LEARNING About Nature FROM EIGHTH GRADERS
Source/Author: Betty Gootson, Head of The Experiential School of Tampa Bay
May 11, 2017
The most enthusiastic teachers are the best teachers! This was proven when the eighth graders took on the task of teaching the Junior Kindergartners about the plants and animals that live near the intercoastal waterway on the back of campus in the Native Classroom. Each JK student had their very own tour guide. The tour began with the eighth graders pointing out eagle and osprey nests, and sharing how to tell the difference between the two big birds. They used pictures to give the children a close up look at what they were seeing high in the sky.
When they reached the outdoor classroom, the older students taught the younger ones about mangroves, different types of pine trees and about several other types of plants native to Florida. They also learned that some of the trees on campus (Australian Pines) are invasive, meaning they don't belong in Florida, and can keep other native plants from growing. Under the guidance of their tour guides, the children pulled as many young Australian Pine trees as they could to help keep the Native Classroom free of this fast growing tree.
To wrap up their time together, the eighth graders taught the Junior Kindergartners about what they call "the forgotten ones" - small pieces of trash that get left on the ground around campus. Each person then collected two pieces to help make our campus a safer habitat for the many birds and animals that call it home. The children had a great time and were so impressed with their new Middle School friends!
More photos on the Middle School page.
(Read more from this week in Betty's Blog.)
More photos on the Middle School page.
(Read more from this week in Betty's Blog.)
![JK on the Run [Photos]](/Images/1px.png?command_1=url&url_1=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.shorecrest.org/userfiles/shpsv2mvc/images/news-images/JKontherun.jpg&command_2=resize&height_2=85 "JK on the Run [Photos]")
