Butler ’ s Great Wall
By Kenneth Perkins
There are lots of walls at Butler Elementary .
Walls that leads students down hallways , to the cafeteria and into their classrooms .
But this is about a special wall . One standing 8-feet high and 30-feet long .
Made completely of Legos .
What ’ s great about this massive Butler Lego wall is that it ’ s not merely a space for students to play with an array of Legos , though it can certainly be that . It ’ s for learning .
The wall is used to support a number of project-based learning activities and lessons , allowing students to use creativity and skills while investigating problems , creating solutions and developing their imagination in ways that are quite different from the classroom .
While the fourth graders have the opportunity to use it most since it ’ s in their hallway , all students are part of this schoolwide experience that incorporates math , reading , writing , social studies , science and art .
“ Sometimes when they are working on the wall , they don ’ t even know that they are creating something , but it lends itself to a deeper conversation ,” Butler Assistant Principal Jennifer Bohannon said . “ They are just creating , so I don ’ t know if you would get that in a classroom setting by just listening .”
The Butler Lego wall was spearheaded by fourth-grade teacher Shawn O ’ Connell , who worked with the Butler Dads Club for more than a year to raise funds , get their hands on a number of Legos and actually build the wall .
Butler students donated many of the Legos , and now they are all stored in labeled bins that give instructors an easy way to find them .
Bohannon said the wall does something they didn ’ t necessarily think about when creating it : it helps students who learn differently and calms those who might be having focus and discipline difficulties .
“ Five to 10 minutes building on the wall and they are feeling better , more calm ,’ Bohannon said . “ It ’ s far better than sitting them in an office .”
It also works wonders for children with social and emotional needs . “ It has the same calming element ,” Bohannon said . “ It has a way of keeping them focused .”
16 Arlington School & Family