ABINGDON, VA – Washington County fourth graders are enjoying a field trip that makes history come alive in their own hometown. Thanks to a partnership between William King Museum of Art and the Washington County School System, every fourth grader in the county will participate in a day-long field trip exploring Virginia history.
Remaining field trips are scheduled for Oct. 21, 22 and 30.
Fourth graders have been studying the Civil War in Virginia, one of the Virginia SOLs (Standards of Learning) for that grade. But students don't just have to read about history in a text book, they can see actual Civil War artifacts, and learn how real people in Virginia lived during that time.
Students start by visiting the museum's exhibit "An American Turning Point: The Civil War in Virginia," followed by a visit to the Fields-Penn 1860 House Museum, and a walking tour of downtown Abingdon history and architecture. At the museum, students can view original Civil War artifacts and hear the stories behind them, view a three-dimensional holographic battlefield, and participate in interactive dress-up activities. At the Fields-Penn 1860 House Museum, students interact with "Susan Fields," the original owner of the house, and learn what life was like for Abingdon residents during the Civil War.
Lisa McNeil, district facilitator of gifted education, planned the fieldtrips after seeing the exhibit "An American Turning Point" at the museum. "I felt this would be a great experience for all of our students. They get to see, first hand, how the Civil War impacted Abingdon. Their town was here during the Revolution and has seen the devastation of the Civil War."
By participating in hands-on activities, McNeil says, students are more likely to absorb what they learn. "You need both. A random field trip doesn't stick, but when you combine a field trip with what students have studied, and show them that these events happened right here on Main Street, learning takes place."
William King Museum of Art's Civil War exhibit "An American Turning Point" is on view to the public through Feb. 1. Schools and home school groups can register for a history field trip by contacting Callie Hietala at (276) 628-5005 ext. 119 or emailing chietala@wkmuseum.org.
