Document text
--> --> Victoria Goguen, 10, peers from her submarine porthole as teachers parade whales, sharks and mermaids past her t cc day at local school. Ashland Daily Tidings/DENISE BARATTA Helman under the sea By Maggie McGehee Ashland Daily Tidings The small dark classroom at Helman Elementary School's summer school program may seem little more than a room full of refrigerator boxes, but add the imagination of a 9-year-old and the room transforms into a deep-sea expedition, the boxes into submarines and the teachers into mermaids, killer whales and giant squid. Under the direction of teacher Jennifer Doty, the students spend three weeks learning about the creatures of the deep, studying them in the classroom and on diving expeditions. Each submarine crew has a different mission. One studies the Great Coral Reef while another may study the nature of sharks and another ocean currents. "It's been a lot of fun," Doty said. "It's great and a great group of kids." While inside their submarines, which come complete with control panels, air tanks, gas tanks, food rations and radios, students study marine life and are posed with other challenges. Sometimes Doty throws problem-solving situations at the submarine crews, telling them they wake up one morning and the sub is flooding, "What are you going to do?" Doty created the three-week aquatic program for Helman's summer school class, which includes children from three different elementary schools. When the three weeks are up, another teacher will come in to complete the six-week summer program. "Jennifer created the curriculum for the program," said Helen Bulkin, who also helps teach the class. "It's amazing for me to see the summer school program put together with such an extensive array of art, science, reading and math. It's so electric. It's wonderful. There's not a dull moment." Also included in the program are field trips to North Mountain Park and a backstage tour at the OSF costume shop. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing