Fourth grade students in Mr. Temme’s class at Susan E. Wiley Elementary School recently brought the messages of kindness, empathy and acceptance from the book “Wonder” by R. J. Palacio to life through a creative hands-on learning experience.

After reading the novel and participating in thoughtful discussions about its central themes, students created shoebox dioramas depicting one of the book’s pivotal moments. Each student carefully recreated a scene and wrote a description explaining the moment’s significance and its connection to the story’s larger messages.

On June 10, Mr. Temme’s class shared their projects during a special gallery walk with fourth graders in Ms. Shanahan’s class. Students had the opportunity to view their classmates’ work, discuss the scenes they selected, and reflect on the powerful lessons found throughout the book.

The project encouraged creativity, critical thinking and meaningful conversations about kindness, inclusion and the impact everyday actions can have on others.