Dogwood fourth graders had a campout this week during ELA class. They cozied up under their emergency blankets with their tree-bark pencils and glow stick “emergency lights” while eating s'mores.
"Camping day is a blast, and the kids enjoy eating the cold s'mores," fourth grade teacher Paige Boyce said.
The students read Here’s Hank: The Soggy, Foggy Campout by Henry Winkler. In the book, Hank looks to nature to find inspiration for a poem. The campout starts with all of the classic outdoor fun, but it does not go as planned. Even though Hank has to rely on his emergency kit, he does find inspiration for his poem.
"I think the biggest takeaway from the day is they get to experience how Hank used some of the tools from his Dad's emergency kit," Boyce said. "We were also able to read some of Hank's favorite poems he listed in the back of the book. They thought the poems were funny and laughed out loud at them."
Beyond that, they got to participate in some of the experiences that gave Hank inspiration. “Students learn they can make things fun to find inspiration,” fourth grade teacher Layla Zaravar said. “They learn they can do anything.”
The students did understand the lesson. “Nature can be inspiring," Lydia Borgman said. Pierce Newman agreed and added, "You can also have fun with your family."
Fourth grade teachers hope students find inspiration for their own writing in creative ways this year.