Out of the Classroom: Fargo Students Study Ecosystem Hands On

Fifth grade students at Bennett Elementary in Fargo got out of the classroom to learn about the area’s ecosystems.

Although students have been studying ecosystems all year, they are excited to see how nature works up close.

Too often students are stuck in the classroom but not today.

“Often in textbook examples, they are exposed to kind of exotic locations.  They have just really right outside their door an opportunity for an intimate …you know local experience,” said Anthony Bormann, Director of the MSUM Science Center.

Students from Bennett Elementary School are learning about the area’s ecosystems, and they’ve come out to Buffalo River State Park to see the wildlife firsthand.

“Today, the kids got an experience of coming out to the science center and experiencing the ecosystems that we’re learning about in class.  They get to check out the forest, go down to the river, get to look at the prairie and see how the things relate to what we’ve been studying in the classroom,” said Chris Gast, fifth grade teacher at Bennett Elementary School.

Something the students appreciate that as well.

“I like that a lot more because then you can relate to it, you can touch it, look at it firsthand.  It’s a lot better than just looking at the pictures,” said Grant Ivesdal, fifth grade student at Bennett Elementary School.

Every year, teachers enjoy bringing their classes to the wildlife.

“The best part for the teacher is being able to bring kids outside so you can relate what you’re teaching in the classroom to real–life experiences, and then getting to see kids that don’t get to experience being outside getting to be out there,” said Gast.

It’s an experience that will hopefully stick with the students for a lifetime.

The field trip to the science center is a part of Fargo Public School’s fifth grade science curriculum.  Fargo Schools have been coming to the park for over 25 years.