Columbus School 5th Grade students are using project based learning this bimester to study the factors leading to Colombia`s Independence  in their social studies classes.

5th grade students are learning what internal and external factors led to Colombia’s independence in 1810. After a month of work, student produced projects including videos, posters, mock ups of important historical events and others. 

“There’s some students that have very novel ideas like doing plays that are very interesting,” Nancy Vasquez, 5th grade Social Studies teacher, said.

Students are learning about causes of Colombia”s independence including Napoleon’s invasion of Spain, USA independence, Revolución de los Comuneros, a revolt against the government of Spain, and much more. They’ve also learned about pre-colombian indigenous societies.

“We have learned very interesting things. For example, that before in America only indigenous tribes existed, they were ruled by caciques and lived their own life, they hunted and had their own rituals,” Said Daniel Villa, 5th grade student.

Using project based learning helps students learn and keep information for a longer time span. In past years, students copied information off the whiteboard based on what the teacher dictated and often forgot what they learned when they got to middle school. 

“When the teacher is not in a power position among students but instead gives them the chance to make their work more significant and more personal, it has been proven by many investigations that they retain the information for a longer period of time,” Vasquez said.

Learning about the causes that led to Colombia’s independence has always been a part of the curriculum in The Columbus School. Aside from it being mandatory by Colombian law, it is important that students know about their past, especially in The Columbus School where students are being prepared to be global citizens. 

“If as Colombians we dont know how we got to be a country like the one we are today, for good or for bad, we will commit other errors.  Us Colombians, really we still do, but knowing history is knowing where we stand and where we come from,” Vasquez.

Giving students creative freedom to students enhanced the performance of their projects and better prepares them for future learning. More importantly, project based learning helps student remember what learned, even years later. 

“I feel that when I have done projects throughout all our school years learning has become easier as students make  bigger effort to learn, because we take learning into our own hands and don`t rely solely on what the teacher tell us,” 11th grader Tomas Medina said.