Expeditionary Learning News
9-11 Flag of Honor
The Magical Prehistory Tour
On October 28th, the 6th grade traveled to Augusta to tour the State House and Maine State Museum. This trip was planned as a kickoff for our fall expedition entitled, The Magical Prehistory Tour. We had a brief tour of the State House and then moved on to the Museum were participated in the following:
We divided into three groups. Each group did a self-guided tour of the Museum and needed to complete an Explorer's Guide scavenger hunt. The scavenger hunt was divided into the following sections: Struggle for Identity, 12,000 Years in Maine, Lumbering, Shipbuilding, Quarrying, Ice Harvesting, Agriculture, Fishing, Back to Nature and Made in Maine. As the students circulated the exhibits they were challenged to record information for the above topics.
We also participated in two small group activities, Ancient Middens and Arrowhead Making. These were guided by Museum Docents and were hands on. The Ancient Middens simulated an archeological dig. As the students found various objects a discussion followed that helped described the culture of the Paleo-Indians. The students were also allowed to make and keep an arrowhead. This was an informative and exciting trip for 6th grade.
Wind Over Wings
The TGS 5th graders are on a new "expedition" this fall - birding. Together, teachers and students are studying birds, guided by the following questions: What is the importance of birds on Earth? How do birds enhance human life? Should birds be pets?
On Monday, October 17th, Hope Douglas from Wind Over Wings came to TGS to help us "kick off" this new expedition! Hope brought 4 feathered friends to school with her - Pippin, a saw-whet owl; Sollie, a great-horned owl; Sabre, a red-tailed hawk; and Skywalker, a golden eagle. The entire school enjoyed a fabulous presentation where Ms. Douglas told the heartfelt stories of each of the birds of prey while she also taught us about ethics and environmental issues that affect birds.
Whole School CREW Meeting
On Sept. 22nd, TGS students met for their first whole school CREW meeting. Every 5th, 6th, and 7th grade student had been busy writing letters or designing cards for the firefighters, EMTs, and police officers who serve the communities of Cushing and Thomaston. This was a follow-up of their Sept. 8th CREW meeting, when students discussed the upcoming 10th anniversary of 9/11 and remembered all the emergency personnel who lost their lives in their effort to rescue and provide medical assistance to as many survivors of that tragic event as they could. Honored guests at our meeting included firefighters and EMTs from Cushing and Thomaston as well as police officers from Thomaston. Students expressed their appreciation for all these people do to help in emergencies and make their towns safer places to live.
This event provided an opportunity for students to make a connection between the events of 9/11 and their own community as well as showing them ways in which, as adults, they can live up to the civic duties and responsibilities of citizens of their community.
Our honored guests included:
Cushing EMS Chief Charlene Benner
EMT Joe Smith
Cushing Fire Chief Arthur Kiskila
Asst. Fire Chief Joe Yamello
Firefighter Curtis Bramhall
Fire Police Earl Robishaw
Fire Department Chaplin Scott Townsend
Thomaston EMS Chief Alan Leo
EMT Carrie Adams
EMT & Firefighter Francis Brandon
Firefighter Eric Harjula
Thomaston Police Chief Keven Haj
Police Sergeant Tim Hoppe
Police Officer Mike Blais