Indiana Jones Comes to Greenville School District

By: Connie LeGrand/News Channel 7 | News Channel 7
Published: May 09, 2008

The fourth Indiana Jones movie, "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull", opened at midnight, so Indiana Jones is all the hype; but the Greenville County School District has been using the a young Indiana Jones to teach social studies and history in the classroom.
"The Adventures of Indiana Jones, by creator George Lucas, is an Emmy Award winning TV series which aired from 1992 to 1993. Mauldin High School history teacher Wes Dodgens says the chronicles of young Indy's adventures with historical figures and important events has changed how he teaches. "They're into it. They're paying attention to it, and they are following it along, much better than they would just listening to me," says Dodgens. Junior Jamie Benjumea says it takes learning to a next level. "I really enjoyed it, because I'm a history buff, and I love anything, like documentaries. I like them, but Indiana Jones, it was an easier way to get into it," she says.
Secondary Social Studies Consultant Thomas Riddle introduced the series to the Greenville School District. "It was really neat to go to this classroom… and tell these kids, ok you're the first class anywhere in the world to see these documentaries."
The Roper Mountain Science Center, owned by the Greenville School District, is a place where kids can experience their own “Indy Adventures” – touching snakes and walking through the rain forest. It’s open Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm.

Roper Mountain Science Center: www.ropermountain.org

Mauldin High School: http://www.greenville.k12.sc.us/mauldinh/

Teacher Wes Dodgens: http://teachers.greenville.k12.sc.us/sites/wdodgens/default.aspx

More info from District: http://www.greenville.k12.sc.us/gcsd/news/release/2008c/ind_jones.asp

Teaching Young Indy Blog: http://www.thirteencelebration.org/edblog/?p=19.