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‘Amazing’
world tour highlights summer program
ESYP extends school and services for students with
disabilities
 AUG. 15, 2012 -
Students in HFM BOCES Extended School Year Program (ESYP) at
Mayfield enjoyed international adventure modeled after TV’s
“Amazing Race” during their six-week summer curriculum.
Following the theme of the popular reality show, classes
“visited” a different country each week – England, Egypt,
Australia, Madagascar, and Mexico.
Before “departing” the United States, the students created teams
and made passports. Each week, study of a different destination
revealed the culture, history, climate and geography of that
country.
The students travelled from place to place in an imaginary
classroom airliner with seats arranged in aisles.
 On
Friday mornings, a “traveling gnome” was hidden somewhere in the
school building. The team finding the gnome was rewarded with
extra points.
Friday afternoons, racing between popular landmarks from the
country they were studying, all of the teams participated in
challenges that mimicked the television show’s contests and
reinforced individual therapy goals and academics.
 Students
made mummies of classmates using tissue paper, sculpted
Madagascar frogs, created Egyptian necklaces with their names
written in hieroglyphics, enjoyed tea – and practiced etiquette
– with the Queen of England, and constructed a giant crocodile
from paper mache.
After completing every leg of the race, the students received
ribbons, prizes and certificates.
The “Amazing Race” theme was one approach of HFM BOCES’ ESYP to
provide six weeks of services beyond the regular school calendar
for students with special needs. Students from 5-21 are eligible
to be referred, and 134 children took part in this year’s
programs – from July 2-Aug. 10 – at Mayfield Elementary School,
Gloversville Middle School and Johnstown’s Warren St. Elementary
School. |
