St. Regis sixth graders give community a taste of ancient Egypt
<p>Marshall Green Jack Mitchell and Emma Hill explain a map of Egypt</p>
For the students in Diane Gingerich’s sixth grade class, at St. Regis Elementary, fun is a four-letter word.
When the students presented their projects on ancient Egypt to students, teachers and the community they would often catch themselves saying they “had fun” putting together the projects.
“We can’t say the ‘f.u.n’ word,” Jack Mitchell, sixth-grade student said. “So we say educationally enjoyable.”
Gingerich expanded on the topic with a smile on her face, explaining “working is not fun.”
“We may laugh and have a good time, but its never fun – it’s educationally enjoyable,” Gingerich said.
For years Gingerich said she teaches her students fewer units in an effort to deepen their knowledge of subjects such as ancient Egypt.
“If you tell the students something they have about a 30 percent retention of the subject,” Gingerich said. “If they read about a subject it’s 60 percent but if they do something it becomes about 85 percent retention. This is about long lasting education.”
A highlight for Gingerich is when former students from as far back as 11 years ago are still about to recall exactly what they learned and studied during her ancient Egypt unit.
The sixth-graders demonstrated their knowledge to each and every member of the school and community on Fri. – sharing everything from information about Egyptian gods to hieroglyphics and detailed maps of ancient Egypt.
“This is all their work,” Gingerich said. “They’ve done all of it.”
St. Regis Superintendent Janet Hanson said the event showcases how Gingerich is an “exceptional” teacher.
“She has been able to spark the creativity of students to perform their highest quality of work and a to provide them with memory that lasts a lifetime,” Hanson said.
It was clear from the smiles on the faces of all the sixth-graders as they shared their knowledge that Hanson was correct – it will be a memory that lasts a lifetime.
“It was really fun, I loved it,” Marshall Green, sixth-grade student said before being corrected by Mitchell.
“You said the ‘f’ word,” Mitchell explained. “It’s educationally enjoyable.”