Saturday, October 4, 2008

School gets on board with Train Gang

Argen Duncan El Defensor Chieftain Reporter, aduncan@dchieftain.com

All aboard! Next stop — the land of integrated learning.

Lynette Phipps' special education class at Sarracino Middle School is embarking on a project to build scenery for a model train set donated by the national Train Collectors Association. The effort integrates math, science, geography and art in hands-on lessons.

John Spargo, a member of association chapter Socorro Train Gang, plans to visit the class once a week to help the students design and build scenery.

"We're going to make a regular project out of this," he said.

Spargo and fellow Train Gang member Roy Heatwole delivered the train set to Phipps' class on Oct. 1. Spargo was then ready to spend time talking with students to create the design.

Phipps said she hoped to have most of the scenery finished by Christmas.

The Train Collectors Association gives away a train set every year. The Train Gang received the set this year after the organization that originally received it didn't want it and returned it. About that time, Spargo said, Phipps approached him about providing a train set for her class.

The Train Gang built a table with collapsible legs, attached the tracks and brought the whole layout to the school.

The engine not only puffs out steam, but also has working lights. The set's train station has lights as well.

"In science, the students have been learning about the workings of a steam engine, so this is perfect that it's a steam engine," Phipps said.

Phipps said students would bring materials such as tongue depressors and boxes to build scenery. They have various ideas about the design.

"Pretty much I want to make it look like Socorro with the train track around it," said seventh-grader Briana Smith.

Eighth-grader Justin Lopez said he wanted to include people and cars. He liked the class train and was looking forward to building the scenery.

"It's going to be cool," Lopez said.

The project involves art by having the students create elements of the scene, science in teaching them how a steam engine works, geography in laying out scenery and math in working with scale.

"They have to learn the building has to be a certain size to look appropriate," Phipps said.

The teacher said she initiated the project because Spargo would bring a train set to the class and she thought it would motivate the students. They learn best with hands-on activities, she said.

Spargo brought one of his personal sets for the students to see before giving them the donated set, and Phipps said they were excited.

The model train enthusiast said he gets "a big charge" from teaching. Spargo said he will do anything for youth and wants see them understand a concept.

"You can see it in a kid's eyes when it finally connects," Spargo said. "And that's my reward."

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