The intersection of history with real life adds a whole new dimension to learning. Ask fourth-graders at Churchville Elementary School, who experienced this recently when a class reading project on the eruption of Vesuvius at Pompeii grew into a real-time Zoom™ visit with volcano expert Amelia Winner, from the University of Oregon.
A collaboration between Library Media Specialist Katie Andres and fourth-grade teachers Diane Gratton, Tracy Moran, Lindsey Salvas, Katy Miner, and Sydnee Tucciarello focused on historical fiction and combined elements of both grade-level ELA and library curriculum standards.
“We used the book I Survived the Destruction of Pompeii, AD 79 by author Lauren Tarshis to spark students’ interest and learning,” said Andres. “What I love about this author is that she made the content of her story accessible to online learners with a series of videos and encouraged readers to learn more by adding associated ‘quests.’ I created my own corresponding read-aloud videos and expanded the author’s quests to incorporate digital resources available to CES students.”
Videos and research materials were posted on Google Classroom™ (a closed platform) for students to access each week for their class assignments, adhering to publisher’s guidelines and giving students an opportunity to learn a little about copyright law.
Volcanologist Amelia Winner answered questions and interacted with her young audience from her home in Oregon while Library Media Specialist Katie Andres facilitated the presentation and kept everything running smoothly.
