Adopt a Classroom is an initiative that began about five years ago. Since then, Franklin has been lucky enough to have many partners, including the YMCA, the Children's Museum, and Westfield State University.
This year, Westfield State is returning to our fourth grade classrooms to continue and expand the lessons it has brought to us in the past. Mrs. Brown and Miss Eak have been collaborating with the WSU team since last June to coordinate three separate visits, all with a focus on science.
On Friday, November 4, Dr. Tarin Weiss and her students joined Franklin to teach students about erosion and assist with a hands-on project to demonstrate erosion. Small groups each put sand in a tub and created a "community." They had use their knowledge and understanding of erosion to secure their communities against flooding. Students then measured out water and "rained" on their communities calculating how much water was needed to flood it.
It is always a pleasure to work with our partners across the city, and our fourth grade is looking forward to WSU's Science Department's next visit where they will look closely at animal structures and adaptations.