Olga Vaskova Creates Award-Winning Lesson Plan
Olga Vaskova, a graduate student in the Master of Science in Education and Social Policy Program, earned a $500 prize in the Tzu Chi Center’s Character Education Lesson Plan Competition for her English language arts lesson focused on The Wizard of Oz, one of her daughter’s favorite books.
Vaskova, who is pursuing a master’s in learning sciences, is a former teacher who previously used the classic book in her classes. This time, though, “I wanted to challenge myself to go deeper and use this story as a way to teach problem-solving and creativity,” she said.
Designed for first and second grade, the lesson encourages students to empathize with the characters and use teamwork to solve problems depicted in the story. When Dorothy is kidnapped by the witch and held prisoner in a castle surrounded by a large moat, for example, children are prompted to think about how her friends can save her.
Vaskova sees the potential to teach compression in other content areas, including social studies where “you don’t usually see this type of approach, and there is a lot of value in teaching metacognitive skills, reflection, and compassion.”
Before graduate school, Vaskova worked extensively with children and teens, leading after-school clubs, teaching creative and critical thinking courses, and running workshops for parents and educators.
Her path into education began with her own daughters, through treasure hunts, storytelling, and hands-on exploration of the world. She studied law in Russia and draws on that background to teach logic and problem-solving.
Vaskova also co-hosts a podcast called Thornbush with a friend. Delivered in her native Russian, the show explores children's literature and offers practical tips for parents on how to weave books into everyday playtime with their kids.
“Kids are growing up in an environment that makes it harder to care, to think deeply, or to stay curious,” she says. “School often feels disconnected, attention is fractured, and AI makes it easy to skip the process of learning entirely. I’m exploring ways to design tools and experiences that help kids stay engaged with the world and their own minds. Even when the world pushes in the opposite direction.”
- Read Vaskova’s lesson plan.
- Learn more about our master's in learning sciences program, which is offered through the School of Education and Social Policy's Teaching, Learning and Education program.