4th Grade Visits Lincoln
June 13, 2009
Fourth Grade Field Trip – Lincoln
The first stop for the class was Memorial Stadium. They were given a tour which started in the press boxes. From there the students could look out over the field. Then they were shown memorabilia from Bowl Games along with pictures of past and present players who had also won academic awards. The tour guide impressed upon the students the importance of setting goals and working hard in school to accomplish them. Then the class was taken out onto the field and allowed to walk and run on it. What a thrill! The next memorable experience was getting to walk through the “tunnel” and proceed inside to view the weight rooms. They viewed many other sights at the stadium, but after an hour the class boarded the bus and headed for their next stop.
The second stop on the trip was Morrill Hall or Elephant Hall. The class viewed many interesting artifacts. While looking through the area on Plains Indians, they located many objects they had studied about in Nebraska History class. One item was a “Parfleche”, a bag used by Plains Indians to carry their supplies. After reading about the “Parfleche” in class, the students had made and decorated one of their own. Other items of interest were the many fossils, rocks, and animals found throughout the museum. Before the end of the tour, the students spent time in a discovery room and were allowed to dig for fossils as well as manipulate many other hands on activities.
After digging for fossils, the students again boarded the bus for their next stop, the Governor’s Mansion. Upon entering, they were immediately fascinated by the beautiful chandelier hanging in the entryway. While touring, the students saw many items depicting Nebraska’s state symbols. They also viewed a room with dolls representing all the First Ladies as well as one First Man. Another area of interest to the students was the place where the governor gives his speeches. The tour ended outside with a walk around the house to view the flower gardens and fountain.
From the Governor’s Mansion, the class walked to the Capitol Building. While walking, the class read the names of the counties in Nebraska that are engraved around the building. Once inside, they were greeted by their tour guide who gave them an enjoyable as well as educational tour. In the center of the building, the students were asked to form a circle and lie back on the floor to view the spectacular artwork and chandeliers. The tour guide then showed them where Congress meets and asked them about Nebraska’s unicameral system of government. The last stop with the tour guide was in the courtroom. Here she explained how Nebraska’s Judiciary system works. After the guided tour, the students were allowed to ride the elevators to the top floor. At the top, the students enjoyed a breathtaking view of the city. They located the bus and were amazed with how tiny it looked. Before leaving the Capitol Building, each student had to find the bust of the famous Nebraskan they had written a report about so they could pose for a picture by it. After pictures, the group boarded the bus and made the journey back home. Clearly, the class agreed that the trip was an educational and rewarding experience.
