RUMFORD – As part of a multidisciplinary unit, fourth graders from Rumford and Virginia Elementary Schools, hiked the Mexico Ledges and the Hosmer Nature Trail. The field trip was part of a curriculum unit that combined science, social studies, art, music, physical education and library studies.

Classroom teachers, Denise Richard, Eileen Pew and Kelli Olson collaborated with music teacher, Liz Smith; art teacher, Bob Finelli; physical education teacher, Cheryl Sevigny; librarian, Eileen Broderick; and educational technicians, Amy Chaisson and Christine Ford participated on the trip. New Superintendent Jim Hodgkin hiked the trail along with the students.

In preparation for the trip, students used Audubon field guides in the library to locate information about the plants and animals along the trails. In physical education classes, students learned about safety in the outdoors. In music classes students listened to a Norwegian hiking folktale set to music called the Peer Gynt Suite by Edward Grieg and learned hiking songs for the trip.

At the top of the Mexico Ledges trail, students sang “I Love the Mountain” in two-part harmony led by music teacher Liz Smith. Students also listened the Irish folktale, “Carry Me Over the Mountains,” told by Librarian Eileen Broderick. Looking down over Mexico and Rumford, students made mental images of the scenery.

Later, at Hosmer Field, students sketched the view from memory. Students completed a scavenger hunt of natural features along the Hosmer Nature Trail. Students learned about trees, plants and animals indigenous to Maine. Vocabulary words from the trip were used in the cooperative team relay races on the soccer field.

Parents who chaperoned the trip were Catherine Leonard, Tracy Gauvin, Alicia Yahn, Billie Jo Lawton, Kim Hamel, Robert Munzner, Keith Broomhall, Cheryl Carey, Marie Cote, Debbie Gauvin, Lora Glover, Kelly Kneeland, Tim Lapointe, Doug Maifeld, Peter Laplante, Jay Ramey, Jimmy White, Vicki Pingree, Terry Andrews, Greg Daigle, Michelle Billings and Marcie Conley.