A longstanding Calhoun tradition that dates back nearly four decades, the Pocket People project is an integral part of the first-grade social studies curriculum that revolves around community and identity. Children design and sew their own cloth doll representing themselves, then collaborate to build a community space. Along the way, first graders engage in hands-on investigations with their pocket people that help them exercise their math and language arts skills – all while exploring the complex needs and responsibilities of a community.

We asked a few first grade students about their projects, how they made their decisions, and what made their pocket people special. Check out their answers and their pocket people in this video!