SMS Adds an Open-Air Literature Lounge

Written by Emma Arthur, SHS Newspaper Class

The middle school recently received a grant from the Washington County Community Foundation to build an outside literature lounge. With the grant, they bought language arts teachers sets of books for their classrooms to read outside. They also got outdoor furniture, so that it can feel like an outdoor classroom. 

When it is open, teachers can sign up for when they’d like to take their students to the literature lounge. They can have class discussions, work on projects, or just go to read. Mrs. Morgan, Mrs. Collins, Mrs. Stewart, and Mrs. Henry helped to make this plan work. The teachers worked together to get the grant application done and submitted. They also all agreed on what books they would like to have for students to read.

Morgan, who is the STEAM lab director, originally went to all of the language arts teachers with the idea and they loved it. The teachers were inspired by the upcoming warm days and the big, empty area outside the STEAM lab. They wanted to make the space into something useful, fun and interactive for both the students and teachers.