Belmont Students Combine Science & Social Studies at Connetquot Preserve
Belmont Elementary 5th graders participated in a unique cross-curricular outdoor education program when the district partnered with Western Suffolk BOCES Outdoor Environmental Education Program to create a new program combining social studies and science. This project-based learning experience allowed students to practice skills and content required by the NYS Social Studies Core Curriculum and NYS Intermediate Level Science Core Curriculum.
The first part of the two-day program took place at Belmont where Outdoor educator and naturalist Jennifer Cressy from BOCES engaged students by introducing flora and fauna that are native to the Connetquot River State Park Preserve, the site of the second day of the program. She provided a history of the Sportsman's Club, Grist Mill and hatchery, which helped students gain an understanding of the relationship of landscape and resources to the development of human culture over time. The highlight of the in-class portion was the groundwater model that Ms. Cressy introduced to the students. The model was a profile view of the soil beneath their feet and, through the use of syringes and colored water, students were able to see how pollutants flowed into the ground and then laterally towards the ocean. Misconceptions about where the water from their taps came from were corrected, and students gained a true understanding of the importance of keeping groundwater here on Long Island pollutant-free. Ms. Cressy tied this in to the Pine Barrens and the importance of preserving land.
The second day involved first hand observations as students journeyed to the beautiful Connetquot Preserve. They absolutely loved this experience as demonstrated by the comment of Brittany who said that "the landmarks we saw were beautiful." Another student said the worm that he held in his hand was "awesome," and still another student excitedly remarked, "It was the first time I saw a deer."
