The Baker Blast
March 15, 2025
It is with great pride and joy that we share with you the names of our outstanding Bobcats of the Month. These students have exemplified our core character traits: Accountability, Open-Mindedness, and Kindness. Their character and positive attitudes have made a significant impact on our school community. Please join us in congratulating these exceptional students for their hard work and dedication. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and look forward to seeing their continued growth and success.
Baker Middle School's 6th Graders Showcase Globalization Through Tennis Shoe Expo
On February 28, 2025, Baker Middle School's sixth graders transformed their classrooms into a colorful tennis shoe expo, showcasing their own sneaker designs to explore the concept of globalization. Led by Mr. Fahnestock and Mrs. Burt, the event aimed to teach students how shoes are manufactured, transported, and sold across the world. Through hands-on learning, the students were able to create their very own unique tennis shoe and display their leaning and creativity to others.
Each student designed a tennis shoe, complete with a name, price, and advertisement explaining the manufacturing and design process. Some took inspiration from popular brands like Nike and Adidas, focusing on performance and style, while others created bold, exceptional designs that are based off of their personal interests. Some shoes focused on eco-friendly materials, while others emphasized comfort, durability, or affordability. Along with their designs, students developed advertisements highlighting key details, such as, where the shoe was made, its special features, and why consumers would want to buy it.
The project followed the stages of globalization, from sourcing raw materials to mass production and marketing. Students learned how different parts of a single shoe could come from multiple countries, rubber from Thailand, fabric from China, and assembly in Vietnam, demonstrating how our economies are connected.
Mr. Fahnestock and Mrs. Burt hosted the expo to give students a creative approach to learning about globalization. "The chapter in the book talks about the global sneaker, but I feel it's a more meaningful experience for the kids to make the shoe to connect to the information they are learning about" said Mr. Fahnestock. Rather than just studying the process, students were able to experience it firsthand by designing, producing, and marketing their own sneakers. Mrs. Burt talked about the importance of showcasing their efforts, saying, "This gave the students an opportunity to showcase their hard work and participate in the final stage of the global clothing production process, the sale!"
More Than Just Sneakers, The Shoe Expo That Taught About Globalization
The shoe expo in rooms 100 and 106 at Baker Middle School started like any other event. People were excited to check out the shoes that were rumored to make you better at basketball and even give you superpowers. Shoes like the Cobra 45, Meta Force 15, and Sky Dash Pro Max 1s promised to help players jump higher, run faster, and play better.
But the expo wasn't just about showing off cool shoes with superpowers. It had an important message. The goal was to teach people about globalization and how many shoes are made in sweatshops, where kids work long hours in bad conditions for very little money. "A lot of the shoes we wear are made in places where kids work for hours in horrible conditions," said Braylon, a 6th grader. "We want people to understand where their shoes really come from."
There was some drama, like stealing and shouting, which distracted a few people, but many visitors still walked away thinking about the bigger issue. "I never thought about where my shoes came from before," said Anthony Antoc, an 8th grader attending the expo as a guest. The event helped people think about where their shoes come from and made them consider the next pair they buy.
At the end of the day, even though things got a little chaotic, the expo made people think about the workers (who are usually children) who make the shoes. It wasn't just about sneakers, it was a reminder that every single shoe has a story behind it, even the ones you're wearing on right now.
