Yesterday we had a great time on our field trip to the National Railroad Museum to participate in "A Day in the Life." A program focusing on what life was like during the time of the American Civil War as well as the importance of the railroad during that time in our history.
The students participated in six different stations throughout the day.
Station one focused on life after the war and how trains played a part. It was a train ride around the grounds with a focus on how people used the trains as transportation as well as how hobos communicated with each other using symbols.
Station two was a living history performance by a woman who portraits Louisa May Alcott. In character, she discussed what life was like during her time as a nurse in the Civil War, as well as how she adapted events and people from her own life for her well-known book Little Women.
In station three students learned about period clothing, toys, and dating/courting customs of the 1860s.
Station four was all about how the land was surveyed and measured for the development of the trans-continental railroad.
Station five had two parts. The first was some history and a simulation of the pony express. The second was a simulation of the trials and tribulations settlers faced heading west on the Oregon Trail.
Station six focused on the science of trains as well as the way that track was laid. First students learned about simple machines and how they were used to build handcarts. In small groups, students actually got to use the handcart and move down the track. At a second part of this station, students were taught how a steam locomotive functioned as well as how to build and break apart a full-sized train. In the third part students learned how track was laid and got to place a piece or rail and then hammer the spikes in.
Even though it was a bit cold and soggy, this field trip was great and provided a hands-on connection to the curriculum that we have been studying in history and writing about in RW-Info.
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