Port Malabar 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Phelan wanted to create a special opportunities for her students especially in light of the sweeping changes COVID-19 has brought to the typical school day. We heard about this exciting project and wanted to share it with our audience. Below is Mrs. Phelan's explanation of the special things she has helped to arrange to give her students unique and engaging learning experiences this year.
"With all the necessary restrictions set forth due to the pandemic, I went into this school year wanting to provide as many opportunities as possible for my students to feel connected to world around them. I know distance learning last spring left many students feeling isolated and disconnected. My goal was to provide my brick-and-mortar third graders with memorable activities that they could learn resilience, excite them about learning again, and to help them feel connected to their school and community. Anytime an invitation shows up in my mailbox that I feel will get my students enthusiastic about learning and engaged I jump at the chance.
So far this year we have participated in the Blue Origin Dream Big Florida Send a Postcard to Space program. Our postcards were shipped into space on the New Shepard Rocket and we are anxiously awaiting their return. We also are part of the Brevard Zoo’s Restore a Shore Mangrove Project. Our classroom adopted 18 mangrove propagules that we are caring for until they are established and ready to be planted in their new home along the Indian River Lagoon. When the opportunity was presented to me that we could take part in a presentation by the Space Force I immediately signed us up! The purpose of the virtual meeting was to celebrate Space Force’s first birthday and educate students about their STEM education as it relates to space. Will Ulrich, Launch Weather Officer 45th Weather Squadron, CCSFS was our presenter and he went above and beyond all our expectations. He spent over an hour discussing his job, the importance of the Space Force and answering each student’s questions. My hope is that at the end of this year my students leave me with two things: that when faced with adversity we learn to persevere and to find something positive every day, and celebrate it!"
