Building a Community from the Ground Up
Source/Author: Ilaria Belloni, Assoc. Director of RRI
May 12, 2026
Shorecrest fourth graders became urban planners this month through a lesson on the role of government in city planning. Students designed and named their own communities, strategically placing businesses, public services, housing and more to create the most efficient "map" possible.
This hands-on project served as the perfect bridge to discussing how taxes – both local and federal – fund the very services they placed on their maps.
They wrapped up with a deep dive into the Federal Reserve, in which students were fascinated to learn about the massive amount of currency shredded every single day.
