Awesome U.S History Field Trip
Donation protected
Hello! My name is Lena Yasutake. I have been teaching for 14 years. This year I am lucky to have one of the brightest U.S. History classes I have ever seen. These 6th, 7th and 8th grade students are extraordinary human beings. They are budding linguists, scientists, musicians, politicians, artists and of course historians!
I grew up in Norfolk, VA, just a hop skip and a jump from Colonial Williamsburg. My mom may be one of the most passionate American history buffs ever born. Her passion was contagious. We took frequent trips to Jamestown (an amazing interactive replica of the first permanent settlement in America) and Colonial Williamsburg. I got to see General George Washington march down the main street on his white horse and watch (and hear) the cannons blast!
We walked through history. Touched it. Experienced it.
The experience of living history is unforgettable. It steered me into teaching, where I can share the passion that was shared with me. I want my bright, hard working and wonderful Connecticut students to have the same opportunities I had as a young Virginia native. Therefore I am taking them on an epic journey through time and American History!
Our first stop is Jamestown, VA. We will visit the same replica village I visited as a child but we will also go to the archeological dig site! The students will get to interact with Native American interpreters at the Native Homesite. They will pound corn, scrape deer hide and take a rest in a longhouse. Then up the hill to the Settlement. They will walk through growing crops, explore the houses, touch tools used in everyday life, try on armor, hold a rifle and stand in the church. Then on to the ships! They get to explore topside and down in the hold, learn sailing terms and meet sailors from the 1600's.
Our next stop is Williamsburg, VA. Colonial Williamsburg is an entire town stuck in the 1700's. They will walk though history right around the time of the American Revolution. They will learn about trades from tradesmen in action. They will watch the sparks fly off a red hot horse shoe, stand in a pile of wood shavings while a carpenter makes a banister, see a wig made, watch a shoemaker make shoes and more! We will walk through the Governor's Palace and sit down an talk to a founding father. Have hot chocolate in the Coffee House. Make bricks out of mud and clay with bare feet! Visit the inside of the debtors prison. Meet a colonial spy and like me they will see General Washington ride his horse down the main street. As an added bonus we will have a special education program with a docent where the students will draw water from a well and learn to dance!
Our third stop takes us to Gettysburg PA. We will have a costumed docent teach us and show us all about the daily life of a Civil War soldier. The student will travel the grounds and get to touch and experience everything while they learn. This will be my first time exploring the famous battlefield and surrounding historical houses with a docent and I can't wait. Last year’s group can't stop raving about how great it was.
The last stop on our trip is Hershey Park. After a fun week crammed with interactive history and educational fun we will finish with some "dessert" at an amusement park. This affordable, relatively small, safe park is a Bridgeport Hope School tradition.
To be eligible the students have to be in excellent academic standing (which they are) and have to have a track record of exemplary behavior (which they do). These kids have been looking forward to this epic trip all year. They have been fundraising and working hard all year. We just need an extra push to get us across the finish line. Help our class travel back in time for an unforgettable experience. Thank you!
I grew up in Norfolk, VA, just a hop skip and a jump from Colonial Williamsburg. My mom may be one of the most passionate American history buffs ever born. Her passion was contagious. We took frequent trips to Jamestown (an amazing interactive replica of the first permanent settlement in America) and Colonial Williamsburg. I got to see General George Washington march down the main street on his white horse and watch (and hear) the cannons blast!
We walked through history. Touched it. Experienced it.
The experience of living history is unforgettable. It steered me into teaching, where I can share the passion that was shared with me. I want my bright, hard working and wonderful Connecticut students to have the same opportunities I had as a young Virginia native. Therefore I am taking them on an epic journey through time and American History!
Our first stop is Jamestown, VA. We will visit the same replica village I visited as a child but we will also go to the archeological dig site! The students will get to interact with Native American interpreters at the Native Homesite. They will pound corn, scrape deer hide and take a rest in a longhouse. Then up the hill to the Settlement. They will walk through growing crops, explore the houses, touch tools used in everyday life, try on armor, hold a rifle and stand in the church. Then on to the ships! They get to explore topside and down in the hold, learn sailing terms and meet sailors from the 1600's.
Our next stop is Williamsburg, VA. Colonial Williamsburg is an entire town stuck in the 1700's. They will walk though history right around the time of the American Revolution. They will learn about trades from tradesmen in action. They will watch the sparks fly off a red hot horse shoe, stand in a pile of wood shavings while a carpenter makes a banister, see a wig made, watch a shoemaker make shoes and more! We will walk through the Governor's Palace and sit down an talk to a founding father. Have hot chocolate in the Coffee House. Make bricks out of mud and clay with bare feet! Visit the inside of the debtors prison. Meet a colonial spy and like me they will see General Washington ride his horse down the main street. As an added bonus we will have a special education program with a docent where the students will draw water from a well and learn to dance!
Our third stop takes us to Gettysburg PA. We will have a costumed docent teach us and show us all about the daily life of a Civil War soldier. The student will travel the grounds and get to touch and experience everything while they learn. This will be my first time exploring the famous battlefield and surrounding historical houses with a docent and I can't wait. Last year’s group can't stop raving about how great it was.
The last stop on our trip is Hershey Park. After a fun week crammed with interactive history and educational fun we will finish with some "dessert" at an amusement park. This affordable, relatively small, safe park is a Bridgeport Hope School tradition.
To be eligible the students have to be in excellent academic standing (which they are) and have to have a track record of exemplary behavior (which they do). These kids have been looking forward to this epic trip all year. They have been fundraising and working hard all year. We just need an extra push to get us across the finish line. Help our class travel back in time for an unforgettable experience. Thank you!
Organizer
Lena Ruth Yasutake
Organizer
Bridgeport, CT
