`MISSOURI DAYS' GIVE STUDENTS KNOWLEDGE ABOUT STATE

JACKSON -- Jackson Middle School seventh-grade students are celebrating "Missouri Days" this week by entertaining the secretary of state and members of the Northern Cherokee Nation and learning all about the state's wildlife.

Missouri Days, new at the school this year, is an attempt to present information about the students' home state by using science, language arts, geography and many other means. And it gives the students an opportunity learn from the community.

"The kids get so used to hearing from us," said Dee Walker, a science teacher who conceived of Missouri Days. "It has a greater impact when they see people from the community come in."

Monday, the students learned from representatives of the World Bird Sanctuary and the Missouri Division of Tourism. Tuesday, Secretary of State Bekki Cook dropped by to talk, and Dr. Harvey Hecht, a professor of English at Southeast, read from the works of Mark Twain.

Experts from the Department of Conservation talked about the state's fish and reptiles.

Today, Dr. David Stewart will discuss earthquakes and the New Madrid Fault and Gene Myers of the Missouri Department of Conservation will tell the students about the state's fur-bearing animals. The movie "Tom & Huck" will be shown later.

The students also will learn about the Orphan Train that brought many children to the state during the early part of the century.

Thursday the students will hear presentations about the River Heritage Museum, the state's trees and about the cat poetry of Missouri native T.S. Eliot.

Also on Thursday, the students will use maps to try to devise the best route from Jackson to Van Buren.

The Missouri Highway Patrol will make a presentation Friday. Representatives of the Northern Cherokee Nation are expected to do some dancing.

The students will conclude the week by creating a personal expression of their week -- perhaps a collage or poem.

Though Missouri Days is a break from the students' normal week, it's not a playtime. Quizzes are being given over the material.

"I think kids have really enjoyed it," Walker said. "They have learned a lot.

Walker said everyone in the community has been willing to come in and talk to the students. She hopes to make Missouri Days even better next year.