Eighth graders at Oakview Middle School spent last Thursday on a mock journey to find the Pacific Ocean in Oakview’s Third Annual Lewis & Clark Day.
Traveling around the exterior of the school, teams of five students participated in ten stops which each included a task that explorers Lewis & Clark may have faced on their journey.
‘It started off as a way to simulate a historical event, but it has become much more,? said eighth grade social studies teacher Jim Maxfield. ‘It is also a way that the eighth grade teachers can do an interdisciplinary activity that naturally comes together.?
The day featured activities that promote science skills, math skills and even physical education skills. Various activities included using a tree to determine other heights, analyzing animal tracks and working together to ‘canoe? over rough terrain.
‘It’s also a way to promote teamwork,? he added, saying that the teams of students spent two weeks before the event preparing, creating a name for their group and designing a team flag, among other things.
Parent volunteers and student volunteers from Oakland University assisted with the day’s activities, and each group was accompanied by a volunteer as they went on their journey.
‘It was a great way to get the community together to be active participants in student learning,? Maxfield said of the parent and student volunteers.