Thursday morning at 6:30 A.M., 109 Fourth Graders, 8 teachers and 30 parents took the train from Richmond to Washington D.C., a distance of about 100 miles. The children toured in groups of 3 or 4 , each with a parent chaperone. They came well prepared in planning the activities of the day, the ins and outs of riding the metro, how to budget for food and souvenirs, and the background and significance of the sights they would see. Choices students made were tours of the Washington Monument or the Capitol, a visit to the National Archives where many of the significant documents of our country are stored or exhibited, the Supreme Court and the Museum of American History where you can see the original Old Glory. All groups had one mandatory stop at the National Portrait Gallery where docents and teachers guided them in a tour of portraits of presidents and other significant Americans. We saw the original paintings for all denominations of U.S. currency as well as Americans like Charles Schulz, creator of the cartoon strip Peanuts, and Juliet Lowe of the Girl Scouts.
Making this field trip at the end of winter means smaller crowds and shorter lines. Although the president of China was in Washington on an official state visit, security personnel were polite and efficient.
Our train left Union Station for the return trip at 6 PM, and we were back in Richmond at 8 PM. The kids spent the train ride home filling in their trip journals. It was a long and busy day, and fortunately tomorrow is Friday. The students are so well prepared and well behaved, it is a pleasure to make this trip. In fact, the parents vie for the opportunity to participate. Looking back on their Lower School years, most graduates would agree "The Trip to DC" is one of the highlights of their entire career.
@digitalrn I have often included a visit to the National Gallery during my free time, but it is not part of the students' itinerary. They do return to Washington in Middle School with a focus on art.
The National Gallery is a MUST see! Sounds like the itinerary that we did in school too when we went years ago. That trip changed a lot in me, so much history to be learned of our nations capital! Been back there three times, and I still get excited to go!
Sounds like a great day and a great trip. My class went to DC, by train, in the 3rd grade and in the 6th grade. I still remember both trips. Nice shot of students at the train.
Ah! That's the same kind of trip the primary school my mom works at takes the 3rd graders on each year (my county is about an hour and a half from Richmond.) They go by bus though - train would be so much more fun! :)
The photo makes me want to get on this train- then, when I read the story, I REALLY want to go. I saw a lot of those sights when I was 13 and went to Washington with my family. The shininess of the train and the treatment of the row of lights gives it an air of excitemt and mystery and magic. Good thinks for a train to have!
Nice shot...great job processing. I did this trip so many times when I taught 4th grade that I have not been back with the group since but maybe next year ;-)
