Staff Report

NES Teacher Sean Ralston and his students learned about a megalodon during a recent trip to the State Museum.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_nesmuseumtrip01.jpgNES Teacher Sean Ralston and his students learned about a megalodon during a recent trip to the State Museum. Courtesy photos

NES students practiced their 21st Century Skill of reflective listening during the field study.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_nesmuseumtrip02.jpgNES students practiced their 21st Century Skill of reflective listening during the field study. Courtesy photos

COLUMBIA — This fall NES first graders looked to the skies during a field study to the South Carolina State Museum.

According to NES First Grade Teacher Sean Ralston students greatly enjoyed the planetarium, especially a video about the Coyote and the Sun.

Ralston said the students were self-directed as they explored museum exhibits and respected museum policies. First grader Zimaya Baxter said her favorite part was when they watched the movie about the sun and the moon.

“My favorite thing at the museum was the shark,” said first grader Diana Reyes Garcia

There were also hands-on learning opportunities to explore. The activities gave students a chance to work on fine motor skills, practicing sportsmanship and following instructions.

“I liked the room where we could play with the marbles,” said student Kamora Good.

The experiential learning helped first graders learn science standards such as comparing features of the day and night sky, recalling the sun is a light and heat source for the Earth, studying sunrise and sunset and learning changes in the moon’s appearance over time. Several students had attended the museum before but many experienced it for the first time.