The Community Foundation is proud to support innovative educational opportunities that inspire creativity, encourage problem-solving, and help students discover their potential. Through a grant award of $1,151, Sidney City Schools brought hands-on learning to life for approximately 600 kindergarten through second-grade students through an engaging project called Cardboard City.

Serving students at both Longfellow Primary and Emerson Primary, the project gave every K-2 student the opportunity to design, build, and create using kid-safe construction tools specifically designed for cardboard. Armed with cardboard saws, screws, and screwdrivers, students transformed their ideas into unique structures that were ultimately combined to create an entire community.

For many students, the experience was their first opportunity to use tools and engage in open-ended construction. While some were initially hesitant, their confidence quickly grew as they began planning, designing, building, and refining their creations.

The true value of Cardboard City extended far beyond the finished structures. Students learned how to think creatively, solve problems, adapt when plans changed, and persevere through challenges. Some chose to work independently, while others collaborated in teams, learning important lessons about communication, compromise, and utilizing one another’s strengths.

Educators noted that the project highlighted something they see every day—students are often capable of much more than adults realize. When given meaningful opportunities and the tools to succeed, young learners frequently exceed expectations. The project empowered students to take ownership of their ideas, make revisions when necessary, and complete projects they were proud to call their own.

In a world where structured activities often leave little room for exploration, Cardboard City provided students with the freedom to create, experiment, and learn through hands-on experience. The project demonstrated that the process of learning is often just as important as the final product.

This opportunity was made possible through the support of Sidney City Schools, parents, community members, the Ruble Family Keep Art in Your HeART Fund, and the Community Foundation. Together, they helped provide an experience that fostered creativity, confidence, and critical thinking skills that students will carry with them long after the cardboard city has been taken down.

By investing in programs like Cardboard City, we are helping young learners develop the skills, confidence, and imagination they need to build bright futures—one creation at a time.