One of Merriam's key educational strategies is project based learning. When children participate in projects, they actively study a particular topic in depth. (Other pages in the site provide more information about projects, as well as a list of typical project.)

For example, last year, the Fifth Grade classes learned how to use digital cameras and computer resources by recording and documenting the various projects going on in all the classrooms in Merriam. The students learned how to use the cameras and then went into all the classrooms and took photographs of their projects in action. They then uploaded the photographs into AppleWorks, in some cases added text and background color, and assembled them into a slideshow. We have posted many of these slides on this web site:

• Kindergarten Projects
• First Grade Projects
• Second Grade Projects
• Third Grade Projects
• Fourth Grade Projects
• Fifth Grade Projects
• Sixth Grade Projects
• Fifth-Sixth Grade Service Learning Projects

In their original slideshow, the students added transitions and other effects between the slides. Unfortunately, we cannot recreate these effects here on the web site.

Return to the Merriam Picture Gallery.