Fifth Grade Enjoys Experiential Eco-Adventure
10/28/2014
Recently, fifth grade faculty and students ventured to Stone Environmental School in Madison, New Hampshire for its much-anticipated overnight trip. Here, Middle School Science Teacher David Banister recaps the three-day experience.
The fifth grade trip to Stone Environmental School, a nonprofit school that offers environmental education and experiential eco-adventures for elementary and middle school students, was very successful. Our first immersive overnight experience fostered collaboration, teamwork, self-reliance, and a more in-depth understanding of the fifth grade Science curriculum. Boys arrived excited to explore nature and ready to embrace the Stone program. Each day consisted of three lessons and a combination of recreational and dorm time.
The experiential lessons, which were led by Stone instructors, focused on the natural ecosystems around the camp. The first task at hand was a group dynamic and sensory awareness lesson that aimed to help small study groups bond while becoming more aware of the natural environment around them. Activities included blindfold games, a wall climb where all group members were challenged to get over a 10-foot wall, and other similar team-building games. The evening lesson on Day 1 consisted of an instructor-led night hike. We were VERY lucky to have a full moon and clear skies, which made for an amazing hike with almost no need for flashlights.
Day 2 lessons led students to discover and learn about wetlands near the pond. The wetland lesson consisted of mucking in the detritus at the pond while looking for benthic macroinvertebrates. Boys ran chemical water tests using water samples collected from the pond to show the effects of pollution on freshwater ecosystems. A forest lesson took place on the mountain behind the camp. During this lesson, boys learned how to identify different species of trees. They were shown a porcupine den and learned about adaptations the porcupine uses to protect itself and it’s home. The night activity on Day 2 was a bioscope lesson where the benthic macroinvertebrates from the wetlands were displayed on a big screen and their adaptations and environmental sensitivity were discussed. Following the bioscope, all boys went outside into the chilly evening to enjoy stories and songs around the campfire.
Day 3 brought more small group games and activities to help the boys understand their natural world and specifically, their place in it. The morning concluded with a production of Dr. Suess’s “The Lorax,” performed by the Stone instructors.
Mixed throughout these formal lesson were plenty of opportunities for the boys to play, run, and embark upon adventures. Some students played basketball, football, and tennis games. A group of eager fishermen spent part of an afternoon at the lake trying to catch some fish.
All in all, the trip was a tremendous success. Boys continued learning about the ecosystems we introduced in science class. At Stone, they extended their learning by being able to witness and experience the ecosystems they were studying. I’m proud of the positive energy and enthusiasm all the boys brought to this adventure. They were active and enthusiastic participants during the lessons. |