Fairview Elementary School third graders dove deep into the sea at Ripley Aquarium of the Smokies.
This exploration field trip brought the Wit & Wisdom Literacy curriculum to life. Students saw sharks, exotic fishes, stingrays, penguins and much more. Third grade teacher Whitley Burleson said opportunities such as this are invaluable to a student’s learning experience.
“Field trips provide a hands-on, real life application to the learning that takes place every day in the classroom,” She said. “Students increase their engagement, excitement, and connections outside the school setting which further enhances their learning experience.”
Students were amazed the entire time, as they saw animals they’ve never seen before. The children lit up with smiles and giggles for everything the trip had to offer. For some this was their first time at an aquarium, which made the experience even more exciting.
“The aquarium was important for us because students encountered sea life rather than learning about it through text, art, and videos,” Ms. Burleson explained. “I am a huge fan of experiential learning, so offering as many hands-on, real-life experiences for our students deepens their understanding and engages them with course content. Watching the students have fun and explore the aquarium was an experience that made me both so excited for them and also very proud.”
