for the birds that flew near the school. When we studies accessibility, we told them it was to help improve accessibility in their school, and that their principals would see their work.”

“The project-based learning gave them that sense of agency and ability to make an impact on their community. We framed it so that we were solving a problem in the community and that got them excited,” said intern Caitlynn Olson.

This approach to learning connects to the NYS Portrait of a Graduate, which the state describes as one that is academically prepared, a creative innovator, critical thinker, effective communicator, global citizen, and reflective and future focused.

“We learned about low-tech tools and how they work. I like how we built stuff,” said Wyatt Knapp, who is entering 4th grade. “Most of the time in school you’re doing a worksheet or something but here we were doing crafts and learning.”

“My favorite was making the duct tape wallets,” said Tegan Likins, who is also going into 4th grade. “We made shoes and gloves out of cardboard and other craft stuff. We were copying how geckos have sticky fingers. They can help people who fix roofs, so if they fall, they can grab onto the roof.”

This approach had a positive impact on the campers, and the camp.

“Our (enrollment) numbers have actually gone up in 5th and 6th grade. Campers have come in excited. Each week has been something different. I’d like to build off this. We’re engaging in their curiosity, and it allows them to have a lot of choice. It’s really working on all those skills they’ll use in the school year. The way education is going, it’s project based,” said Mills.