Grade 3 students study quality of life in Langdon

[caption id="attachment_16822" align="aligncenter" width="300"] From left: Sarah Thompson Elementary school Grade 3 students Faith Kolenosky, Ella Brockman and Nicholas Campbell with an example of the model students will be creating to show what they have determined Langdon needs to improve the quality of life in the hamlet. Photo by Jeremy Broadfield[/caption]

Grade 3 students from Sarah Thompson Elementary school will be trying out their hand at investigative journalism as they explore the quality of life in the hamlet.
"They're looking at quality of life in their own community," said teacher Joanna Hiller, "and what makes people happy."
The overarching goal of the study is for the students to gain confidence and realize that they can influence how their community grows and changes.
"Hopefully they can find their passion in it and know that they have a voice and they're part of their community," she said.
The class has had photographers and journalist guest speakers talk to them about what goes into researching and telling a factual story.
"We're hoping to make it real world and realistic for them," explained Hiller about the reason for bringing in the speakers.
After their talk about photography, the grade 3 classes went on a community walk to photograph things in Langdon that they think affect quality of life.
The next steps in the project will see the students interviewing family and friends in the community, and identifying what Langdon needs.
"Whether that be a rec centre, maybe a high school," said Hiller, "I already have one student that is talking about a spray park."
The project will wrap up with the students building a model of what they have identified Langdon needs.
Hiller also hopes that the students will be able to write a proposal to present to Rocky View County on their findings.