A great advantage to learning at home, unencumbered by curriculum and teacher lesson plans, is that we can take field trips whenever we feel like it. Experiential learning is some of the best learning.
Our planned travels are opportunities to learn about events in history and often lead to us placing a certain amount of attention on those events. With an upcoming trip to Gettysburg, PA, we decided the next month or so would be devoted to studying the Civil War. Plus, we live in Virginia, which continues to make learning American History a “hands-on” opportunity for us.
Yesterday was a fantastic day for a visit to Bull Run in Manassas, VA. Perfect, sunny Fall weather made for a pleasant trip to learn a bit more about the first battle of the Civil War.
We were greeted in the visitor center at Henry Hill by a very knowledgeable man who imparted on us a great deal of information about the start of the first battle and also the second battle. Since it was early in the week, we were the only ones in the center at the time and I’m sure received more attention than if it were a busy weekend. Benefits of learning outside outside of a school setting.
After a brief tour of the museum, we ventured outside “onto the battlefield.” The wide open space welcomed the kids as they broke out into a run to begin our exploration. Had it not been for the position of the cannons to remind us of the fighting and the bloodshed, we might have only thought about the beauty of the landscape.
But we all felt a spine-tingling sensation as we were walking upon the ground where many had died. Yesterday we felt the duplicity of freedom in the wide open autumn fields and the somberness of what took place on those fields 159 years ago. There’s something about being on location that turns facts into feelings.
While I possessed a general understanding of the Civil War, what it meant, locations of some of the battles, and what the outcome meant for our country (all mainly learned sometime in school more than 30 years ago), it was only when I started learning about it again with my children did I truly begin to understand the significance of all it stood for.
This is a common theme for me of relearning history in general. It may be a combination of learning to teach, visiting places versus only reading words on a page, plus years of life experience that make it so much more impactful than when I was a child.
My hope is that Colin and Riley, through our adventures and learning together, will take with them a greater understanding of how our country came to be through battles, wars, diversity and unity. That they will possess a certain knowledge and feeling about what it means to be an American to help guide them through the struggles that will ensue as we continue to preserve our republic.
