Rivers and cookies

From Tuscaloosa News, School Report

Tuscaloosa Academy

Fourth-grade students at Tuscaloosa Academy applied their knowledge about Alabama waterways by using blue icing to decorate large Alabama-shaped cookies on Friday at Tuscaloosa Academy.

As part of the Geography curriculum, teachers wanted students to learn the names and locations of all 22 rivers in Alabama. The students were instructed to learn a minimum of at least ten.

“Rivers are what developed our state. One of the reasons the Indians settled here years ago, was because the waterways were easily-navigated,” said Sally Helms, fourth-grade teacher. “In addition, testing at fourth grade should be fun and motivational. Sugar cookies and icing make the lesson not only fun, but memorable. We are always looking for ways to help students enjoy learning and retain the information.”

All 25 students, in two fourth-grade classes, were allowed to eat their cookies after they mapped at least 10 rivers on their Alabama-shaped cookies.