The Rashi School and Town of Dedham Present Third Grade STEM Fair

The accessibility project, which revolved around a question about movement, provided students with an opportunity to showcase their learning in a real world environment.

The class first reviewed the UN Sustainable Development Goal #11 to “make cities and human settlements safe, inclusive, resilient and sustainable.” The students were then tasked with creating accessible, sustainable designs for a public space. Their “case study” was a lot in Dedham Square that will be renovated into a new park.

Since November 2021, Grade 3 has been looking at movement and accessibility. Tying this new unit into their previous one on forces and simple machinery, they began by exploring Dedham for real life examples. This was the beginning of Dedham’s partnership with The Rashi School. Representatives from the town met with the students, sharing the park plans and presenting about accessibility in Dedham.

“The STEM project is a perfect example of the strong academic curriculum at The Rashi School,” stated Ilyssa Greene Frey, director of admissions at The Rashi School. “This is the first time Rashi has partnered with Dedham for the STEM fair. We hope to continue the partnership as well as expand it in the coming years.”

Prior to the fair, the students broke up into groups for zoom meetings with "clients" who had a variety of disabilities. Each group chose a client and section of the park as their designated space. They redesigned their sections, testing one key variable in each group, in an effort to make it as accessible as possible for their “client’s” needs. Their final presentation took place at the fair.

Many Rashi staff members and parents were on hand for the presentation, along with Dedham officials, residents, and community leaders. It was an exciting day for the students. As Frey concluded, “The students were thrilled to take part in such an important and hands-on project. We are grateful to the Town of Dedham for this amazing opportunity.”

About The Rashi School

Located on a 162-acre, multigenerational campus in Dedham, Mass., The Rashi School is the Boston area’s Reform Jewish K-8 independent school. Rashi is distinguished by exceptional academics, a strong sense of community and a deep commitment to Jewish learning and social justice. In our classrooms, children, adolescents, and adults form a community, learning with and from each other and cultivating critical minds and compassionate hearts.

Rashi’s diverse community welcomes all kinds of families including interfaith and Jewish+, two-mom/two-dad families, single parents by choice, Jews of Color, and multiethnic families. Our students represent 25 towns across Eastern Massachusetts.