Cotton pickin' good time

By Staff
Sixth graders share unique learning experience outdoors
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
Sixth graders at Hartselle Junior High School shared in a unique learning experience on Friday as participants in the third annual Tabernacle Day. In an outdoor setting complete with century-old buildings, a creek and an artesian well, a cotton field and a large wooded area they met hands-on education face to face… history, art, music, biology, geography, chemistry, agriculture and forestry…all rolled into one event.
Students were kept busy as they rotated from one activity station to another, class by class, throughout the day. Featured activities were history of Hartselle, creative writing, storytelling, animal tracks, the wetlands, forestry, leaf scavenger hunt, making watercolors, the cotton industry and survival training. Presenters were Rev. Rob Cain, Mrs. Martin/Mrs. Elmore, Bob Jaques, Chris Keenum, Brad Bole, Mrs. Pitman, Karen Wingenter, Mike Reeves and Coach Shane Alexander.
The old tabernacle was used to seat the 220 students, teachers and guests at the beginning of the day and again at 10 a.m. for a 30-minute session of Southern Gospel music. A quartet composed of Terry and Wayne Reburn, David Woodard, C.J. and Shelia (Keyboard) Swann. Among the songs they sang was “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms,” a gospel favorite written by an evangelist while conducting a revival meeting in Hartselle in the 1880s.
Refreshments and a sack lunch were served to students by parents representing each one of the 10 classes.
The classroom provides a unique opportunity to students, Smith said.