When elementary school teacher Allison Fisher was invited to review the Henry Ford system on the Hub Model i, she wasn’t sure what to expect. But he was surprised to find so much to help his students think like innovators. Available for free—just set up an account!—this program helps kids understand the habits of innovation and how to become an innovator themselves.
Fisher is a teacher in Atlanta, Georgia, who has been teaching elementary school for 10 years. She is currently a Special Education teacher working with 4th and 5th grade students. Her students often do STEM careers that require design, creativity, and problem-solving skills. In this Teacher’s Pick, Allison shares how the inHub Model i program builds on multiple levels of learning in exciting new ways.
What grade levels and subject areas do you think the Henry Ford in the Hub Model is best suited for?
Does this product comply with any specific standards?
Compatible with most levels in all subjects! Here are a few Georgia Department of Education standards that align with the Henry Ford Model i:
Statistics:
5.MP Show patience and perseverance in solving problems. Demonstrate the skills and strategies needed to succeed in mathematics, including critical thinking, reasoning, and effective communication and communication. Ask for help and use feedback. Set and monitor goals.
Science:
S5E1 Acquire, analyze, and transmit information to identify surface features on Earth caused by constructive and/or destructive processes.
S5L4 Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about how microorganisms benefit or harm larger organisms.
Social studies:
SS5H3 Explain how the Great Depression and the New Deal affected the lives of millions of Americans.
ELA:
5.P.EICCI. BIG VIEW: Engaging & Intentional Understanding & Formation. Students develop personal and academic identities as readers and writers, reading from texts for a variety of tasks and purposes and engaging in reading and writing processes to deepen understanding and strengthen creativity.
5.P.CP.1 **Cooperation** Collaborate with others to accomplish shared goals and projects.
5.TC **I. BIG IDEA: Context** Students explain the impact of purpose and audience on texts.
How have you used this program in your classroom?
I used the Model i framework during my ELA block, starting with a graphic introduction to Henry Ford’s Model i Manners and Actions. We briefly review each Practice and Action to clear up any misconceptions, then discuss what they mean to us. Together, we talked about how these habits and actions can be used in school and in everyday life.
My students really enjoyed sharing real-life examples of times when they had to “rewrite the rules,” show empathy, collaborate, or revise and prepare. They mentioned experiences such as creating new plays to help their sports teams win, learning to sew and design their own costumes, and working together during rehearsals to bring the world of imagination to life on stage.
Can you share an example of how you taught or reinforced one of the Model i practices in your classroom?
I chose to focus on working with my students, starting with the first lesson and Kahoot. I used Kahoot after we reviewed what it means to participate though before to start the job of Planning a Zoo trip. It was a fun way to do what we were just talking about. During the first lesson, it was exciting to watch my students list so many qualities of a good editor—to see so few of those qualities come into play during the first five-minute editing session. After some reflection, the students had a clear understanding of what collaboration looks like on paper, but also how to implement it, making the second planning session go very well. It was a great lesson in the power of compromise and respectful cooperation.
I also asked my students to finish “Driven to Win: Racing as a Team” virtual field trip, which was a great follow up to our interactive course. They loved learning about the miners and how the team’s success depends on every member pulling their weight. Their designs were creative and thoughtful, and they did a great job assigning each person to their “pit team.” We conducted a gallery tour and spent a few minutes giving each group positive feedback.
How did your students respond to the product?
My students really enjoyed the lessons and videos—they were very well done and very engaging. They also liked the Model i: Actions of Innovation Kahoot and wanted to keep playing! I have found it helpful to teach Habits and Actions in separate subjects so that students can build a deeper understanding of each. We also played Model i: Habits of an Innovator Kahoot! Vocabulary provided great opportunities for discussion and language development, so we worked together to combine similar words and some of the more challenging words. For example, we replaced “use” with “try” and “prepare” with “develop,” which helped students connect the concepts to their knowledge.
Can you summarize your experience with the Model i?
The Henry Ford Model is a wonderful resource for students of any age. I really enjoyed the engaging videos and lesson ideas. These skills are very important for young minds to learn.
Was the Model easy to use and apply in your classroom?
It was very easy to use in my classroom. As a teacher, I was very grateful that all the materials needed for these activities were classroom supplies that I already had. The lessons were thorough, engaging, and easy to prepare, requiring little or no advance preparation time. The website was also easy to use, making it easy to find the tools and courses I needed.
What two features did you like best about the Model i?
Kahoots and lesson plans were great. I really liked how Kahoots broke up the vocabulary and included short videos to reinforce key ideas. Because each video is followed by a related Kahoot question, my students stay engaged and excited to participate. I also liked how clearly the lessons were organized and how easy it was to use. My students have completed two of them and really enjoy them both. The discussion prompts, design activities, and additional videos and resources made for complete, engaging lessons for my students—and required very little preparation or prompting on my part.
What makes Model i special or different compared to other frameworks you have used?
I really like how the framework is divided into Habits and Actions. I find myself naturally drawn more towards Habits, while some of my students seem more connected to Actions. I appreciate that there are many ways to interact with the framework and use it in all kinds of careers—not just in design or STEM careers. As you examine each part and see how they work together, it becomes clear how complete and important the framework really is.
How will the outline save you time or make teaching easier?
As my students and I become familiar with the whole framework, it will be easier to see and identify its components during class activities. Instead of using different terms depending on the subject, we can now use the Model i framework language consistently across all fields of study.
Do you plan to use the Model i again?
I plan to use the outline in our next writing assignment as we begin peer editing. I’ll revisit what we’ve learned about collaboration, empathy, and accepting feedback for improvement, guiding students to use those skills as they plan to write for each other.
Do you have suggestions for improvement or constructive feedback? Is there anything you added to your lesson that would be helpful to other teachers?
The synonyms we added to the challenging vocabulary were very helpful for my students. I would suggest creating a kid-friendly version of the framework for elementary students. As a Special Education teacher, I also love teaching about Thomas Edison—he is one of my favorite inventors because of his struggle with dyslexia. His perseverance and success despite learning challenges is incredibly inspiring and would be a worthwhile addition to a study of Edison’s story.
Is there anything else you would like us to know about your experience?
I learned as much as my students did! I really enjoyed learning about all these different inventors and everything about The Henry Ford museum. After our lessons in the classroom, I felt inspired and I believe my students did too.
Teacher Picks is a sponsored program from We Are Teachers. All opinions shared in the review are honest and based on the teacher’s direct experience. To learn more about our guidelines and review process, click here.
