July 4th Trip to Washington, DC

My annual summer trip to Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Washington, DC is exactly four weeks from today!  I never get tired of this feeling . . . the build up to this trip and all of the preparations that have to be made.  Experiencing the excitement of fifth graders and their parents on this trip is a feeling like no other for me.  This will be my fourteenth trip making American history come to life for students (and parents!).  It is a very powerful experience for me as an educator when I can offer this type of education beyond the walls of the classroom.  History will come alive as we travel back to the first permanent English settlement of Jamestown in 1607 as we walk on the very spot where these men settled.  We will feel like we stepped out of a time machine when we walk onto the Duke of Gloucester Street in Williamsburg and trace the steps of those before us learning about colonial life of the 1700s.  Our final three days will be exploring the many sites of Washington, DC - such as Mount Vernon (George Washington's home), wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, JFK's gravesite, touring the Capitol, or even the firework extravaganza as we sit on the mall area by the Washington Monument with the fireworks exploding overhead.  Trip of a lifetime!

The plans for the trip are right on schedule.  I'm looking forward to the next few weeks finalizing all of the details.  This year's t-shirt has been designed by Mrs. Weston, Mrs. Engle, and myself - and the order has been submitted.  The shirts for this year will, once again, make us stand out in the crowd on the Fourth of July!