HUNTINGTOWN, Md. — The third-grade students at Plum Point Elementary School in Calvert County have reached a significant milestone: they are officially published authors.
On Dec. 19, the school hosted a Project-Based Learning (PBL) public event in the gymnasium, where students proudly signed copies of the storybooks they authored. The event showcased months of collaboration, research, and creativity, providing parents and staff a chance to celebrate the students’ accomplishments.
Megan Zebron, one of the third-grade teachers behind the initiative, explained the project’s framework. “The published storybooks not only reflect their understanding of the regions but also showcase their English Language Arts skills by blending both informational and narrative writing,” Zebron said.
Each story was based on the classic tale of “The Three Little Pigs” but tailored to one of the five regions of the United States: Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, West, and Midwest. The students chose animals native to their assigned region to serve as the characters, including the “pigs” and their antagonist, or “wolf.”
For example, Zebron’s class, which worked on the West region, created “The Wild West Three Little Armadillos.” In their version, the villain was a cougar, and the story featured regional details, including a football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks. The students also incorporated natural resources such as redwood, metals, and grass, as well as regionally appropriate clothing in their illustrations.
“In total, the third-grade class published 20 books,” Zebron said. “We had roughly 85 authors and illustrators that collaborated to make these books.”
The project was a collaborative effort among the third-grade teaching team, which included Zebron, Kim McAllister, Emily Eide, and Ellen Galdieri. Zebron credited Ashley Curtin, who oversees the RISE program and all PBL within Calvert County Public Schools, for her support in bringing the project to fruition.
“This event provided an excellent opportunity for parents and staff to see firsthand the incredible work our students accomplished,” Zebron added.
The project not only fostered creativity but also taught students valuable lessons in research, teamwork, and effective communication. The students’ ability to merge factual information with imaginative storytelling exemplifies the power of hands-on, interdisciplinary learning.
For the budding authors of Plum Point Elementary, this PBL project was more than just a classroom assignment—it was a chance to share their voices and creativity with their community.
For a closer look at the books, check out Story Jumper.
Contact our news desk at news@thebaynet.com
