Announcements-Science
Sacred
The fifth and sixth grades students at
In addition to the Classroom segment, the program included a hand-on look at and a demonstration of the first step in the development of the Alternative Fuel Vehicle – the Toyota Prius.
This special program is in line with a school wide science project on the
"WITDF.FM" Focuses on the Environment
For anyone who lives in Rockaway, or even shops at the Rockaway Mall, the tremendous growth in the area is obvious. There are now more homes, shops, and buildings than ever before. All of this development sparked concern in Jackie Hendershot, Sacred Heart’s seventh grade homeroom teacher and upper-class science teacher. She understands that as a result of the construction, many native species of plants and animals are being displaced. Mrs. Hendershot hopes to spread awareness to Sacred Heart students and their families about the dangers of habitat destruction through a project she established called, What Is the Temperate Deciduous Forest For Me? (WITDF.FM).
This project, which involves grades Pre-K through eighth, will run throughout the entire school year. It is a hands-on approach to teach students about the environment in which they live in, as well as to stimulate a respect for and an appreciation of their local habitat. The project will also teach students how they can help conserve resources, and also how to properly dispose of garbage, which will in turn protect the environment. While the focus of the project is the same, each grade is involved in different activities. Pre-K is using recyclables to create new, useful materials. The lower grades are making models of birds and animals that are native to the area. The fifth grade is learning about biomes and will be making a banner display. Sixth grade is engaged in an in-depth study of the seasons. The seventh grade is exploring global warming and greenhouse gases. Grade’s fourth and eighth walked to Rockaway’s Donatoni Park to learn and explore more about wetlands. Mrs. Hendershot is looking forward to displaying all of the grades’ posters and discoveries during the month of April, in what was once “the old library.” The space is being painted by Mrs. Sopira, SHS’s Art teacher, with the help of students, to represent the forest throughout the seasons.
Mrs. Hendershot believes that what students are learning through this project will have a positive impact and will stay with them for the rest of their lives. She believes that through the hands-on activities, they will be more focused on their environment. She sees this project as allowing students to become aware of how they, people who are caretakers of the environment, need to be accepting of the challenges that they have created. More importantly they must be responsible and be willing to make positive changes.
SHS students will be more mindful of how they dispose of garbage and how they use products and resources after this project is completed!