Fourth Grade Explores the United States Through Interdisciplinary Food Truck Project

Fourth grade students on the Historic Downtown Campus brought the regions of the United States to life through an interdisciplinary project that blended research, entrepreneurship, and creative design. Each student was assigned a state and guided through the research writing process, learning how to gather and synthesize information from reliable sources before developing a full paper. The unit launched with a visit to the Hershey Story Museum, where students participated in the Sweet Strategies program and explored the fundamentals of running a successful business through hands-on, team-based experiences.

Back on campus, the project expanded across subject areas. In science, students examined nutrition through the Great Grow Along program, gaining insight into how diet affects growth and development. These lessons informed their work as they designed food truck businesses centered on their assigned states, complete with signature dishes that reflected local agriculture. In math, students applied real-world skills by calculating ingredient costs and tax after researching prices during a visit to Wegmans, later organizing their findings using spreadsheets.

Students also explored branding and marketing with guidance from Moravian Academy’s Marketing and Communications team, learning how logos, color, and messaging shape a business identity. They carried this knowledge into art, music, and technology classes, where they designed logos, composed original jingles, and produced commercials to promote their food trucks. The project culminated in the Food Trucks Across the United States Showcase, where students presented their research, marketing materials, and 3D models. The event highlighted not only their academic growth, but also their ability to connect ideas across disciplines and communicate their learning with confidence.