Saturday Morning Experience
Baking raisin bread to demonstrate the The coordinators hire, train and guide Trinity
theory of the expanding universe….that’s the undergraduates in their development of engaging
kind of activity Saturday Morning Experience and interdisciplinary lesson plans. With student
(SME) provides to the children of San Antonio, input, mentors develop curriculum based on what
especially children who benefit from innovative students want to learn, whether Greek mythology,
academic enrichment, small group interaction and philosophy, chemistry, art or music. In addition to
intellectual challenge outside of the classroom. providing support to the mentors, the coordinators
From September through April on two Saturdays communicate with parents, maintain the SME
per month, Saturday Morning Experience provides budget and coordinate the annual field trip.
educational enrichment for motivated students Among the creative highlights of the year,
from first through eighth grade. A variety of lessons, groups wrote, performed, filmed and edited their
catered to the students’ own movies, built and
interests, involve the sailed boats in the Trinity
students in the learning fountain and experimented
process constantly. with exploding volcanoes.
In 2008-2009, nine A field trip to the Natural
mentors worked with 79 Bridge Caverns Wildlife
students from schools Ranch also stimulated
within districts across student learning off
San Antonio, including Trinity’s campus.
Boerne, Comal, East A weeklong version
Central, Ft. Sam of the program called
Houston, Harlandale, the Trinity Summer
Judson, New Braunfels, Experience is similar
North East, Northside, in philosophy but
Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City, San Antonio, South takes place over five half-days with fewer students
San Antonio and Southside, as well as private and and a single focus. In the summer of 2008
charter schools. Participating students are identified the theme was “Lights, Camera, Camp” where
as gifted and talented by their schools and teachers. students learned about the different influences
Three Trinity graduate students from the of media, whether radio, television or film.
Master of Arts in Teaching program lead Saturday At the end of the five day camp, the students
Morning Experience. This year, Ashley Evans, took a field trip to the AT&T Center to take a
Samantha Holmes and Will Maddox served as behind-the-scenes look at media in action. This
program coordinators under the guidance of Dr. program got students ready and excited about the
Angela Breidenstein, associate professor of education. upcoming SME program starting in the fall.
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