It was hard to forget the looks on my students’ faces when they walked into an interactive science exhibit featuring giant teeth, toothbrushes and life-sized dental floss. Their reactions were a mix of joy, excitement and curiosity, and it was an experience that not only stuck with my students, but with me as well.
Last winter, my co-teacher Courtney Greenfield and I had the opportunity to take our class of third and fourth grade students on a field trip to Lansing’s Impression 5 Science Center to visit the Chew on This! interactive oral health exhibit.
The field trip, which was funded through the Delta Dental Foundation, allowed our students to explore and discover the wonders of the human mouth.
Thanks to the Delta Dental Foundation, teachers from the Greater Lansing area and across the state can again apply for $500 field trip grants to Impression 5. The field trip grant covers group admission, workshops, lunch reservations and transportation.
Given that children miss 51 million hours of school each year due to oral health problems, the need for interactive educational exhibits like Chew on This! has never been greater. Most pediatric oral health issues are easily preventable and sometimes all it takes is showing our youngsters that taking ownership of their oral and overall health care is not only important, but it can be fun, too.
During their visit to the Chew on This! exhibit, my students operated a mini video camera to peek inside their mouths, made healthy food choices at the Smart Mart and viewed MRI images to watch the mechanics of the mouth in action.
As an educator, I know that every minute of the school day is precious. I also know that hands-on learning plays a critical role in helping students to learn and understand important concepts. A trip to Impression 5 provides just such an opportunity.
My students left Impression 5 that day talking about taking care of their teeth and laughing all the way back to school on the bus. And I left knowing that my students were able to engage in an educational experience and were able to find strong cross curricular connections while viewing the exhibit.
I urge local educators to apply for this grant, and I want to thank Delta Dental for its dedication to ensuring brighter futures for all children.
Sara Cochrane is a third and fourth grade teacher at Dewitt Elementary School.
To apply for a field trip grant, contact the Delta Dental Foundation at (517) 347-5333 orddf@deltadentalmi.com to apply. Grant applications for grades K-5 are due Nov. 6. Teachers are encouraged to schedule field trips in February to celebrate National Children’s Dental Health Month.
Source: http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/opinion/contributors/viewpoints/2015/11/01/cochrane-delta-dental-grant-allows-hands-learning-impressions/74885568/
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