White Oaks students ‘travel’ to 50 states through decorated doors

A group of kindergarteners visited Oklahoma and Washington state recently by going door-to-door in their school hallways. They learned country music star Reba McEntire was from Oklahoma, the state’s animal is the American bison, and more. They recognized the first President of the United States on the Washington door, plus noticed the logo of a popular coffee chain that originated there.

White Oaks students travelled from door-to-door to answer facts about each of the 50 states during a schoolwide scavenger hunt during “College and Career Month” in April. Third-grader China Allen had a few questions for school counselor Karidah Cotten. The class with the most correct scavenger hunt sheets will be awarded extra recess time.

White Oaks Elementary students went on a U.S. scavenger hunt in April.

They didn’t travel across the county, but through the halls of the school.

With clipboard in hand, third grader China Allen looked at the North Carolina-themed door. “I’ve been there,” she said.

Next, she headed to Nebraska and found the answer to the question about where Kool-Aid was invented.

She also learned that Maine was known for lobsters and the state of Michigan is shaped like a mitten.

All students had the opportunity to participate in the scavenger hunt, visiting each of the 50 doors creatively decorated with trivia about one of the 50 states.

School counselors Leah Brown and Karidah Cotten collaborated with art teacher Amber Crunk on the idea as part of “College and Career Month.”

Teachers were asked to select a state and decorate their classroom doors with fun facts, including state birds, capitals, geography, careers and colleges, such as the University of Michigan, often called the “Harvard of the West.”

“Our teachers are always so supportive,” Cotten said. Their creativity engaged the students, Brown added.

White Oaks Elementary art teacher Amber Crunk’s door was all about Idaho. Her son Elias, a first grader, dressed up like a bird scientist for career day.

Crunk’s door featured potatoes and highlighted industries in Idaho including farming, nuclear power and healthcare. Cotten’s Ohio door highlighted manufacturing, agriculture, aviation and more.

Susanna McClure said her second graders were curious about her door decorated in the theme of her home state of New Jersey.

“They wanted to know why there were all these vegetables on the door,” she said. They learned the state’s nickname is “The Garden State.”

A photo of cranberries in a bog also brought lots of questions about the wetlands where the cranberry vines grow and are harvested, she added.

McClure said many students have connections to other states. “We have lots of military families here,” she said.

Throughout the month, counselors visited classrooms and discussed a wide array of careers, from paleontologist to one student’s desire to become an amusement park ride tester.

Students were asked, “What do you have to do to prepare for that?” Cotten said it’s never too early to learn about colleges and careers and how to reach your goals.

From left, school counselors Leah Brown and Karidah Cotten, in collaboration with art teacher Amber Crunk, spearheaded White Oaks Elementary’s “College and Career Month” celebration.

On April 17, a career fair was held in the gym with about 20 professions in fields such as health, science, law enforcement, and construction.

“Stepping into my Career” was the theme of some of the month’s art assignments. Fourth and fifth graders created shoe drawings depicting their future careers.

Crunk said students learned so much from the activities.

“It helps the sense of school community to have things everyone is excited about,” she said.

Principal Danielle Williams applauded the staff’s teamwork and said the month-long effort, including the door-to-door learning project, helped prepare students for the future.

“Students were thinking critically, collaborating with peers and making real-world connections with geography and careers,” she said.

“Experiences like this help our students see themselves as lifelong learners while building the skills they need to be successful beyond the classroom.”