Could there be a more appropriate field trip for a medical science magnet school than a journey through the human body?
Students from Franklin Elementary Medical Sciences and Wellness Magnet School visited the Frank P. Phillips YMCA gymnasium in downtown Columbus Wednesday morning to take the Body Walk. The exhibit, funded through the Mississippi State University Extension Service, is a 160-square-foot enclosed trip through a series of tunnels and rooms representing the inside of the human body.
“It helps students understand the importance of living a healthy lifestyle,” said Sharon Patrick, Lowndes County Extension agent. “They go through 10 different stations starting at the mouth and learn to be smart about their body from the inside out.”
Jenny Purtell, medical services coordinator for Franklin, says the exhibit is the ideal introduction to the material students will cover at Franklin. She works with the Extension Service to bring it to Columbus at least every other year, which is difficult because the exhibit is in demand all over the state.
“It”s a hands-on experience for our children. They learn more from this experience than probably any other experience they have all year,” she said.
Franklin focuses on integrating medical science into core curriculum instruction to introduce students to the many possible careers in the health care field. Purtell, who leads laboratory classes at Franklin to supplement the medical information presented in regular classes, says the Body Walk touches on many of those fields while promoting nutrition and hygiene.
Multiple Body Walk employees were on hand to supervise after workers from Columbus Air Force Base constructed the exhibit Wednesday morning, but another group of Columbus Municipal School District students took it from there. Medical Technology students from McKellar Technology Center led brief lessons in each station using Body Walk materials to explain the function of each body part.
The Body Walk moved on to West Lowndes Elementary this morning.
Purtell was happy to receive the help from the McKellar students and Patrick, who leads nutrition classes at Franklin. Community doctors are also a regular presence in the school.
Franklin is set to receive another big boost when it partners with the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson later this month.
“They”re bringing all their department heads from their medical school and going to help us integrate more professions into our curriculum,” said Purtell. “We”re going to work hand-in-hand with them all year.”
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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