Franklin County, News, Phil Campbell, PICTURE FLIPPER
 By  Kellie Singleton Published 
6:05 am Saturday, September 15, 2012

Students tour giant map

Phil Campbell Elementary School PTO president Shelia Hunderman teaches students in Melissa Stancil’s first-grade class about the different countries in Asia through the Alabama Geographic Alliance’s giant map.

PHIL CAMPBELL – Have you ever been to Mt. Everest?
Thanks to several different organizations and people, the students at Phil Campbell Elementary can officially say they have.
This past week, pre-K through sixth grade students – and a few high school students – got the chance to experience the giant traveling map of Asia, which is a large floor map that measures 26 feet by 36 feet when spread out on the floor of the PCES gymnasium.
Linda Spurgeon, who teaches geography to high school students at Phil Campbell High School, was responsible for finding out about the giant map program and getting one of the maps to travel to Phil Campbell.
“When I was attending an Alabama Geographic Alliance conference in June, they talked about the giant map,” Spurgeon said. “Since we participated in the conference, we got first pick of having the map come to our school.”
Spurgeon said the giant map was made possible through funding from the Alabama Geographic Alliance, the National Geographic Education Foundation and donations from supporters, so it doesn’t cost the school anything to house it for a week.
“This has been a really great thing for our students because they’ve been able to get hands-on experience with the world around them,” PCES Principal Jackie Ergle said.
“They’re learning about different cultures and different animals that live in these places.”
Ergle said the school’s librarian, Alana Swinney, has been conducting a unit on Asia that coordinated with the map’s arrival.
“This was good because the students were already familiar with the continent before the map got here,” Ergle said. “This map just reinforces what they’ve already heard in the classroom and lets them get a visual of what they’ve studied.”
Spurgeon said Ergle coordinated several volunteers from the elementary school’s PTO organization who came in to conduct the learning sessions with the map.
“There was a trunk full of lesson plans, games, activities and other material that you can use in coordination with the map,” Spurgeon said. “With the younger grades, we’ve mainly just stuck with the map ‘tour’ that walks them through several of the countries in Asia and gives them facts about the countries.
“With the older grades, we used some of the activities and games. That’s the great thing about this map is that it is adaptable. Even my high school students enjoyed getting out of the classroom and interacting with the map through games.”
Spurgeon said anytime they have the opportunity to participate in a program that gets the students excited about learning, they’ll always jump at the chance.
“We are very appreciative to have the map travel to our school and help our students learn more about the world,” Spurgeon said.
“And who knows – the kids have liked the idea of ‘climbing’ Mt. Everest so much that maybe some day one of them will actually go and do it.
“If this experience can get them interested about geography and the world around them, then it’s done its job.”

Also on Franklin County Times
County school board adopts $52M budget
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
September 17, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE Franklin County Schools has adopted a $52 million budget for fiscal year 2026, reflecting a $2.5 million increase over last year. The bud...
Judge denies YO status for Phinizee
Main, News, Z - News Main
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
September 17, 2025
FLORENCE — Youthful offender status was denied Tuesday for a 17-year-old charged with the death of a 13-yearold during what authorities said was a rob...
RCS passes $43.3M budget
Main, News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
September 17, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- The city school board has approved a $43.3 million budget for the 2025-26 school year. Chief Financial Officer Lisa Witt said revenues...
Program tackles stress of caregiver burnout
News, Records, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
September 17, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- Many people deal with caregiver burnout. Kids and Kin childcare partner Marquita Wilson presented a program at the Russellville Public...
Flavil Wayne McCaig
Obituaries
September 17, 2025
Flavil Wayne McCaig Sept. 12, 2025   Flavil Wayne McCaig, 82, of Russellville, passed away Sept. 12 at his residence. He was born March 3, 1943, to Au...
Cultura Garden Club begins its year with roses and plans for fall
Columnists, News, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
September 17, 2025
The Cultura Garden Club held its first meeting of the year. President Cheri McCain presided. She provided information on projects and programs for the...
We can’t afford to lose electric vehicle industry
Columnists, Opinion
September 17, 2025
In Alabama, we understand what it means to build things that matter. We’ve long been home to builders and winners – our steel won wars and built the s...
Firefighters, cadets honor 9/11 with stair climbs
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
September 17, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE – Firefighters and RHS JROTC cadets participated in a stair climb in recognition of the 24th anniversary of 9-11. Sgt. Grant Tarascou and...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *