(Andrew was unable to attend the event due to his stroke. Here he is pictured at far right with Steve Stanne of the NYS DEC Estuary Program and Estuary Program biologist Kris McShane, pictured in the middle. They are holding a 120 pound Atlantic sturgeon. Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Andrew!)
Andrew likes this approach because it uses the river as a laboratory and classroom, fostering learning around concepts, i.e. watershed, versus isolated subjects, like political science or biology. Taking the interdisciplinary approach gives us a better opportunity to understand the big picture of how our world works.
We couldn't agree more! This is exactly the approach we take here at Teaching the Hudson Valley, but instead of just the river, the whole Hudson Valley is our classroom (and we focus on K-12). The rivers and streams, farms and fields, historic sites, museums, landscapes and streetscapes have stories to tell and lessons to teach.
Think about a trip to a local farm. There isn't a subject you can't teach there - art, biology, agriculture, math, politics, economics, health, nutrition, chemistry, history, sociology.
Community-based learning gives students a familiar frame of reference. Within field trip distance of every school in the Hudson Valley is a place - we like to call them destinations - to explore and learn. The Hudson Valley is teeming with possibilities for our children. (
See our map of THV destinations. )
One of the best ways to discover those learning opportunities and make those connections is at our annual Summer Institute, which is nearly here! It's Tuesday through Thursday, July 26-28, 2011, at the FDR Home & Library in Hyde Park.
The Hudson fills me with wonder and reminds me to look far and think beyond my horizon. What does the river give to you? What Hudson Valley places are special to you, and why? Leave us a comment.
