4 minute read
Cross-curriculum in NYC
A city of dreams, the gateway to America and one of the nation’s most significant cities, New York has long drawn those from around the globe. For schools needing a varied, cross-curricular destination for their next trips, New York is the one. Here we take a look at what the Big Apple has to offer students wanting a broad overseas trip experience.
Defining the American culture
Whether you’re looking to trace the Native American cultures at the National Museum of the American Indian; carrying out a study of origins of the United States at the Fraunces Tavern Museum or identifying the impact of mass immigration in the early 20th century at the Ellis Island Immigration Centre, New York provides schools with a wealth of resources to engage your students in their learning on significant periods throughout U.S. history.
Making the connections through historical perspectives
Intertwined with this timeline of American history is the importance of politics during this period and its interconnections with other world developments. From George Washington’s time as the first President of the United States to developments of the USA through the 20th century, New York features as the ideal location for exploring these subjects and ascertaining the value of these historical sources. Understanding the process of change in New York helps students understand the important role this city has played in the establishment of the nation. The Museum of the City of New York offers a great starting point to explore various themes, including history, politics, economic development, and architecture. It provides the ideal platform to link historical events, including key periods of social activism, with what we interpret today to be present-day customs.
Business at the core of the Big Apple
There are opportunities to examine the cause and consequence of events, and how they have shaped contemporary US history. Those taking business studies can enjoy a visit to the Wall Street area to learn more about the global impact of New York’s big banks, financiers and stock exchange and how they have contributed to the United States’ position as a global superpower.
Studying past events to understand present day impact
A visit to the National 9/11 Memorial seems a fitting start to comprehend the effects of September 11th 2001. A combination of multimedia displays and archive footage present a powerful account of the day. Students will be able to put into context the fallout leading to the war in Afghanistan and a deeper understanding of the important role politics has played in the late-modern period and present-day climate.
Cross-curricular learning – activated!
The Empire State Building provides jaw-dropping views with the iconic building representing New York’s impressive high-tower skyline. The Art Deco symbol of the Empire State Building is enveloped in its own history and prominence which students can engage with thanks to handheld devices acting as an audio and visual companion. For the learner, the City of New York transforms into an outdoor museum mapped on a [albeit grander scaled] library grid system simply bursting with historic and noteworthy landmarks. With endless cross-curricular opportunities found in an educational visit to New York, the chance to bring your students together across multiple disciplines means teachers have a greater scope to cover more curriculum goals while taking their students to one of the greatest cities in the world.
Fascinate your students with a street art tour to Brooklyn and learn why internationally recognised graffiti artists are drawn to the Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx and Harlem districts. Discover their artistic contributions and how these works are transforming the neighbourhoods from industrial warehouses to art studios and why New York City is often referred to as the cradle of graffiti culture. From subway beginnings to contemporary developments, exploring the graffiti laden streets of Brooklyn will leave your students with a strong knowledge of the democratic art form and unique subculture that spans the past fifty years.
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International Centre of Photography Street Art Tour
Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
Inspire your students with a visit to the world’s leading institution dedicated to photography and visual culture. This paramount platform for photography hosts up to six exhibitions annually, each with a unique focus reflecting the past, present and future of image-making through a wide range of carefully selected themes. Students will gain a thorough understanding into the artistic, technical and historical context of photographs, as well as an insight into the world of image and how images are mediums of empowerment and can incite social change. Learn more>>
The maze of glass walkways and 110ft atrium lobby ensure this is a breathtaking experience from the getgo. The most influential modern art collection in the world has highlights like Monet’s Water Lilies and van Gogh’s Starry Night, with a recent face-lift by Yoshio Taniguchi creating space for huge contemporary installations and three movie theatres.