Belmont 5th Graders Discover and Explore...Outdoors
The 5th grade classes at Belmont Elementary School recently participated in a unique outdoor education program which combined social studies and science and enabled them to practice skills and content required by the NYS Intermediate Level Science Core Curriculum. To make this possible, the district partnered with Western Suffolk BOCES Outdoor Environmental Education Program (WSB).
The first part of the two-day program took place at Belmont Elementary School in a designated science room. Jennifer Cressy, an outdoor educator and naturalist with WSB, truly engaged students as she introduced some of the flora and fauna that are native to 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 comes from were corrected, and students gained an understanding of the importance of keeping our groundwater here on Long Island pollutant-free. Ms. Cressy tied this to the Pine Barrens and the importance of preserving land.
The second day was "in the field" at Connetquot River State Park Preserve. Students split into two groups with one completing a document-based question style exercise within the Sportsman's Club on site. The other group took a nature walk through two very different habitats. Students explored the differences in soil and flora in both a wetlands habitat and the Pine Barrens habitat. They saw an artesian well and performed hands-on investigations throughout their time outdoors. The smiles on their faces were proof positive that the learning experience was enjoyed by all.
