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Learning In A Classroom Without Walls

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By SUZANNE M. SCHMIDT

IN THE LOOP

Published: April 1, 2009

Pine View Middle School students took a trip on the wild side last week in order to learn more about biodiversity, water quality, habitats and animals through hands-on experiments and observation at Cross Bar Ranch in Spring Hill.

All the seventh-graders in Pasco County eventually get to visit the 12,500-acre ranch, which features numerous habitats including marsh, cypress swamps, upland habitats with rows and rows of slash-pine trees, oak hammock, scrub oak and sinkholes.

Christine Altens, instructional assistant at the ranch, said the lessons students learn are important.

"It is important, because it is their future," Altens said. "They need to know their effect on the world. We are hoping maybe after they come here they will have more respect for the water and the land. It is such a dynamic course with a lot of hands-on learning. You can have students read a book but some will absorb it that way and some won't."

Kyle Puls, 12, said he felt like he learned more being in the environment rather than in his classroom.

"I learn better here because you get to experience things differently then you would inside the classroom," Puls said. "Here I was able to see wetlands and see nature. I got to pull a tadpole out of the lake, and it was cool because it still had its tail and it had legs, too."

At the ranch, students are introduced to multiple habitats while on the safari bus ride tour including a marsh, an upland habitat, an oak hammock, scrub oak, a sinkhole pond and a burrowing owl habitat. The students get to see or learn about coyote, deer, Sandhill cranes, egrets, squirrels, alligators, snakes and gopher tortoises along with a variety of bugs and fish.

Students had the chance to take an up-close look while studying about what each animal does.

Mike Crossley, 13, said he enjoyed learning about the bugs and fish and other animals on the preserve.

"I learned large scorpions can use their stinger to breathe underwater like we would use a snorkel," Crossley said. "I also learned that coyote droppings have fur and I also learned about pH levels. It was a lot of fun and so much better then being in a classroom."

Before even embarking on the journey to the ranch, students are treated to a few weeks of preparation. First the teacher comes out to the ranch to learn the lessons that will later be taught to the students and then the teacher takes some of that curriculum into the classroom.

"While they are here, they are learning hands-on by doing science experiments, collecting data and looking at biodiversity," said Jean Knight, environmental resource teacher. "Before they even get here they are doing interdisciplinary learning in the areas of language arts, science, social studies and math."

Kristen Broadbelt, seventh-grade teacher, said she was surprised by many of the things she learned through the program. It even inspired her to change some of her ways like canceling her lawn service so she could reduce the amount of chemicals and pesticides she was pumping into her lawn.

"It has become a serious problem," Broadbelt said. "We are hoping the students will learn the importance of preserving nature and recycling. I want the students to become good stewards of the environment for the future."

For information about the ranch, visit eec.pasco.k12.fl.us/eecs/CrossBar.html.

Reporter Suzanne M. Schmidt can be reached at (813) 948-4288 or sschmidt@mediageneral.com.

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