Science and Discovery: Peachtree Elementary students learn in nature’s classroom

     Peachtree Elementary School's 5th-graders recently enjoyed recently enjoyed the school’s second annual overnight field trip to the Fortson 4-H Center in Hampton, Ga., as part of their environmental learning program.

     The trip provided hands-on learning, aligned with Gwinnett County Public Schools’ (GCPS) Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) 5th-grade science curriculum. Students learned how to canoe, investigated pond life in pond ecology, and participated in team-building activities.

     “Students [saw] the AKS brought to life as they practiced planning and carrying out investigations,” says Peachtree Elementary 5th-grade teacher Yolanda Sato.

     The Fortson 4-H Center’s pond ecology workshop taught students to sort animals into groups based on their physical characteristics. Students also worked together to create a model showing how these animals are grouped and how vertebrates are further classified as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

     The highlight of the field trip included a campfire with songs and s’mores as well as a school-led scavenger hunt onsite. Sato says students enjoyed science investigations outside the classroom and built relationships among themselves.

     “The experience of participating in this overnight field trip was an invaluable bonding experience for students and staff,” adds Sato. “Peachtree students and staff benefited from this experience in developing lifelong learners.”