Bataan Intermediate fourth grade teacher Melissa Frisch, and students Kailea Bayer-Janes, and Jessica Toris, look at bark from a tree in Texas as part of the school’s Environmental Box project.

Melissa Frisch’s fourth grade students at Bataan Memorial Intermediate in Port Clinton recently received a special package from Texas. This is the second year in a row Frisch has been collaborating with a teacher in Corsicana, Tex., to learn about their environment.

In return, students at Bataan Memorial are gathering items specific to Ohio to send back to Texas. The students will send buckeyes, branches and seeds from apple trees, soil, water from Lake Erie, leaves, pinecones, and wheat. It is a great opportunity for students to see how environments are similar — and different — 1,200 miles away from each other.

“We usually focus on winter in Ohio because that is a major difference the Texan students will be able to talk about. In addition to the natural items, we will also send a photo of the students out in the snow,” said Frisch.

Students will be video chatting with students in Texas once they receive their Environmental Box from Bataan. Students will then get to informally meet and ask questions about where they live and make comparisons. Frisch added, “Education is more than just teaching students how to read, write, and learn math skills. The opportunities teachers provide to their students should also include ways to broaden students’ horizons and open their eyes to other parts of the world.”

To see the complete photo album and video visit www.pccsd.net under the news section.