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Second Graders, Seniors Break Bread At Council On Aging
Madison Kanaga and Luisa Pimenta are served lunch by “Kathy Shark,” a council on aging volunteer, during an intergenerational lunch between second graders and seniors May 16. RYAN BRAY PHOTOS.
Orleans Elementary School Principal Elaine Pender, left, dines with Raven Maskell and others at the Orleans Senior Center last week.
Council on Aging Director Judi Wilson chats with OES second graders during last week’s lunch at the senior center.
ORLEANS – How much do you know about sharks? On Friday, students at Orleans Elementary School told adults all about them over lunch.
Students in Erin Lagasse’s second grade class gave presentations to visitors at the Orleans Senior Center May 16. Guests were educated about sharks before students and seniors sat together and talked over chicken tenders and macaroni and cheese.
“This is a very engaging, happy, pleasant place for this to happen.” OES Principal Elaine Pender said. “They’ve made it kid-friendly. There are conversation cards on the table, and people are very interested in our children.”
Lagasse said students paired up to study and research eight different species of sharks. As part of their presentation preparations, students paid a visit to the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy in Chatham, where they made posters and tried to “stump the experts.” Students also conducted mock shark sightings and prepared their own broadcasts documenting the event, she said.
“They did a lot of reading and writing about sharks,” she said. “They’re very passionate about the animal.”
Pender said the intergenerational lunch is part of the elementary school’s focus on “deeper learning,” offering students the opportunity to recognize their place in the broader community beyond their school and peers.
“It’s kind of fun to see them explore a world outside themselves,” she said.
“To take it outside of the school walls was an exciting adventure for them,” Lagasse said. “They’re used to sharing with other classes in school or parents, but this is different.”
But while last week’s lunch and presentation offered students the opportunity to expand their social circle, it was also beneficial for the seniors in attendance, which included grandparents.
“What I said from the beginning was for it to be a good intergenerational program, it has to be mutually beneficial,” said Council on Aging Director Judi Wilson. “They did all this work, and I think it helps everybody see what’s happening at the elementary school. This is a generation that didn’t grow up learning about sharks, so they’re learning about our environment.”
Email Ryan Bray at ryan@capecodchronicle.com
Students in Erin Lagasse’s second grade class gave presentations to visitors at the Orleans Senior Center May 16. Guests were educated about sharks before students and seniors sat together and talked over chicken tenders and macaroni and cheese.
“This is a very engaging, happy, pleasant place for this to happen.” OES Principal Elaine Pender said. “They’ve made it kid-friendly. There are conversation cards on the table, and people are very interested in our children.”
Lagasse said students paired up to study and research eight different species of sharks. As part of their presentation preparations, students paid a visit to the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy in Chatham, where they made posters and tried to “stump the experts.” Students also conducted mock shark sightings and prepared their own broadcasts documenting the event, she said.
“They did a lot of reading and writing about sharks,” she said. “They’re very passionate about the animal.”
Pender said the intergenerational lunch is part of the elementary school’s focus on “deeper learning,” offering students the opportunity to recognize their place in the broader community beyond their school and peers.
“It’s kind of fun to see them explore a world outside themselves,” she said.
“To take it outside of the school walls was an exciting adventure for them,” Lagasse said. “They’re used to sharing with other classes in school or parents, but this is different.”
But while last week’s lunch and presentation offered students the opportunity to expand their social circle, it was also beneficial for the seniors in attendance, which included grandparents.
“What I said from the beginning was for it to be a good intergenerational program, it has to be mutually beneficial,” said Council on Aging Director Judi Wilson. “They did all this work, and I think it helps everybody see what’s happening at the elementary school. This is a generation that didn’t grow up learning about sharks, so they’re learning about our environment.”
Email Ryan Bray at ryan@capecodchronicle.com
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