Actively Engaged in Learning: Snow Day

And who said learning can’t be fun? Pam White and the entire staff of Huntsville Elementary were able to make learning enjoyable over the last few weeks by relating it to a real life wonderland. The school hosted Snow Day, where they brought in a machine to literally make tons of snow. Students were able to make snow angels and snowballs and build snowmen. Snow Day might be old hat for students living in the North, but for at least one day, Huntsville students were able to enjoy snow right here in Huntsville in an experience that many will remember for years.

            One of the developmental assets, or building blocks for helping kids become successful adults is “Bonding to School”. When students care about their school, and recognize that their school cares about them, they are more likely to actively engage in learning. This also transcends into other areas of their life. They become more likely to give back to their community and avoid negative behaviors.

Many students have never seen snow, and some might not ever experience a snow covered ground, and for these students, this day will stick with them forever. They will remember that their school cared enough about them to give them an opportunity to experience a new and exciting wonderland.

If we only focused on the one day of enjoyment in the powdery ice, the event would have been great, but the added bonus was that the students spent weeks with snow-themed curriculum. From science experiments learning about temperature and how snowflakes are formed to reading books and poems about snow to math problems working on estimations, the students were able to connect learning with a fun experience.

Another developmental asset relates to “School Engagement”. The Search Institute defines this as the young person being “actively engaged in learning”. I am certain that the promise of Snow Day and the snow themed curriculum caught the student’s attention. This hands on, innovative idea likely motivated students to become engaged in their work and actively learn the subjects before them.

This project is a great example of the school making a positive impact on Huntsville youth. The Huntsville Elementary staff could have coasted into their vacation and gone through the motions, but instead, they worked hard to bring the curriculum alive and provide a memorable day of joy for their students. Thank you Huntsville Elementary, and to everyone else who is working to improve our community for the youth this holiday season.

12.19.04