Irvington 7th Grade Field Trip To Philadelphia

IRVINGTON, NY — Seventh-grade Irvington students traveled to Philadelphia in April to build on their classroom studies.

They extended their learning within their recent historical fiction and informational text units in ELA classes, along with their study of colonial America, the American Revolution and the United States Constitution in social studies classes.

Social studies teacher Christina Mitchell and ELA teacher Kelly Kozak planned the trip.

After reading Laurie Halse Anderson’s novel “Fever 1793” in ELA classes, students explored the historic neighborhood ravaged by the yellow fever epidemic featured in the book.

On a guided walking tour, they visited the site of the president’s house, Christ Church Burial Ground as well as Benjamin Franklin’s gravesite, Franklin Court and B. Free Franklin Post Office. They also saw Independence Hall, the First Bank of the United States and the Betsy Ross house.

At the Museum of the American Revolution, students explored the exciting era in history. Through virtual encounters with objects, artwork, documents and stories, students experienced the Revolution through the lens of real people as they viewed the short film “Washington’s War Tent.”

With the help of the museum educator, they pondered questions such as “What was it like to live during the Revolution?,” “How did the Revolution survive its darkest hour?,” “How revolutionary was the war?” and “What kind of nation did the Revolution create?”

“This field trip to Philadelphia really brought both literature and history to life for the students,” Kozak said.

“The day also provided our class with many opportunities to make connections to today’s world,” Mitchell added, “especially to the roots of our nation’s democracy.”