A family walks down the pathway toward the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier at Patriots Point, surrounded by American flags and calm waters.
A family walks down the pathway toward the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier at Patriots Point, surrounded by American flags and calm waters.
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Georgetown County 5th Graders Participate in Educational Programs at Patriots Point

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Thanks to a generous grant from the Hootie and the Blowfish Foundation, Georgetown County fifth grade students climbed aboard the USS YORKTOWN last month to participate in educational programs offered by the Patriots Point Institute of History, Science and Technology.

 

The grant funding allowed all Georgetown County fifth grade students – approximately 758 in total – to participate. Students from Andrews Elementary, Brown's Ferry Elementary, Kensington Elementary, Maryville Elementary, McDonald Elementary, Plantersville Elementary, Pleasant Hill Elementary, Sampit Elementary and Waccamaw Intermediate Schools participated.

 

 

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“Part of our mission at Patriots Point is to provide South Carolina students with a foundation in education in a way that is exciting and meaningful,” said Mac Burdette, Patriots Point Executive Director. “Whether they’re learning about our nation’s heroes in the Medal of Honor Museum, conducting a hands-on marine science experiment in our state-of-the-art classroom or exploring the YORKTOWN’s surrounding estuarine environments, students are excited to learn from the moment they arrive.”

 

“This is a wonderful opportunity for fifth graders to experience living history both visibly and verbally,” said Sarah Elliott, Georgetown County Board of Education member.  “The Yorktown programs are aligned to specific state standards for history and science that will allow students to experience hands on real life activities giving relevance to off-campus educational opportunities.”

 

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Representative Carl Anderson and Georgetown Board of Education members visited Patriots Point to participate in "Georgetown County Education Day.”[/caption]

More than 10,000 students participated in Patriots Point’s 5th grade History and Science program last year. The program enhances student literacy skills by encouraging scientific inquiry, developing mathematical skills and promoting 21st Century problem solving techniques. Standards-based instruction covers history, science, math and literacy components and features six stations as well as a pre-arrival program and post-program comprehension assessment test. The Patriots Point Development Authority Business Plan projects that 20,000 students will attend Institute programs by 2014.