Waverly Park fifth-grade teachers Shari Bowes, Amy Garfinkel and Colleen Kaufmann recently integrated their grade level, districtwide career theme, Sports Careers, into their informational writing unit. The students researched different careers in sports ranging from professional athletes to sports nutritionists and even team mascots. Students interviewed people in their field to gain a firsthand account of what a day in the life would be like. They also watched videos and read articles describing the education needed to be successful, as well as the skills required for the career they picked. 

During their research process, the students also learned the requirements of informational writing according to fifth-grade standards. Multiparagraph informational essays were put on display in the fifth-grade hallway for all to read and for others to explore possible job options for their future.