Each Spring our 5th and 6th year elementary students plan a field trip to a nearby city. This year the students chose Philadelphia and planned for a very busy three days of activities, including visits to the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Museum (the oldest art museum in the US) for a private tour and art lesson, the Philadelphia Mint to learn more about how coins are made, ‘The Art of the Brick’ an exhibit at the Franklin Institute to supplement their work with Lego bricks as part of First Lego League Robotics, and a visit to the Camden Aquarium to further their research of ocean biomes for this year’s robotics competition which has an ocean theme.
Montessori believed that learning is not limited to the classroom and that as children get older, they need to explore the wider world to better understand and connect what they are learning to life. Each year the students help plan a city trip as part of their practice of “going out”. Through these excursions, the children apply practical math and language skills and deepen their understanding of topics they are studying, such as science, history, and technology. They also build confidence in their ability to speak to adults, move through public places, and manage the allotted time and money. They practice essential skills, like working with a group, compromising, and taking responsibility for themselves by planning and packing what they need when away from home. This is truly a student led and planned trip. Students are given a budget and, with some adult guidance, plan for housing, meals, transportation, and sightseeing. This year the students found a lovely apartment rental in the heart of the city and opted to shop/prepare most meals in the apartment to accommodate dietary preferences and use budgeted money saved from not eating out for additional sightseeing activities.