Geneva social studies students take assignment to new heights

A skyscraper-building competition in Jay Neitzel's eighth-grade social studies class at Geneva Middle School North recently rose to new heights, with the tallest skyscraper surpassing the record by 10 feet.

The eighth-graders recently completed a unit on Industry and Urban Growth, during which they learned about the Industrial Revolution and the growth and expansion of cities.

In addition, students studied past inventors, prominent businesses, and captains of industry.

As a culminating activity, students researched a skyscraper, invention, and/or department store and then created one of their own to demonstrate understanding of the objectives.

Although there were three options for the project, the majority of the students chose to build skyscrapers, and Neitzel said there seemed to be a new emphasis on trying to break the record for tallest skyscraper.

"Students were eager to challenge themselves and see what they could develop. I was blown away by the effort and innovation that the students demonstrated this year," Neitzel said. "It is very rewarding to see them get so excited about an assignment."

The original record, set during the 2012-13 school year, measured in at 10 feet, 2 inches tall. This year's tallest skyscraper by Craig Hope and Logan Hunter came in more than 20 feet tall, and there were several reaching more than 15 feet.

Each year, 10 completed projects are nominated by teachers and then voted on by students. The top three finishers have their pictures taken with their projects to be added to the wall of fame in Neitzel's classroom.

This year's top three finishers are Craig Hope and Logan Hunter, first place; Teegan Ebel, Jake Holst, and Patrick Hughes, second place; and Emily Anderson and Courtney Schmidt, third place.