by Charis Marshal, Student Public Relations Writer
A group of third graders dashed across a field, ropes in hand, learning about transportation the cowboy way. It wasn’t a field trip — it was a classroom without walls where student teachers swapped worksheets for Wild West adventures.
Geography Day Delivers Hands-On Social Studies Learning
When planning her lessons, Professor Candace Nelson often considers whether her students would rather learn about transportation by doing a worksheet, listening to a lecture or stepping into an activity like roping a cow. She would always choose the cow.
An adjunct professor of education at Cedarville University, Nelson leads a senior-level course called Teaching Primary Social Studies designed to give education majors hands-on experience in lesson planning and event preparation. The course culminates in Geography Day, a two-day social studies event hosted by Cedarville University’s student teachers for third-grade students at Cedarville Elementary School.
Held outdoors in early October, this year’s Geography Day brought the Wild West to life through themed activities and lessons. Fifty-four third-grade students rotated through eight interactive learning stations. Each station was led by a group of three or four student teachers presenting a 15-minute lesson based on Ohio’s geography standards.
Student Teachers Gain Experience Through Classroom Simulation
“We bring the fun and the hands-on,” said Nelson. “Geography Day gives the teachers at the elementary school the opportunity to see their students in a fun situation, but they are truly learning. The students get this fantastic knowledge base, but they don’t even realize that they are learning because they are having so much fun!”
Preparation for Geography Day begins in August, when student teachers start brainstorming a theme and pitch ideas for activities that integrate geography standards such as transportation, cardinal directions and map reading. Each team develops lessons, practices with peers and receives feedback from Nelson and Cedarville Elementary’s current third-grade teachers. Student teachers also take on roles during the event, such as performing a skit, managing timing, rotation between stations and overseeing setup and cleanup.
University-School Partnership Enhances Learning and Leadership
Terry Comers, an assistant professor of education, launched the partnership between Cedarville University and Cedarville Elementary in 2007. The collaboration has since evolved into an experiential learning opportunity for both schools.
“We get the benefit of having real models to work with,” said Nelson. "You can’t beat that. So much of what we do is theoretical, but Geography Day translates the theory into practice. We are able to work with real kids. Student teachers can see firsthand the challenges that each kid brings into the classroom and can work in real time with those scenarios.”
Student teachers said the experience built their confidence and strengthened their teaching skills.
“We are mimicking what it feels like to actually be in the field,” said Nelson. “Students will be able to teach their lessons and gain the confidence that can only come through practice. In most of our field experiences, you teach a lesson once — maybe a few times — but you don’t get to teach it eight times in a row. You will get really good at it if you teach it eight times in a row!”
This year, Cedar Cliff Schools Superintendent and 2005 Cedarville graduate Brian Masser attended the event, along with Cedarville Elementary Principal Jamie Dean. Both were so impressed by the combination of active learning and adherence to academic standards that they invited Nelson to present at the Cedar Cliff Board of Education meeting on Nov. 18, 2025. Nelson was joined by Comers and senior students Rylie Dudich from Doylestown, Ohio, Isabella Vein from Medina, Ohio and Genna Clingenpeel from Beavercreek, Ohio for a presentation on the university-elementary partnership and a live demonstration lesson with local third graders.
“Just seeing the look of joy on the students' faces — both the third graders and our university students — is incredible,” said Nelson. “Watching the process unfold from brainstorming ideas to teaching the lessons at Geography Day feels like a theatrical production. There is so much you have done behind the scenes, but on Geography Day, it all comes together, and then you are putting on the show.”
Cedarville Prepares Future Educators Through Community Engagement
Through Geography Day, Cedarville University equips senior education majors with the confidence to design creative, curriculum-based events for their future classrooms. As the program continues to evolve, it stands as a model of how universities can partner with local schools to make learning memorable for everyone involved.
About Cedarville University
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation’s top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.
