Staff Writer
CASWELL — Students of the Dawn F. Barnes Elementary School and their parents were seeing stars during Literacy Night on Jan. 19, which celebrated the solar system.
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
Morgan Fuller carefully colored in part of her constellation viewer during Literacy Night at the Dawn F. Barnes Elementary School on Jan. 19.
Students participated in a variety of activities, including painting with only black paint to fill in the background, constructing constellation viewers that allow the students to become familiar with various astronomical bodies, and even entering into a large inflatable planetarium to view constellations such as the Big and Little Dippers under the instruction of guest educator Larry Berz.
By painting pictures with only black paint, students learned to paint somewhat backwards — instead of painting a picture of a space ship or a star, they painted everything except the object of their painting. The constellation viewers were a bit complex, but parents had no trouble helping their children see the starry picture. By fastening a piece of paper with holes poked in the pattern of a constellation to the end of a paper towel roll, students could peak into the heavens without ever leaving their seat.
“My favorite part of the whole night was when Mr. Berz was showing us the Big and the Little Dipper,” said Bethany Millettee, a fifth-grade student at the Caswell School.
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
Literacy Interventionist Ryan O’Neal works with student Danika Labreck to cut out parts of a constellation viewer to help students identify various patterns of stars.
In conjunction with Literacy Night, each student received a free book that they could take home.
“We acquired a variety of book at different levels so that each child could select a free book to take home to either read to their parents or have their parents read to them,” explained Literacy Coach Nancy Todd, adding that most of the children are able to read the books that they take home.
Her favorite part of the evening was seeing parents and students having fun interacting on an educational level. Todd explained how after parents participate with their students during Literacy Night, she hears the students chit chat about it for days after the event.
The faculty of the Dawn F. Barnes Elementary School are currently gearing up for the next Literacy Night, which promises more educational fun and interaction for students and their families.
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
Second-and-third grade teacher Debbie Blanchette complimented Jordan Thomas on the beautiful painting he created during Literacy Night at the Caswell School on Jan. 19. In honor of the solar system theme, students painted pictures using only black paint to fill in the background.
