![]() ![]() ![]() Travers said students were particularly captivated as Sokol discussed the Ring of Fire, a subject they have been studying in class.įrom inside the giant inflatable sphere, youngsters were given a whole new perspective of this extensive zone of volcanic and seismic activity that borders the Pacific Ocean. Rosalie Sokol, a member of the Massachusetts Geographic Alliance and a teacher consultant for National Geographic for the past 20 years, took over as lead presenter once students moved inside the globe. According to James Hayes-Bohanan, Bridgewater State College geography professor, the display illustrated the tilt of Earth's axis of rotation, which is the reason for the seasons. The presentation started under a basketball hoop located at the front of the gymnasium, where a beach ball representing the Earth hung at a 23.5 degree angle. ![]() “They were jealous they couldn't come down and do it again.” “Some select students have done it in elementary school before,” Callahan said. Throughout the day, passersby en route to class curbed their curiosity by poking their heads through the gym doors. Though not all Martin Middle School students could participate in Friday’s presentation, those who didn’t made it a point to get a glimpse of the big, blue globe. They visit a different school each Friday, and EarthView volunteer Natalie Regan said the excitement generated by the globe’s arrival is an indication of the program’s success. Since fall 2008, Bridgewater State College has brought the EarthView program to more than 8,000 students - elementary through high school level - in Southeast Massachusetts. He plans to expose youngsters to more and more in the months to come. ![]() Travers added, “To be able to see this gets them enthusiastic about the content they are learning in the classroom.”Ĭallahan, who has used similar alternative teaching styles in the past, hopes to make interactive lessons an integral part of students’ curriculum. “Kids learn so much better when they have hands-on activities,” Callahan said. Wirth added, “It’s like we were in space looking down at the world.”Īccording to Chuck Callahan, a Martin Middle seventh grade social studies teacher, the program not only goes hand-in-hand with the sixth grade curriculum, but it is interactive so as to effectively reinforce classroom lessons. “It was very realistic,” said Auguste, recalling the moment she initially stepped foot inside the strange balloon and marveled at her surroundings. “The program puts what they are learning in the classroom in context, and shows students that it is purposeful.”Īs 11-year-old Ben Wirth and Myesha Auguste recapped their first-ever EarthView experience, it seemed as though the excited pair couldn’t get their words out fast enough. “It brought geography to life for them,” said Erin Travers, fifth grade Martin Middle School teacher and Bridgewater State College alum. The inflatable sphere – hand-painted in detail - gave sixth graders a three-dimensional view of the world from inside Earth’s core, allowing them to learn about topics like plate tectonics, global culture and climate change. The traveling classroom known as EarthView, a Bridgewater State College program, was an awe-inspiring sight that sparked countless smiles from youngsters on its first-ever visit to the city school. Nearly 200 wide-eyed Martin Middle School students explored the world in a way they never would have imagined Friday, simply by stepping inside a 20-foot EarthView balloon. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |