Murphy Elementary make new friends in North Carolina

PHOTO SUBMITTED (Left) The ranger explains to Mrs. Durham's and Mrs. Prohn's classes how the mill is powered by water energy. (Below) Gage Sneed enjoys lunch with his penpal Austin. (Bottom right) Halee Vercrouse and her penpal Olivia enjoyed meeting and becoming friends.

Students in Elyse Durham's 2nd grade class at Murphy Elementary had been waiting for May 22 to arrive for a long time. They have been writing to penpals from Hendersonville, North Carolina in Dianne Prohn's 2nd grade class at Mountain Community School since October. Now the new friends would finally have the opportunity to meet. The new friends got together at Mingus Mills in the Great Smokey National Park outside of Cherokee. They toured the old corn mill and learned how corn was ground back in the old days and powered by water energy. They also got to make an old fashioned pioneer toy and learn about how the pioneers lived and survived. But of course the best part was meeting their penpals they had been writing to all year! Both classes of students use the Core Knowledge curriculum to support the North Carolina standard course of study. They have been writing all year sharing their learning experiences about the curriculum. They were excited when they both studied the Civil War at the same time and were able to share their projects with one another. Mrs. Prohn's class was thrilled to be a "step ahead", when her students learned about life cycles before Mrs. Durham's class. Mrs. Durham's class was able to review Ancient Greece with their penpals when they later studied it in the year. The new friends immediately bonded as they ate lunch together at the mill. They made special treasure box necklaces with artist Betsy Henn to take keepsakes home from their day together. As they departed tired hugs were exchanged and the new friends waved goodbye, as each group got on the bus. Durham and Prohn said this is one of the best projects they both do in their classrooms not only because it supports their curriculum but because of the end of the year smiles and happiness from the meetings.