GRAVETTE -- As the school year begins to wind down each spring, special end-of-year activities pick up. Elementary classes always enjoy field trips, and the second graders at Glenn Duffy Elementary particularly look forward to the annual walking tour of businesses and city services. Stops on the tour this year included Arvest Bank, the Gravette Historical Museum, CV's $avers Club, Gravette Public Library, Countryview Animal Care Center and a Fun Station.
The walking tour includes many fun experiences, but a great deal of learning is also involved. Six classes of second graders participated this year. At Arvest Bank, students were taught how money is made, how to save money and various services that banks offer. Each student received a special gift.
At the museum, members of the museum commission led a tour through the Kindley house and annex and students got to see some artifacts from the area. They learned some of the history of the town, including information about notable citizens like Field Kindley, Gene Stephens and Slim Andrews, and former businesses like McAllister's Grocery and the Gravette Shelling Plant. Library assistants talked about services offered at the library and told students about events planned for the summer, including the popular children's summer reading program.
CV's gave the youngsters a tour of the various departments and gave each student a cookie from the bakery. Each department manager talked about his department and answered questions from the students. Angie Denver reported that one of her students asked how ground beef ended up "in that noodle looking way" and the meat department manager showed them the grinder blade that is used to process the meat.
Marion Harris, a veterinarian from Countryview, talked to the children about how to care for their pets, told them about some of his activities as a vet and showed some of the tools he uses in his veterinary practice. Students also enjoyed playing with Rosie the goat and Miss Fluffypants, a little black hen. They concluded the tour by visiting the Fun Station, a tent where they were treated to snacks and got to blow bubbles, play games and run around in what Denver described as "an enhanced recess."
Denver said that the groups change each year, especially in the questions that the youngsters raise. "Some groups ask such in-depth questions. Others just look and listen," she said. "This was the question-asking group for me."
All students, whether relatively quiet or asking lots of questions, seemed to be really enjoying the tour. No doubt they will be sharing some of their experiences with next year's second graders and increasing their anticipation for the 2019 walking tour.
Community on 05/23/2018