Fifth Graders Shine at National Parks Expo

Hutchings Elementary Fifth Graders Shine at National Parks Expo
Posted on 03/21/2024
A fifth-grade student, dressed as a park ranger with a tan hat and green vest, stands proudly next to his project display at a school event. The display is about Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and features a model of a volcano with red lava. The board includes pictures and information about the park.3/21/2024 - Hutchings Elementary fifth-grade students proudly hosted their National Parks Expo on Wednesday, March 20. The event culminated a months-long research project by the students into the U.S. National Parks System by its fifth-grade students. Students created display boards for the expo and presented on their selected National Park, sharing the park's history, significance, landscape, and ecosystems. Throughout the project, fifth graders employed various research methods, including reviewing online resources, park brochures, and books, and even directly communicating with park rangers across the country through calls, emails, and video conversations.

In addition to completing their research project, four students, Alex Christopherson, Emmett DiMassa, Tucker Frantti, and Grace Greer, created a special presentation on why they believe Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore should be made a National Park. The students presented their research and reasoning to representatives from Senator Debbie Stabenow and Representative Elissa Slotkin's office, who attended the event.

Hutchings third and fourth-grade students, fifth-grade families, and district leadership attended the National Parks Expo.