FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — While one side of Scandinavian Middle school’s library is filled with books and tables, the other is glowing with a brand new ecosystem.<\/p>\n
It’s one that’s filled with the sights and sounds of the Amazon.<\/p>\n
“So we really wanted to transport whoever came in. We wanted to transport them into the rainforest,” art teacher Selah Valadez said.<\/p>\n
Valadez says as soon as students returned from winter break, they got to work.<\/p>\n
About 120 students each created two to three hand-drawn animals.<\/p>\n
That includes eighth-grade student Gauchee Herz.<\/p>\n
“So me, in the advanced class, we worked on the toucans and the frogs that you will see in the cave,” Gauchee said.<\/p>\n
Just about every detail you see was crafted and placed by students.<\/p>\n
Construction paper stretched to the cafeteria turned into vines.<\/p>\n
Pool noodles helped create the cave’s curved shape.<\/p>\n
Gauchee says this project helped keep her engaged compared to traditional class work.<\/p>\n
“The best part would be like working on the setup, you know, like the vines and the black papers that you’ll use for the walls,” Gauchee said.<\/p>\n
The project extended beyond just art students.<\/p>\n
Science classes are studying light and use the installation as part of a lesson<\/p>\n
English learner development students researched each of the featured animals and created poster boards filled with information that greets you as you enter.<\/p>\n
“The students really were excited about this project. They wanted to participate, and a lot of the students were taking their own personal time to come and work on the posters or their art pieces that were displayed inside the Amazon rainforest,” Valadez said.<\/p>\n
Now, the entire school is invited to participate in a special contest.<\/p>\n
The winner will receive a pizza party inside the rainforest.<\/p>\n
Valadez says it’s been great to watch students invest so much time into the project.<\/p>\n
“It’s amazing just because the kids take pride in this,” Valadez said. “Just pride of ownership, I guess, of all the things that the hard work that they’ve been doing. So it’s really neat collaboration and working together and just, yeah, being proud of their school.”<\/p>\n
Families will get the opportunity to see all of the students’ hard work on Tuesday night at open house.<\/p>\n
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