Third Graders Bring Local Government to Life

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The third grade class has been fully immersed in learning about local government through both real-world experiences and classroom simulations. Their visit to Santa Barbara City Hall offered an engaging opportunity to meet the mayor, explore the City Council chambers, and ask insightful questions they had prepared in advance. A guided tour of the historic Santa Barbara Courthouse, led by former Laguna librarian Meredith Brace, gave students a deeper understanding of local architecture and history. Back in the classroom, students launched their Classroom City project by learning about various leadership roles, selecting positions that best suited their strengths, and began to write campaign speeches. They were encouraged to focus on leadership qualities such as fairness, responsibility, creativity, and teamwork—values the mayor himself emphasized during their visit.

Following the election results, students enthusiastically stepped into their new roles within Owl’s Beak, their simulated city. From managing housing applications and preparing city-wide speeches to conducting financial audits and running engaging community events, students demonstrated impressive initiative and collaboration. Highlights included receiving salaries, earning interest (and paying taxes!), welcoming pets, and hosting other grade levels, grandfriends, and families during Classroom City Sales Days, showcasing their entrepreneurial efforts. "The entire experience has been a meaningful blend of civic education and leadership development—and the students had so much fun," says Third Grade Teacher Ms. Boyle.