MMS Students Discover Importance of Individual in Society

Sixth graders at Moss Side Middle School know what it's like to be stranded on a deserted island. Used as an interdisciplinary unit to help develop students' problem solving skills through various activities, the faux island community of Terra was created. Students were shown a video demonstrating what it is like to be stranded on an uninhabited island with no conventional way of gathering food, getting water, or finding shelter.Students were given a series of activities that allowed them to create the environment in which they wished to live in, create laws to govern their community by, select appropriate housing units, etc. The goal of Terra is to strengthen students' critical thinking skills so they can learn to become productive citizens. Students reported that they learned the importance of every member of a society can make a difference.As a culminating activity, various guest speakers were invited to Moss Side Middle School to speak about various real-life elements that impact communities like Terra. Speakers, and their area of expertise, included: Monroeville Police Chief George Polnar (law enforcement), Cheryl Richards (engineering), Jay Winter (geology and wet lands), Jim Lazor (information technology), School Director Joseph Wightkin (bee keeping), Pitcairn Mayor Betsy Stevick (local government), Monroeville Chamber President Chad Amond (economic development), Debbie Balcik (nursing), Rabbi Ron Symons (worship), School Director Tom Wilson (community volunteering), Pam Washington (flight attendant), School Director James Rosipal (law enforcement), School Director William Bailey (math education), Senator Sean Logan (government), and Christy Fusco (information retention, organization and retrieval). Moss Side Middle School FTO (Faculty Teacher Organization) provided financial support for the Terra program. Coordinating teacher for the event was Rebecca Smillie with assistance from the 6th grade teaching team including Jermaine Bracy, Susan Emery, Caryn Fleming, Carmelita Gigliotti, Lisa Kuster, Joy Mattis, Carla Moio, Jamie Molitierno, Maria Ripper-Dulemba, Susan Seigh, , and Kerry Yacamelli.