The Thinking and Doing program, or TAD, gave several Maryland students a chance to put their regional planning and architectural decision-making skills on display, Third Friday Downtown Salisbury reports.
Video: Delmarva Now.com / Deborah Gates (tiered subscription model)
Students enrolled in many of the gifted and talented programs at Wicomico County’s elementary schools, including Pemberton and West Salisbury, created a development plan to transform some barren land on the Wicomico River in downtown Salisbury, Dalmarva Now reports.
The hands-on, real life experience of working with an actual piece of property in their hometown develops critical thinking skills, the initiative kids have to ask questions about the world around them.
“TAD is invaluable,” one parent was quoted as saying. “It is something I never had growing up. It is giving [my daughter] interest in the downtown that she never had before. Now, when we pass a vacant lot or building, she asks, ‘Why?’ Her awareness is phenomenal.”
Press Release … Wicomico County Board of Education
Students in Wicomico County’s Elementary TAD (Thinking and Doing) gifted and talented program are currently involved in a unit of study that includes regional planning and architecture decision-making and skills, and they will showcase their proposals for the undeveloped property at 500 Riverside Drive during the January “3rd Friday” on Jan. 17 at the old firehouse.
Grade 3-5 students from throughout Wicomico County have been engaged in real life problem solving challenges as they create detailed plans for the undeveloped property. They have interviewed others about our community’s needs and studied various architectural styles and techniques to determine the best use for the space. The students have worked in teams to prepare proposals. They will present their ideas to architects from various architectural firms in our community. The 500 Riverside Drive property is currently being sold to Joey Gilkerson, a former TAD student. Joey also owns the firehouse and is eager to host the student architects to hear their ideas for his newly acquired property.
Since planning a new property for the Downtown Salisbury area is a community endeavor, another unique way to involve the community will be to share the projects at a 3rd Friday event. TAD students will be sharing their projects with the community on Jan. 17 at the old firehouse across from the Wicomico Public Library from 5:30-7 p.m., during 3rd Friday. There will be 30 to 40 projects displayed and more than 200 TAD students available to answer questions about their proposals. Families and important stakeholders such as the architects, principals, Board of Education members, and others will also be invited to view the projects and interact with the student architects. This will be a great opportunity to show the ingenuity of students and boost 3rd Friday awareness and downtown revitalization.
Property owner, county officials
Mr Gilkerson, talking about one student who decided to put an aquarium where a business-minded adult like himself would never think to put an aquarium because he would have a hard time selling the idea to business associates, said, “It’s really cool to see their ideas, regardless of how you would do it. … That’s how great ideas start.”
Other community members invited to the showcase included the school board and county officials.
“I’ve been in business 37 years, and what I look for are aspiring youth who are assets to the community,” Delmarva Now quoted Wicomico County Council member John All as saying. He owns a travel agency in town. “I see these designs coming out of different schools, and I think it is fabulous their minds are thinking like this at their age. These kids are interested in the community, and what it should look like in the future.”