For six hours, the fourth grade had Gilroy Gardens as its
classroom.
More than 760 Gilroy Unified School District fourth-graders
attended the third annual Nature Sciences Day held Tuesday at the
local theme park.
Gilroy – For six hours, the fourth grade had Gilroy Gardens as its classroom.
More than 760 Gilroy Unified School District fourth-graders attended the third annual Nature Sciences Day held Tuesday at the local theme park. The day featured three hours of hands-on learning followed by an hour of free time for students to wander the park and use the rides.
“We have a unique opportunity here to let the students use the garden as a living laboratory,” said Barb Granter, the park’s general manager.
During the morning session, students rotated through six stations. The different themes at these stops included identifying species of trees, performing experiments on rocks, observing animals and learning about fruit trees.
The animal area – featuring a turkey buzzard, a hawk, earthworms and an opossum – was a favorite with kids such as 9-year-old Eliot Elementary School student Gabriel Castillo.
“I learned that cockroaches can make a lot of babies,” he said. “They can lay 1,000 eggs.”
The stations – packed with more than 100 students at a time – are only part of the field trip’s benefit, said Eliot teacher Jan Tysinger.
“I think they learn science, but I also think it’s a great socializing experience to be together in a large group like this and see everyone is learning the same thing,” she said.
The district shelled out nearly $4,000 – or about $5 per student – to pay for the students’ experience. This is money well spent, said trustee Jaime Rosso.
“Partnering with an organization like Gilroy Gardens to do a project that all the students can participate in and be part of, I think that’s important and worthwhile,” he said. “I think we need to do more things like that.”
While it might be an expense for the district, it is not profit for the park, said Granter.
“That $5 a head means I can turn on the rides and water the plants,” she said.
The park and district were also helped out by the more than 40 docents, 10 Gavilan College students and 10 Gilroy High School students that volunteered at the stations.
“It’s good to have new experiences in your life and share what you might know with others,” said Ian Hopkins, a Gavilan student and docent.
After three years of collaboration with the school district, the park is looking at the future of the partnership. The challenge is to find new ways to teach students about horticulture and the natural world, said Bob Kraemer, president and chairman of the park board. The park and the science day can play active roles in this challenge, he said.
“It’s obvious that we all need to pay attention to the environment and the kids need to learn about it, and hopefully this is a way for them to learn,” he said.
