Teacher builds outdoor classroom
OLD TOWN – A high school science teacher is getting creative when it comes to students returning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I plan to be out here every day that I can,” said Rad Mayfield, a science teacher at Old Town High School. “‘Till the weather or such stops us from doing that, I will have my classes out here.”
On a budget of less than $100 and all natural materials, Mayfield built a classroom in the woods behind Old Town High School.
“I took all of the logs and things that had fallen in a storm a few years back and cut seats from them,” Mayfield said. “I had some old glass panels at home and took one of those and made the glass board.”
Mayfield spaced out tree stumps to be at least six feet apart from each other, so students can be socially distant during class.
“The logs sort of make it where, you know, this is your spot, and you have to be this distance apart from your classmate,” Mayfield said.
Mayfield said this will not only provide students with fresh air and mask breaks, but it will also enhance their learning experiences.
“I just think it’s so important, especially teaching science, that kids get outside,” Mayfield said.
Mayfield’s colleagues support this unique approach.
“Coming back to school is gonna be drastically different than what they have all had before,” said Jeremy Bousquet, assistant principal of Old Town High School. “For them to be able to learn in an environment that’s a little bit different, but yet as close to what they’re used to is is gonna be, I think it’s gonna help them out tremendously.”
Both hope to see the outdoor learning experience expand in the future.
“We’re in a time in which you have to think outside the box quite literally,” Bousquet said. “This is an example of that.”
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