More than 1,000 second graders in the Rochester City School District traded in their traditional classrooms this week for a more hands-on learning experience.
The city school district and the Seneca Park Zoo worked together to form the 'Zoo Scholars' program. Some 1,300 second graders will visit the zoo over the course of two days where they will be tasked with gathering data on four specific animals.
Organizers and students say the program is a great way to get the kids involved and having fun, all while learning.
"All of the activities they’re doing are connected to their learning standards and they’re collecting data while they're here at the zoo, but the learning will continue back in the classroom, so there are follow-up activities they can do while using the information that they gained at the zoo,” said Kelly Ulrich, director of education at the Seneca Park Zoo.
Part of the funding for the program was given by a grant from the ESL Charitable Foundation.
Zaidi ya wanafunzi 1,000 wa darasa la pili katika Wilaya ya Shule ya Jiji la Rochester walijishughulisha katika madarasa yao ya jadi wiki hii kwa uzoefu zaidi wa kujifunza. Wilaya ya shule ya jiji na Seneca Park Zoo walifanya kazi pamoja kuunda programu ya 'Zoo Scholars'. Wanafunzi wa darasa la pili watatembelea bustani ya wanyama kwa siku mbili na kukusanya data kuhusu wanyama wanne. Wanasayansi na wataalamu wanasema kuwa hii ni njia nzuri ya kuwafanya watoto wajiunge na kufurahiya wakati wote wa kujifunza. "Kila shughuli wanazofanya zinaunganishwa na viwango vyao vya kujifunza na wanakusanya data wakati wako hapa kwenye bustani ya wanyama, lakini kujifunza kutaendelea nyuma darasani, kwa hivyo kuna shughuli za ufuatiliaji wanaweza kufanya wakati wa kutumia habari waliyopata kwenye bustani ya wanyama, ""alisema Kelly Ulrich, mkurugenzi wa elimu katika bustani ya wanyama ya Seneca Park." Sehemu ya fedha kwa ajili ya programu ilitolewa na ruzuku kutoka ESL Charitable Foundation.