Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 4, 1994 TAG: 9410040061
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: LAURA ZIKOVICH
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The class read "Hatchet" by Gary Paulson in which the main character, a 13-year-old-boy, must survive alone in a swampy forest after his plane crashes.
Caldwell-Morrell read the book in installments and stopped whenever the boy was faced with a survival decision. The pupils made decisions as if they were the boy in the book and defended their positions. They pondered difficult choices such as whether to land the plane with fuel remaining or travel as far as possible on the fuel available; what methods lost people can use to help a search team locate them more easily; what is needed to survive until rescued and how to get it with no supplies.
The children found it amusing when the boy is attacked by seemingly harmless animals like porcupines and skunks, but were able to realize that even small injuries can be serious when no help or treatments are available.
"They could relate to the book and identify with the hero," said Caldwell-Morrell. "They liked to make the decisions and justify them."
The program also included map skill study and learning how these skills are useful in a survival situation.
As a final project the class made a list of survival and rescue strategies for any situation. They considered weather, dehydration, starvation, dangerous animals and people, shelter, strength conservation and techniques for signaling rescue parties.
The pupils look forward to reading the sequel "The River," in which their hero continues his exploits.
Fourth-grade classes at GILBERT LINKOUS ELEMENTARY toured natural and historical sites in Montgomery County last week.
Carol Anderson of the Montgomery Museum guided the county tour of such spots as Draper's Meadow, White Sulfur Springs, Merrimac Mines, Fotheringay, and the Montague House.
The pupils most enjoyed the ghost stories told about the former Montgomery County Female Academy that is now Christiansburg Middle School.
Sarah Peterson of the Blacksburg branch office of the Jefferson National Forest pointed out plants, forest levels and Craig Creek wildlife including salamanders, newts, frogs, trout and crayfish along a part of the Appalachian Trail.
"Mr. Wizard's Supermarket Science" comes to Margaret Beeks Elementary on Thursday, Oct. 6 at 1:30 p.m. and 2:20 p.m.
Don Herbert, better known as "MR. WIZARD" from NBC Television's "Watch Mr. Wizard" and Nickelodeon's "Mr. Wizard World," produced a program that demonstrates his hands-on style of science. His assistant, Margaret Taylor will present the educational and entertaining program.
Student helpers from the audience will use common supermarket items to explain science in everyday living.
The Virginia Commission for the Arts will accept Teacher Incentive Grant program applications from elementary and secondary classroom teachers employed by a Virginia educational institution until Oct. 17.
The Arts in the Basic Curriculum program provides financial assistance up to $300 for innovative arts programs.
The program's goal is to integrate arts into the general curriculum or unit of study.
For more information, call the Virginia Commission for the Arts at (804) 225-3132.
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation named MATTHEW LUCAS and KEVIN NEWCOMB of Christiansburg High School commended students in the 1995 National Merit Scholarship Program.
They placed among the top 5 percent of more that a million students taking the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude- National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
Fund-raisers
Wade's Supermarkets and Montgomery County Public Schools will sponsor a fund-raising drive for the Montgomery County Home-School Communications System.
From Oct. 5 to Nov. 15 Wade's will issue gold cash register receipts to be collected by the local schools. Wade's will donate 2 percent of its gross sales on the collected receipts to the project.
The three participating stores are located on Roanoke St. in Christiansburg and on North and South Main streets in Blacksburg.
The Gilbert Linkous Elementary Parent Teacher Association will hold a YARD SALE at the school on Saturday Oct. 15 from 8 a.m. to noon.
The PTA will accept donations of children's clothing, toys, books, baby items, household items, and Halloween costumes from 3:30 - 5 p.m. Oct. 4-6 and Oct. 10-14.
For more information, call 951-3359.
The Floyd Elementary PTA will hold a TURKEY SUPPER Oct. 8, 4-7 p.m. in the school cafeteria. Tickets will be sold at the door.
For more information, call the school at 745-9440.
The Radford High School Band is taking orders for FRESH FLORIDA FRUIT to be delivered Dec. 9 and 10.
To place an order call 731-0056, 639-2660 or any band member.
Christiansburg Primary and Elementary schools will sponsor their annual BOOK FAIRS tonight to raise money for new library books. The elementary school fair will be open from 3:30 -8 p.m. The primary school fair will run from 5-8 p.m.
by CNB