LOUISVILLE, Ky. — They’re not old enough to drive, vote or even sign a permission slip. But they’ve got what it takes to create their own research-based newscast about our state.

Inside Louisville’s Dunn Elementary School, you’ll find a first-grade classroom full of young budding journalists, like 7-year-old Braelyn Girton.

“It was super awesome to even be on camera,” said Girton, a first grader in the class. Recently, the entire class created a research-based newscast about the State of Kentucky. 

Danielle Waller and her principal together came up with the idea for a newscast. This is Waller’s fifth year as a teacher. In fact, teaching is actually her second career.

She previously spent over 15 years working in journalism and public relations. She tells me she felt a pull in her life to do something that made more of an impact.

“I definitely found that missing piece by being a teacher. You come in, the kids always give you energy, they give you a lot of love. They soak up the learning. They’re just excited to learn and grow.” Waller explained.

Before the newscast was created, the class talked about ways they could teach other kids at the school about Kentucky. The students wanted to design the newscast—and they did!

They did their own research with library books and computers. The show has in-depth information—from a kid’s perspective—about things like Kentucky’s state symbols: the state sports car, flower and bird.

Famous places, like Mammoth Cave and the state Capital Building are also featured, along with famous people like Muhammad Ali and Colonel Sanders.

“The kids had to learn how to present this information in an interesting way.” Waller said. “They had to first understand the research well enough that they could teach it to someone else. And also kind of learn how to be reporters and make it interesting in the process.”

“It was really exciting to see their individuality,” Tracy Barber, the school’s Principal explained. “They shine in their learning and when they can show what they’ve learned in different ways. It was really amazing.”

It’s the kind of learning Principal Tracy Barber celebrates and encourages. She said they want all of their K-5 students to have access to project-based learning, where they can show that learning through collaborative or passion-projects.

“I think they come away with an experience that helps them have a more global perspective and helps them learn how they can be prepared and resilient learners,” Barber explained.

Seven-year-old Lewis Daly said he learned a lot about Mammoth Cave.

“In Mammoth Cave, you can only explore 10 miles and it’s about an hour-and-a-half from Louisville,” Daly said as he explained what he learned with a smile. When asked what he thought about doing the newscast, he said, “it was pretty fun.” 

The newscast garnered rave reviews. Several compliments noted they loved how confident the students were.

Some students also got to present their work to other classes at Dunn.

“I think it was awesome!” Girton explained with a smile. 

Waller said all 25 of the students had their hands on this project.

“The communications skills that they’ve already started to build at a young age are crucial for them, for any career that they choose one day,” Waller explained. “As teachers, we know we’re preparing them for careers that we don’t even know exist right now. So we have to give them the tools and that confidence we know they’re going to have to be able to communicate.”

The students will certainly use those skills for decades to come. 

Principal Barber said the students loved this popular project. She said they’ll probably continue this newscast again next year.