Fifth Grade Takes on Washington, DC

FPD’s Fifth Grade takes on Washington, D.C.

by Carrie Everitt, 5th Grade Teacher

This May, FPD’s 5th grade class had the privilege of taking our classroom on the road to Washington, D.C. For three years Covid had kept this FPD Family Tradition stalled at home; but not this year. In the Lord’s kindness and care, we flew to D.C. with 39 students and 45 parents, and hit the ground running visiting Arlington National Cemetery, the White House, and the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial the first day.

Students walked through countless white headstones of soldiers who sacrificed everything for their freedom, laid eyes on the prestige and power of the White House and heard the thought and planning that went into the construction of the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial. Benches facing towards the Pentagon represented people who had died onboard the plane. Benches facing away from the Pentagon memorialized lives lost in the Pentagon. We were moved by the reverent mood of this memorial and impacted greatly by the location of one name in particular: Major Cole Hogan, an FPD alumni who was killed that day in the Pentagon. Having a name familiar to them allowed students to pause and consider the stories, the lives, and the hurt that happened on that very ground where they stood.

Each morning, we began our days with a brief student-led devotion and prayer time in our portable classrooms [aka- tour buses] then we were off to the sites. Social Studies curriculum came alive as we walked through Mt. Vernon and saw firsthand the life, the ingenuity, and the work of George Washington. The students’ favorite site was Washington’s famous teeth. Students and families also loved touring the Library of Congress where they were able to see Thomas Jefferson’s Library, the Reading Room from “National Treasure,” and the Gutenberg Bible that they had learned about earlier in the semester in library with Mrs. Darnell. My favorite memorial we visited was the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. Earlier this year, we spent a few weeks learning about Dr. King in both Social Studies and Language Arts. We learned about his family, his childhood, his hardships, his education, his stance on non-violence, and we watched his famous “I Have A Dream” speech. Students wrote a 5-paragraph essay on why MLK was an American Hero. The night we visited his memorial was crowded, but I watched students slowly walk through and read Dr. King’s quotes engraved on the walls. Students and their parents stood under his statue hewn into an enormous rock with the words “Out of a mountain of despair, a stone of hope.” The next day, these same students stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and placed their feet where Dr. King’s feet had been while he delivered the very speech we had watched in class. What a joy to see history come to life in the hearts of our students.

In 5th grade, FPD students are introduced to the band and chorus. Our young musicians were amazed as they watched the Army’s presentation of “Twilight Tattoo.” The U.S. Army Voices, the U.S. Drill Team, the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, and many others entertained us while educating us on the history of the U.S. Army through the eyes of the American soldier. This year, we were not able to tour the Capitol building; however, we were able to stand on the Capitol lawn the morning of the National Day of Prayer and pray for our nation’s government and sing a hymn together. You may be asking; “Why take such a big trip in 5th grade?”

If you asked me that question, I would answer with many reasons. First, trips like these deepen and extend our sense of community past the classroom walls. Parents see their student interact with teachers and classmates as they discuss and process big moments in our country’s history. Students share their experiences and families with each other.

Secondly, history comes to life before their eyes in sites and sounds at an age where wonder and curiosity are alive and active. This trip caps off our 5th graders time in elementary school and adds to their preparation for middle school.

Students journaled throughout the week, and it was a treat to read each of their entries after we returned home. Memories were made with friends, parents, and teachers that will last a lifetime. As we seek to “educate and equip students to change the world for God’s glory,” it is essential that we provide avenues for students to interact and engage with God’s world. What better way to achieve this mission than a trip together with parents and teachers to our Nation’s Capital?