- April 25, 2024
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Students in the Matanzas High School STEM Academy put their biological knowledge to use Thursday, May 31, when fifth-grade students from Phoenix Academy took a field trip to the campus to tour its Learning Walkway.
An alligator in a pond near the walkway, however, caused a change in plans. To ensure the safety of the visitors, the Matanzas students rearranged their stations in the grass field behind the greenhouse.
The stations taught about Florida’s ecosystem, organic gardening, solar energy and recycling, hitting all of the fifth-grade Sunshine State Science Standards.
“The intent is that this will be the district field trip for fifth grade next year,” said Melissa Fox, the Matanzas biology/service learning teacher behind the project.
The Learning Walkway was funded by a combination of grants. A Flagler County Education Foundation Dell Trayer Teacher Grant was used to produce teaching materials to be used in the outdoor classroom. As a part of the grant, students have researched and listed the curriculum standards and assembled teaching kits for teachers to use following a visit to the Learning Walkway.
Also included in the grant were dollars to pay for buses so that students could visit the walkway.
In addition, Fox applied for a grant from The Consortium of Florida Education Foundations business partner AT&T, to commission the construction of a dozen benches placed along the walkway.
In keeping with service learning, students designed and built the benches.
In its first year, the STEM Academy at Matanzas has 85 freshmen and 34 incoming freshmen.
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