Thanks to the efforts of Mr. Rendulic, working in cooperation with representatives of the National Park Service, our fourth grade students were able to travel to the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, PA this week. The National Park Service reimburses school districts for the costs associated with the field trip, and they also have a complete sequencing of lessons that are conducted by the teachers before the trip, their tour guide during the visit, and then post trip activities when the students return.
The following account specific to the field trip portion of the visit is from the park service's website (https://www.nps.gov/flni/learn/a-walk-to-remember.htm)
On-Site Visit Overview: This portion of the field trip is divided into three parts “A Changing Memorial” “Who are the Forty” and “A Field of Honor Forever”. The field trip experience will start in the Learning Center. There the students will be oriented to the site, logistics of the day explained, and they will receive a card with a photograph of the passengers and crew members of Flight 93 with a factsheet to record information. After a short movie the students will walk along the flight path to the overlook. Once there, a ranger will give an oral presentation followed by a trip to the park visitor center. The students will have time to explore the exhibits to investigate and record information about the person whom they have been assigned. After the students have finished their research, they will begin their hike. The students will walk the Allee and trail leading them past the forty Memorial Groves to the wetlands bridge and onward to the Wall of Names and crash site. After spending time at the Wall of Names the group will continue their hike back to the Learning Center for conclusions and wrap up.
A Changing Memorial: Upon arrival to the park the teachers will bring their students to the Learning Center. They will then review tribute items, watch a video, and are given a photograph/worksheet and orientation of what will happen within the next four hours of their visit.
Who are the Forty: After the presentation on the flight path overlook, the students will enter the visitor center. By using the various exhibits and cellphone tour the students will gather information on the passenger/crewmember that they were assigned. They will be specifically looking for a name, seat number, messages sent, and personal information.
A Field of Honor Forever: This portion of the program refers to the Memorial Landscape and design of Flight 93 National Memorial. The students are to use the cellphone tour numbers to investigate the meaning of the specific design and representation of architectural features. The students will be given a listing of the numbers and they are to record on their photograph/worksheet their findings. Students will have small group discussions, sharing the information they gathered throughout the day about their person. The ranger will lead a large group discussion focusing on the action the passengers and crew had taken, how the community and nation came together to honor the heroes of Flight 93, and how they can make a difference in their community by taking action (anti-bullying, participating in community events, volunteering, helping at home/school) as well. Just as the passengers and crew members all came together, they can make a difference by coming together and making a difference in their lives and others’ lives as well.
We are certain the fieldtrip was educational for all who participated. We are also proud that several visitors at the memorial, as well as the tour guide, were quite complementary of the way our students conducted themselves. They demonstrated Blue Devil Pride in the way in which they were so well behaved!
