Field Trip Teacher Handout
1) The site I selected for my field trip was the National Battlefield park located in Manassas, Virginia; more commonly known as the Manassas Battlefield.
2) Who did I contact: Since I live in the area I did my own research referencing the National Parks website: http://www.nps.gov/mana/index.htm
3) The timeline for preparation is an interesting questions because I drive through the battlefield almost every day. I’ve known a lot about it and have always wanted to take a trip there, and I knew what I wanted to see. I spent a few hours researching an appropriate trail to take the children on as well as identifying all of the sites I wanted them to see. I spent another few hours researching how I could connect our trip to my larger unit. Later, I created a virtual field trip addressing the major events of the battle and the landmarks on the battlefield that we would most likely see on our trip. Finally, I created an itinerary which included a 1 mile walking tour of the Henry Hill loop documenting the Battle of First Manassas, a picnic on the grounds, and a visit to the museum and visitor center.
4) The cost is typically $3.00 per person, however I happened to take my trip on Veteran’s Day weekend which waived my cost. There is also an additional cost for picnic food and anything purchased in the visitor center gift shop.
5) The content area that this field trip covers is in the Social Studies discipline. Students learn both the history of the Battle of First Manassas as well as the Geography of the battle. This field trip can also cover content areas related to natural science since we are visiting a national park as well as language arts with all of the opportunities to explore primary sources, artifacts, and sign markers with a description of the battle along the way.
6) This site offers an array of opportunities for students and teachers. Aside from the rich history, the national park association actually put together educational resources for students and teachers to help guide them in how to use this site with their students. They provide information on guided and walking tours with curriculum supplements that align with the Virginia S.O.Ls. This site is very welcoming to groups of students typically 50 or less per tour. Students can also take part in a Junior Ranger scavenger hunt around the property which will keep them engaged as they fill out their packets (I would recommend this only happens in small groups).
7) What I loved about this site is that it is full of history that is right in the backyard of the kids I plan to teach – literally! The visitor center is extremely friendly and welcoming and the museum is small, but informative and engaging—perfect for little ears. The Manassas Battlefield is huge and a lot are open trails with a few hisoric houses miles apart, however the Henry Hill loop is the perfect trail to do with students. It is only a mile long, takes about an hour to complete, can be guided or self-guided and provides replicated artifacts as well as real artifacts that will keep students engaged hopping from site to site. There are eight sites on this trail that starts and ends right at the visitor center with a perfect spot to picnic nearby as well as the monument for Stonewall Jackson which fits with my unit perfectly.
2) Who did I contact: Since I live in the area I did my own research referencing the National Parks website: http://www.nps.gov/mana/index.htm
3) The timeline for preparation is an interesting questions because I drive through the battlefield almost every day. I’ve known a lot about it and have always wanted to take a trip there, and I knew what I wanted to see. I spent a few hours researching an appropriate trail to take the children on as well as identifying all of the sites I wanted them to see. I spent another few hours researching how I could connect our trip to my larger unit. Later, I created a virtual field trip addressing the major events of the battle and the landmarks on the battlefield that we would most likely see on our trip. Finally, I created an itinerary which included a 1 mile walking tour of the Henry Hill loop documenting the Battle of First Manassas, a picnic on the grounds, and a visit to the museum and visitor center.
4) The cost is typically $3.00 per person, however I happened to take my trip on Veteran’s Day weekend which waived my cost. There is also an additional cost for picnic food and anything purchased in the visitor center gift shop.
5) The content area that this field trip covers is in the Social Studies discipline. Students learn both the history of the Battle of First Manassas as well as the Geography of the battle. This field trip can also cover content areas related to natural science since we are visiting a national park as well as language arts with all of the opportunities to explore primary sources, artifacts, and sign markers with a description of the battle along the way.
6) This site offers an array of opportunities for students and teachers. Aside from the rich history, the national park association actually put together educational resources for students and teachers to help guide them in how to use this site with their students. They provide information on guided and walking tours with curriculum supplements that align with the Virginia S.O.Ls. This site is very welcoming to groups of students typically 50 or less per tour. Students can also take part in a Junior Ranger scavenger hunt around the property which will keep them engaged as they fill out their packets (I would recommend this only happens in small groups).
7) What I loved about this site is that it is full of history that is right in the backyard of the kids I plan to teach – literally! The visitor center is extremely friendly and welcoming and the museum is small, but informative and engaging—perfect for little ears. The Manassas Battlefield is huge and a lot are open trails with a few hisoric houses miles apart, however the Henry Hill loop is the perfect trail to do with students. It is only a mile long, takes about an hour to complete, can be guided or self-guided and provides replicated artifacts as well as real artifacts that will keep students engaged hopping from site to site. There are eight sites on this trail that starts and ends right at the visitor center with a perfect spot to picnic nearby as well as the monument for Stonewall Jackson which fits with my unit perfectly.
Photo Gallery
All photos taken by Danielle Sileo on November 12, 2012
Field Trip Reflection
1) There were a lot of very positive experiences I had during this field trip. I found the perfect trail to take elementary students on called the Henry Hill Loop. This trail is a mile long with eight different stops, cannons for kids to look at, a historic house, artifacts that were there during the war, and a clear walking path with informational posts along the trail. The Henry Hill loop took about an hour to complete. I then spent an hour picnicking under some trees nearby and another hour visiting the Stonewall Jackson monument, the visitor center’s gift shop, and museum. To me, this 3-hour, half-day field trip is perfect for elementary school students and can easily be incorporated into a Civil War Unit. The staff there was incredible helpful and informative and I found it very easy to navigate myself around the site. There is certainly a whole lot more to experience than what I saw, however I think it is perfect for a classroom of students. The Hill on which the loop is located is completely visible from all stops along the trail, which is very reassuring from a safety standpoint as well.
2) The only thing I would change for my students is to have a guided tour. The informational posts are extremely informative and perfect for me to do on my own, however 30 students gathered around a small post, or someone reading the posts out loud seems less engaging to me than having a trained ranger join us on our tour with an animated voice and the knowledge to answer any student questions.
3) My suggestions for future planners would be to view the national parks website before you take your trip. There are so many different resources for teachers so you should go with a plan of what you want your kids to see and what aspects of the battle you would like to focus on. Be aware of the numbers on the informational posts of the Henry Hill loop—I started going backwards on the tour before I recognized there were numbers. I would also suggest bringing chaperones so you can bring the kids into the museum and gift shop in groups. It is a very small and quiet museum that a classroom of 30 going in at once would surely disturb.
4) What I learned from this fieldtrip is that there is so much history right in our backyard and that I need to take advantage of it for myself and for my future classroom. I also learned how valuable site websites are because more often than not, someone has already planned a similar fieldtrip and therefore you can access some great resources and ideas you may not have thought of. Finally, I learned the importance of connecting field trips directly to your lesson. Not only will this keep students more engaged during your field trip, but they will also be more engaged throughout the lesson remembering the experience they had on the trip.
2) The only thing I would change for my students is to have a guided tour. The informational posts are extremely informative and perfect for me to do on my own, however 30 students gathered around a small post, or someone reading the posts out loud seems less engaging to me than having a trained ranger join us on our tour with an animated voice and the knowledge to answer any student questions.
3) My suggestions for future planners would be to view the national parks website before you take your trip. There are so many different resources for teachers so you should go with a plan of what you want your kids to see and what aspects of the battle you would like to focus on. Be aware of the numbers on the informational posts of the Henry Hill loop—I started going backwards on the tour before I recognized there were numbers. I would also suggest bringing chaperones so you can bring the kids into the museum and gift shop in groups. It is a very small and quiet museum that a classroom of 30 going in at once would surely disturb.
4) What I learned from this fieldtrip is that there is so much history right in our backyard and that I need to take advantage of it for myself and for my future classroom. I also learned how valuable site websites are because more often than not, someone has already planned a similar fieldtrip and therefore you can access some great resources and ideas you may not have thought of. Finally, I learned the importance of connecting field trips directly to your lesson. Not only will this keep students more engaged during your field trip, but they will also be more engaged throughout the lesson remembering the experience they had on the trip.