Lamar University Bringing the Texas Wetlands to the Classroom

By Beth Gallaspy, The Beaumont Enterprise, Texas

Jan. 28–BEAUMONT — Thousands of Southeast Texas students are exploring area wetlands from the comfortable setting of Lamar University’s John Gray Center.

This week, seventh- and eighth-graders around the region will visit the campus to view a video on “Disappearing Texas Wetlands,” followed by hands-on activities and science career information in connection with the Jason Project, a science education initiative.

Last week, students in grades four, five and six visited campus for the video produced by Lamar communications students and for other science learning activities, said Jim Westgate, Lamar professor of earth and space sciences and science advisor for the program. After those broadcasts, students met with many of the scientists featured in the video and learned more about wetlands and the scientists’ work. The program introduces teachers to additional resources and helps spur students’ interest in science, Westgate said.

“Normally the Jason broadcast is a worldwide broadcast,” Westgate said. “This year, it’s Southeast Texas, and the kids can relate to things most of them didn’t even know existed.”

The video, copies of which will be given to participating teachers for future classroom use, takes students to wetlands in the Big Thicket National Preserve, Shangri La in Orange County, the Smith Woods water bird rookery at High Island, Pleasure Island and salt marshes in Chambers and Jefferson counties.

Jason Project curricula from a few years ago on wetlands also was provided to teachers, Westgate said.

This was the sixth year for a Jason Project event at Lamar University. Nationally, the project did not produce a broadcast this year, but Westgate said locals did not want to skip a year. “They see if this local scientist could get a neat job, maybe they could, too,” Westgate said of the students benefiting from the program.

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