Giant Map to Foster Woodhull Geography Study
In an age where many adults cannot find most countries or even entire continents on a map, Woodhull Intermediate School sixth graders are set to participate in a large scale geography learning activity this week.
A giant National Geographic map of Asia will be laid out on the Woodhull gym floor and sixth grade social studies students "will have an opportunity to walk among the nations," said Joseph Leavy, district director of humanities.
Woodhull Principal Mary Stokkers sent a letter home to parents late last week with details about the initiative. "The teachers and kids are very excited about this alternative approach to learning about world geography," Mr. Leavy said. "I anticipate this event being a very impressive learning opportunity for kids, as it taps into their kinesthetic mode of learning."
During the initiative's planning phase, Mr. Leavy met with Woodhull's sixth grade teachers and the school's physical education faculty members. "I asked them to consider the suggested learning activity I gave them which allows for exploring nations, latitude and longitude, etc., by actually traversing the 40' x 30' map, laid out on the gym floor."
Teachers say that such alternative approaches to learning keep school fun for students.