The DVHS American Studies Team's 1920's Project

Juniors at Da Vinci High School do not just read about the Roaring Twenties, they bring the decade to life through a Project-Based Learning (PBL) signature event! Student teams, with the support of their teachers Kait Sangster and Brittany Rosenberg, work together over several weeks to research, write, design, format, and professionally publish authentic 1920s magazines targeting niche markets and discussing all the many changes of the decade. The night event invites the local community to a Magazine Launch Party where teams provide immersive 1920s experiences to promote their magazines and party like it’s 1929!

Students develop many skills through this immersive project. They hone their communication skills through team dialogue, writing to an audience, using media to enhance their ideas. They also collaborate deeply, considering each other's skills, opinions, and strengths. But this project really has a reputation for encouraging creativity and innovation. During the project, students must take risks through developing different concepts for their magazine. They serve as their own editing team, continually revising to improve the product. And they follow a design process over the course of the four weeks, solving problem that arise and continually building upon creative ideas to achieve the best possible product.

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“Students directed their own learning in this project, selecting topics of research that interested them. But most importantly, they were able to share their learning, weaving together information, even using slang from the 1920s and pulling their audience into the content, creating a highly educational and fun experience for all who attended the celebratory evening!”
- Kait Sangster (American Literature Teacher)
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“I'm really proud of the magazine cover art that I did. I wanted it to be minimalist and aesthetically pleasing, and I think I achieved that.”
- Roxanne (Junior)
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“It is so fun to see the creativity, teamwork, and enthusiasm the students put into both the magazines and the ‘immersive’ 1920s experience for the public. This project asks for our students to perform at high levels across so many of the skills represented in the Graduate Profile and they never fail to impress. I love seeing the new ways they choose to promote their magazines and dazzle the visiting public during the Magazine Launch Party! Finally, the celebration of their achievements at the end of the night highlights how supportive the students are of each other as we come together as a junior class to recognize their creativity, hard work, and skill with a student created Academy Awards show.”

- Brittany Rosenberg (American History Teacher)
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“I really found it fun to think about what our booth will look like and just have fun imaging all of the ideas and directions it could go. I am most proud of the idea that my team had for the night: An art auction! I learned all about the ritzy new inventions of the 20s, and all about what was the bees-knees in the 1920s.”
- Dylan (Junior)

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