Saugus Iron Works PBU

A gorgeous spring day greeted Ferryway School students on the first day of filming by the George Lucas Educational Foundation. Half of the Ferryway fifth graders traveled by bus on a Target sponsored field trip to the Saugus Iron Works Historic Site. Students were immediately met by the GLEF camera crew who diligently recorded every facet of the field trip experience. The first activity had student groups calling upon their research skills to identify a wheel barrow full of simple and compound machines provided as part of a hands-on science lesson. Ranger Curtis White stated, "the program addresses the Massachusetts curriculum science standards for fifth graders and especially connects to the TRITEC district project in Malden." He went on to say that the classroom preparation really makes the field trip experience meaningful. Ranger Curtis then led the students through the reconstructed buildings that truly make the Saugus Iron Works unique. The restored blast furnace building featured a set of large bellows with new leather and nails, hand cut planks for the roof and repairs to the waterwheel assembly. Watching the water rush over the blast furnace waterwheel causing it to rotate certainly captivated students.
A group of twelve students were given an extra assignment as they toured the site with digital cameras in-hand. They were photojournalists charged with capturing images that represent categories from colonial life to engineering. Students worked in pairs deciding what to photograph and where on site. These photojournalists would later return to school to download, organize, and select the best three photos based on their assigned category. Students will share their work on a classroom wiki. Tomorrow, the other half of the fifth grade will have their chance to investigate the iron works.
We would like to thank the Target field trip grant for making this experience possible.

Labels: GLEF, SIW, Target field trip grant, TRITEC, waterwheel