Project Overview

4^th grade students from the Genesee Community Charter School in Rochester, New York, created this scientific magazine as part of a learning expedition on Early Man.

The students’ magazine includes photos, drawings, text and graphics as a way to convey their understanding of evolution, fossil formation and other topics related to early man. Unlike having students create separate “reports” for a teacher audience, student research here is combined in a format that will genuinely interest classmates and students from other classes and schools.

Students created this magazine - modeled after the National Geographic student magazine, Ranger Rick and other similar magazines – as a way to introduce younger students to these topics. It has the visual appeal of magazines for children – bright colors, varied text, illustrations and images collaged in a clear graphic format.

The writing is historically and scientifically accurate, but retains original student voice.

Because this school has a binding machine and graphic design software, students were able to produce a professional-looking product. The glossy magazine pages, combined with accurate and interesting information, help to create a lot of pride in their work and toward their school.

Leaving Traces was sold through the school as a way to generate addition income for future expeditions. This book, and many others like it, are available for purchase on the schools’ website.