Fourth graders, from left, Kevin Armstrong, Garrett Ribble, Cameron Parker, Cisco Garcia, Haylee Bradshaw, Averi Milligan and Libby Johnston show off their new books. The students participated in the book fair which took them on a balloon ride to Paris, France.
Traveling to Paris
by By Cherry Rushin
(Posted 11/24/2009 02:14 pm)
newsdesk@grahamleader.com
Woodland Elementary students took a “trip” to Paris, France as part of the school library’s book fair last week.
As each class came to visit the book fair for the first time, librarian Meg Stroup had them enter Woodland International Airport just inside the library doors. The students then boarded the Eagle Airway hot air balloon and headed for Paris.
A week previous to the trip, students were given passports. Stroup said she instructed them about the responsibility of keeping up with their passports.
“I told them you can’t lose your passport or you could get stuck in another country,” she said.
When the students entered the library, the lights were out and Stroup told them about traveling over multiple time zones. As the students journeyed, a flashlight travelled across maps to show the area they flew over and the class talked about the science of hot air balloons.
As the class approached Paris, Stroup said volunteers turned on lights strung up across the room and she told the class they were nearing the City of Lights.
When the students exited the hot air balloon, they took a stroll down a Paris street. They saw a sidewalk cafe, the Metro, the Arc de Triumph and the Louvre. Stroup said the children learned about the famous landmarks of the city.
“I like to try to incorporate some kind of lesson and not just have the book fair center around books,” she said.
This is the fourth year that Stroup has hosted an elaborate book fair. Previously, she has turned the Woodland library into a jungle, wildlife safari and a trip to the Arctic.
She said encouraging a student’s love for books is her goal.
“If it gets one kid excited about reading or one child excited about writing, it’s going to help them be successful,” said Stroup.
Not only does the fair help foster a joy for reading, it also helps raise money for the school’s library. Last year, Stroup was able to purchase six new computers for the library mostly through funds from the fair. The students take pride in helping out.
“They know it helps and were excited about it because we needed the computers,” said Stroup.
In addition to the children helping out, Stroup said she has received much support from the community. She never lacks for volunteers to work the fair.
“I have people who don’t even have kids here who come and help,” she said.
Teachers and local businesses help out with supplies that transform the library into exotic destinations.
Stroup said with the students traveling to a new place each year, she has the chance to reinforce the fact that a wealth of knowledge is waiting at their fingertips.
“I told the kids, I’ve never been to Europe and asked them, ‘How did I learn these things?’ I read them in books,” she said.
Tristen Wilson makes his selection.
