New Brockton Elementary School students study soil, GPS

By Carole Brand

Published: May 14, 2008

New Brockton Elementary School second graders had the chance this week to study soil and the Global Positioning System.
According to teachers Amanda Parker, Dawn Nolin and Carla Bailey, the students first had to dig a hole a 100 centimeters on the school grounds.

“This is part of the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative,” Nolin said. “The student’s will learn to examine the soil as part of the second grade studies we’ve been having at school.”

Bailey explained that second graders will try to find and study different types of soil, look for leaf decay, bugs that may be harboring in the soil and grass serving as a protective layer.

“Part of the AMSTI is for students to study the landscape and soil, then we’ll go back into the classroom to log into a GPS the school has and find out exactly where we dug the hole,” Parker said.

Nolin commented the study involved several aspects of learning for the students.

“As part of this program, they will learn how to find anywhere in the world they want to go,” she said. “From finding out where a country is to finding their own home in their own neighborhood. The GPS pinpoints exact locations.”

As part of another aspect of learning, the 21st Century Grant will involve the school partnering with the Coffee County Extension System this fall.

According to Reading Coach Chris Sutley, David Garrett of the CCES will began the end of May by introducing the students on what they will be involved in while making a walking trail at the school.

“The students, working with Master Jr. Gardeners, will find out about different plants, insects, soil use and trees,” Sutley said. “Mr. Garrett plans to teach the students how to plant a garden, learn to harvest it and when the vegetables come in, we will distribute them to different families to have fresh vegetables.”

Sutley said this program will begin in the fall of the 2008 to 2009 school year.