4th Grade's Historical trip to Mammoth Cave
by Lisa Preston, lower school naturalist
In 1917, a group of Peabody College students headed to Mammoth Cave--not by bus, but by train. Though their experience of almost a century ago was different from ours, it seemed familiar.
In 1917, a group of Peabody College students headed to Mammoth Cave--not by bus, but by train. Though their experience of almost a century ago was different from ours, it seemed familiar.
The fourth graders have been learning about the unique geology and geography that help define this place where we live, the Central Basin. What better place to learn more than by visiting the longest cave system in the world, Mammoth Cave National Park. With eight teachers and seventy-two students, we headed North on I-65 for our underground adventure.
We were lucky to get a chance to go on the "Domes and Dripstones" tour, not the usual tour for school groups. Once through the steel door, we walked down over 230 stairs, descending 250 feet below the surface. We saw amazing domes and entered a very large room where we walked on a limestone floor which once was the ceiling.
Students learned from Ranger Jim that the Mammoth Cave system is not a linear cave, but much like an upside down bowl of spaghetti--over 405 miles of winding and twisting caves with a thick capstone, all deposited hundreds of millions of years ago. The second part of our tour was highlighted by stalactites and stalagmites and an enormous column rightly named "Niagara Falls"--it was truly amazing!
Students learned from Ranger Jim that the Mammoth Cave system is not a linear cave, but much like an upside down bowl of spaghetti--over 405 miles of winding and twisting caves with a thick capstone, all deposited hundreds of millions of years ago. The second part of our tour was highlighted by stalactites and stalagmites and an enormous column rightly named "Niagara Falls"--it was truly amazing!
After our tour, we ate lunch outside, then enjoyed some time looking at the exhibits in the Visitor Center before heading back to USN--it was a day well spent~
*The two drawings of Mammoth Cave were submitted by Leah Joseph (4th-Noel) and Meggie Hays (4th-Avington) to a Mammoth Cave research group to be used as possible pictures for their April symposium brochure.
*Mammoth Cave pictures were taken by Beckie Stokes.
School News
List of 3 news stories.
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Seniors take field trip to cast first ballot
Read MoreAll 40 eligible University School of Nashville students in the Class of 2037 registered to vote ahead of the voter registration deadline, and Eleanor Mixon '27 and Dylan Omary '27 walked across the street from USN to the Scarritt Bennett Center to cast their first ballots on the final day of early voting. -
The ballot box and beyond: USN Seniors civically engaged
Students in High School History Teacher Cameron Parsons' Advanced Topics: American Government and Politics Class have been working diligently on civic engagement projects that required them to participate in the democratic process.Read More -
An evening of erudition: 22 seniors enter Cum Laude Society
Congratulations to the Class of 2027 inductees of the USN Cum Laude Society: Jack Barrett, Charlie Blau, Alder Brandon, Olivia Brown, Elisabeth Crane, Alexandra Drewry, Lucia Gellert, Melis Kurtulus, Abigail Manoukian, Lily Margalit, Eleanor Mixon, Louisa Nordberg, Mia Orefice, Karsen Puzniak, Ruchika Ramachandran, Jacqueline Seale, Elliott Spiller, Laine Theobald, Alexander Truss, Yifan Wang, Madeleine Wiseman, and Julia Young.Read More
Athletics News
List of 3 news stories.
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Mountain Bike Team Takes on “Electric" State Champs Trails, Dehner Snags Overall Podium Medal
With trail names like Megawatt, Electric Avenue, High Voltage and Livewire, the mountain bike team knew it was time to pedal out some extra watts for their NICA/TICL State Championships at Raccoon Mountain, and survive the technical trails above Chattanooga full of boulder gardens, rock drops and sandy rubble.Read More -
Mountain Bike Team Takes on Winged Deer Trails, HS Makes Podium Appearance
Read MoreWinged Deer Park and trails in Johnson City hosted our 4th race on Sunday October 11th, and despite a bit of hurricane outwash winds and showers - and reduced team numbers due to fall break and distance from Nashville - our racers utilized all available skills and speed which helped “wing" Sophomore Claire Dehner to a 4th place podium spot, our first podium appearance and medal for the season. -
HS athletics recaps for September 11-17
Tiger golfers have officially qualified for the region tournament, and our other teams are not far behind. Volleyball sits near the top of the district, finishing up regular season play next week with Senior Night. Girls soccer continues to hold first place in the district after another 9-0 win, and our cross country runners are chasing after some school records. To round it all out, our mountain bike team traveled to Oakfield to continue to improve on their times for the season. There’s plenty more where that came from- so be sure to come out to the River Campus, Sperling Gym, or out on the road to cheer on our Tigers before their seasons end.Read More
Contact
Edgehill Campus
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
USN Mission:
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.