The dedicated teachers of the Berkshire Local Schools are using a variety of creative and instructional methods to keep students engaged during the ordered school closure period...
Mystery Objects Keep Students Engaged
The dedicated teachers of the Berkshire Local Schools are using a variety of creative and instructional methods to keep students engaged during the ordered school closure period. One such activity comes from Burton Elementary School teacher Amy Hochschild, who has deployed a “Mystery Object” regular assignment for students to deploy their sensory skills and creative thinking mindset.
Using her 1000x magnifier, Mrs. Hochschild takes an “extreme close-up” picture of an object and asks students to identify. Over the last several days and weeks, students have been asked to observe and make educated identifications of a cactus, couch cushion and other fun objects.
The educational purpose reinforces the science subjects and lessons of cells and cell structure. Students guess one day and the mystery object is revealed the next. Simple and playful jokes about science are included as well, with the intent that students receive their daily lessons with instruction and a little humor.
Way to go Mrs. Hochschild. Thank you for everyone’s continued support, creativity and flexibility during this indeterminate school closure period.
Distant Project-Based Learning
Distant learning will not stop project-based learning. Through Zoom, Miss Christina from Burton Public Library taught Burton Elementary School students about bees and how they help the environment.
“The children sure did miss her. I am so glad we have built such a great relationship during the school year that we are able to continue during this trying time,” commented first-grade teacher Anne Mann
The students in Mrs. Mann’s class will be researching, writing, designing and teaching others about the animals native to Geauga County. They look forward to speaking with expert biologists and naturalists through Zoom to learn more about protecting the community wildlife.
Students Spread Positivity and Cheer
Third-grade students at Ledgemont Elementary School have been hard at work identifying opportunities to spread cheer and happiness in and around the community by researching recommended online resources such as Newsela.com during the quarantine by drawing rainbows for others to enjoy. One of the third-grade students, Henry Goldizen, and his two sisters, Hannah, in kindergarten, and Hazel, 3 years old, were inspired to do something for their community. Not only did they draw a beautiful rainbow at the end of their driveway, but they also picked up garbage on the side of the road as a way to spread cheer in the community. In the process, they said hello to many neighbors. Henry said he hoped people seeing them pick up trash would inspire others to do something nice, or at least not to litter.
The Berkshire Local Schools congratulate the Goldizens for their great example of how everyone can continue to still do good deeds during such an unsure time.
Badgers Have Grit
Burton Elementary School has taken the initiative and love for their school district to a new level with the continuation of “The Badger Times,” a student-created newspaper developed by sixth-grade students. Overseen by Mrs. Tricia Lunardi and Mrs. Karena McCandless, the co-taught project has been diligently underway for the last few months.
Included within the publication is a variety of student-interest stories and home-taken pictures and images. One particular front-page story titled “Berkshire Badgers Have Grit” outlines how this edition came to fruition and the COVID-19 and school closure’s impact on the total effort. Due to the determination of the student staff to persevere, even though it meant writing and layout plus all the nuts-and-bolts of producing a publication of this magnitude on top of the regular assignments during the first week of distance learning, the paper was published. Congratulations to the sixth-grade language arts students and their advisors for persevering and developing a first-rate, student-led school newspaper with some grit and district pride.
PreK-12 Project Progresses
The Berkshire Local Schools’ major preK-12 facility project continues to move forward with progress on the necessary site development and construction. Earlier this week water lines were tied-in and the sanitary sewers were hooked up to the mains. Those who pass by the new location know that final site development work continues on the project as well. These infrastructure milestones carry significance in the pre-construction phase of the project and serve to establish a solid foundation for future aspects of the preK-12 facility.
Thank you to the various stakeholders involved with helping to tie into the water lines, sanitary sewer lines and finalize the earthworks on the site of construction. The district will continue to keep the community posted of various milestones over the coming weeks. Go Badgers.
