Teachers juggle many different things during the school day and trying to come up with fun, new learning strategies is just one of them. This week, Salem Middle School geography teacher Amy Abner nailed it with a geocaching project for her sixth grade students. Geocaching is a treasure-hunt that is completed by using coordinates to find items.
Her students have been learning about Greece and Greek culture. Instead of the traditional lecture method of telling students about the topic, Abner put it in their hands and got them out of their seats!
“I have never done geocaching, but thought it was a perfect activity for a geography classroom,” said Abner. “I came up with the idea while doing a scavenger hunt with my daughter. I thought it would be fun for my students.”
Abner said she pitched the idea to STEAM Director Jessica Morgan, and she said, “Let's do it!”
Students are learning about the geography and culture of ancient Greece in class and Abner wanted to bring the lesson to life and she needed Morgan’s help to make it happen.
“My students needed to practice with cardinal directions, and learn about Greece, so I asked Mrs. Morgan if she could print some Greek-themed objects for me that had a cultural significance,” she said.
Abner then had her honors class use a compass and write directions and hide the objects for the other classes to find. The items hidden were an olive, the Greek Key design, a theater mask, a lightning bolt and the evil eye.
“The classes used a compass and the directions to locate the item,” Abner explained. “They were instructed to take a photo and return to me.”
Several students commented that the activity was fun and helped keep them engaged.
Morgan said it was a fun and creative activity for students to research Greece and Greek culture and she was happy to be able to use the STEAM lab to make the plan become a reality.
‘There were multiple steps in the project and students were really engaged in the activity!” she said. “This is what the STEAM is all about, assisting teachers in taking their lessons to the next level. These activities make learning more memorable for the students.”
After finding their object, students were given some research questions to answer so they could create a project about their item. They could choose between creating posters, skits or dioramas.
“I think they really had fun with this activity, and learned a lot, too!” said Abner.