Sixth Grade Dual-Language Class Completes Pharaoh Gallery Walk

Clusters of sixth-graders gathered around different areas of Diana Bastidas’ classroom at Fox Lane Middle School, speaking animatedly in both English and Spanish as they looked at colorful student-made posters hanging on the walls. They were taking part in a gallery walk in their Dual-Language Bilingual Education social studies class.

“As part of our Ancient Egypt unit, students have been researching a pharaoh of their choice,” Bastidas said. “We’re having a gallery walk to celebrate their work. Students are displaying their posters, taking notes from each other's work and leaving positive feedback for their classmates.”

While sixth graders in all houses learned about Ancient Egypt and completed a culminating project on pharaohs, dual-language classes completed the project in Spanish and discussed what they learned in both English and Spanish.

Bastidas explained that part of the idea behind doing a gallery walk was to get students up, moving and interacting with one another while allowing them to showcase their creativity in different ways.

“It’s the balance of not just being on Chromebooks,” she said. “They can use their creativity by incorporating different colors, pictures and lettering.”

Students seemed to enjoy the freedom of the project.

“I liked researching my person,” said Abigail Schwarzfeld. “I chose Hatshepsut, the only girl.”

“I wanted to pick someone who was less famous,” said Zoe Friedman, who studied Akhenaton. “I picked someone who changed religion. I find that very interesting.”

The comments students left for each other while completing the gallery walk were very encouraging.

“Me gustan mucho tus dibujos y colores.” (I really like your drawings and colors)

“Me encanta tu escritura.” (I love your writing)

“Me gustan los logros interesantes de Hatshepsut.” (I like Hatshepsut’s interesting achievements)

After walking around and studying their classmates’ work, students came back together as a group to discuss some of the things they learned.

“Thutmose built a whole city,” said Sadie Smith. “And Hatshepsut dressed like a boy to fit in.”

Before the period ended, the group began discussing who they thought the most influential pharaoh was, a topic they would vote on in class the next day.

Sadie was ready to argue for Hatshepsut.

“She’s the best because she’s the only girl and she proves that girls can be powerful.”