Teacher Uses Nature As Classroom

What does the average classroom looks like? When you think a classroom, you think of a room with such features as a chalkboard, a globe, a bunch of books, a bunch of desks, a bunch of kids, and a fish hatchery and wildlife center, right? Well, maybe the last part isn't what most people image when they visualize themselves in a classroom, but Cuba-Rushford Central School teacher Scott Jordan, who's fisheries and wildlife studies program just might make them think differently.

USA Today's website continues it's series that honors the members of 2004 All-USA Teacher Team with a report on how Jordan's efforts has shown the eighth-through 12th-grade students of Cuba-Rushford Central School in Cuba, N.Y. a whole new world. The program uses hands-on activities to help the students gain a stronging understanding of math, science, technology, meteorology, chemistry, physics, social studies and writing.

Jordan's program allows students to obseverve and examine live creatures for scientific research.

Middle-school principal Barbara Funk applauded Jodan's program Funk said,"As the young people in our locale face a world of poverty, unemployment and diminished social opportunities, Scott's program draws in under-represented students and opens new horizons for them."