Santa Cruz Island
This morning, immediately after meeting the giant tortoises at the Galápagos National Park Service, Kathryn Russell, recipient of the Gil Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship Award, left the premises with her husband, Doug, and a very capable and articulate translator/naturalist, Ernesto. The Expedition Leader, Lucho, then introduced us with Sandra, who is an environmental education director with the Charles Darwin Research Station. He informed them that she would accompany them to the elementary school that was awaiting their arrival. So along with Sarah, the ship’s video chronicler, they were driven up into the highlands of Santa Cruz to Escuela Caupolican Maren. When they arrived, they were greeted by the classroom teacher Sandra Ulloa and the cheerful students dressed in crisp white and dark blue uniforms.
When all students were in their places, Ernesto prepared the students for their interaction with Mrs. Russell. As the program began it became evident that between Mrs. Russell and Ernesto the language barrier would be overcome, and the students would be ready to learn about the five themes of geography, North America, the state of Michigan, the city of Marquette… and of course the toy husky sled dog, Cometa.
They responded politely and warmly as Mrs. Russell explained that the little dog was going to stay with them. It was a gift from her students to them. She then shared special characteristics about living in a cold region that includes all four seasons, especially winter. With that said she gave them a little stuffed toy snowman and a blizzard of poetry that consisted of 500 paper snowflakes with snow poetry written in both English and Spanish.
Individual gifts prepared by Mrs. Russell’s fifth grade students from Graveraet Intermediate School in Marquette were distributed to each student. Mrs. Russell explained each item in the gift bag and how these items told them about living in Michigan. The children were very happy to receive the gifts, including a world map and inflatable globes, courtesy of Michigan Geographic Alliance.
The students from Santa Cruz then gave a cultural demonstration of traditional clothing that represented different peoples living in various regions of Ecuador. They concluded the program with the singing of a song that conveyed their affection for the Galápagos Islands.
As Mrs. Russell prepared to leave the school, the children came up to her with personal drawings, pictures, and two pieces of the traditional clothing to bring back to Michigan and share with her students. Many hugs were exchanged with promises from the teachers that letters between students (from those north of the 45th Parallel with those south of the equator) will be exchanged as soon as possible. It was a very rewarding experience for all. The power of geographic education once again bridged two communities half a world apart, and children living near two great and different bodies of water (Lake Superior and the Pacific Ocean) will experience how connected our planet is.
This morning, immediately after meeting the giant tortoises at the Galápagos National Park Service, Kathryn Russell, recipient of the Gil Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship Award, left the premises with her husband, Doug, and a very capable and articulate translator/naturalist, Ernesto. The Expedition Leader, Lucho, then introduced us with Sandra, who is an environmental education director with the Charles Darwin Research Station. He informed them that she would accompany them to the elementary school that was awaiting their arrival. So along with Sarah, the ship’s video chronicler, they were driven up into the highlands of Santa Cruz to Escuela Caupolican Maren. When they arrived, they were greeted by the classroom teacher Sandra Ulloa and the cheerful students dressed in crisp white and dark blue uniforms.
When all students were in their places, Ernesto prepared the students for their interaction with Mrs. Russell. As the program began it became evident that between Mrs. Russell and Ernesto the language barrier would be overcome, and the students would be ready to learn about the five themes of geography, North America, the state of Michigan, the city of Marquette… and of course the toy husky sled dog, Cometa.
They responded politely and warmly as Mrs. Russell explained that the little dog was going to stay with them. It was a gift from her students to them. She then shared special characteristics about living in a cold region that includes all four seasons, especially winter. With that said she gave them a little stuffed toy snowman and a blizzard of poetry that consisted of 500 paper snowflakes with snow poetry written in both English and Spanish.
Individual gifts prepared by Mrs. Russell’s fifth grade students from Graveraet Intermediate School in Marquette were distributed to each student. Mrs. Russell explained each item in the gift bag and how these items told them about living in Michigan. The children were very happy to receive the gifts, including a world map and inflatable globes, courtesy of Michigan Geographic Alliance.
The students from Santa Cruz then gave a cultural demonstration of traditional clothing that represented different peoples living in various regions of Ecuador. They concluded the program with the singing of a song that conveyed their affection for the Galápagos Islands.
As Mrs. Russell prepared to leave the school, the children came up to her with personal drawings, pictures, and two pieces of the traditional clothing to bring back to Michigan and share with her students. Many hugs were exchanged with promises from the teachers that letters between students (from those north of the 45th Parallel with those south of the equator) will be exchanged as soon as possible. It was a very rewarding experience for all. The power of geographic education once again bridged two communities half a world apart, and children living near two great and different bodies of water (Lake Superior and the Pacific Ocean) will experience how connected our planet is.
