Fifth Grade Field Trip to the American Museum of Natural History
For the past two months, the Birch and Cedar Rooms have been learning all about the earth and outer space! Students first learned about the different layers of the earth and what they are made of. They became familiar with how the earth is made of different tectonic plates and that these are constantly moving. Students discovered that two causes of these plates moving are earthquakes and volcanoes! Continuing in their exploration of the earth, students became acquainted with Earth’s atmosphere. They learned how the atmosphere not only protects us from outer space, but determines the weather. Students discovered how plastic is harmful to the environment and ways we can better take care of our planet.
The fifth grade continued this study of the earth by examining the different phases of the moon, along with learning how Earth rotates and revolves in the solar system. Students have learned about the inner and outer planets, along with what makes each planet unique.
To support all of this knowledge and hard work, the fifth grade took a field trip to the American Museum of Natural History on Wednesday, May 23. While there, students were able to enjoy a special simulation, “Field Trip to the Moon.” This gave the group a real-life look at our planet from outer space. This special simulation put students in the place of astronauts traveling to the moon. They were able to see what it would be like to land at the site of Apollo 17, on the rim of the Serenitatis basin on the Littrow crater.
Following this simulation, students participated in a scavenger hunt in the Gottesman Hall of Planet Earth. In this exhibit, the group was asked to find specific facts about areas they have learned in the past two months. They found facts about volcanoes, earthquakes, climate change, and tectonic plates. Students were able to closely examine different types of rocks by seeing how they felt and weighed. They also were able to view a real seismometer, which measures how big an earthquake is.
The fifth graders had such an incredible time. They were thrilled to take part in the simulator and scavenger hunt using their prior knowledge on the different subject areas. This was definitely a day to remember!
