By Jessica Lloyd and Meg Mottl, Third Grade Homeroom Teachers
Third graders at MICDS do an in-depth study of the state of Missouri. They focus on Missouri’s natural features, natural resources, history, important people, and government. After learning about cultural regions of the past and the regions of the United States today, they took a trip to the state capital of Missouri, Jefferson City. This is the second year our third graders have journeyed to Jefferson City to immerse themselves in their learning. Read the recap of the trip below by their teachers, Ms. Lloyd and Ms. Mottl.
Team Third Grade unanimously declares that our visit to the state capital exceeded all expectations!
Our first stop was the Capitol Building where each class engaged in an hour-long tour and exploration of the Missouri State Museum. The Thomas Hart Benton mural elicited many questions from students as it visually unfolds the highs and lows of Missouri’s history from the early 1700s to 1936. We ended the tour by observing a debate in the House of Representatives.
After the tours, Senator Tracy McCreery’s assistant, Hannah Dolan, graciously guided us up to the dome of the Capitol into the Whispering Gallery where students experienced the ability to whisper along the curved walls and be heard by classmates sitting further away…as well as a bird’s eye view from the dome of the Capitol down to the grand staircase and first floor rotunda.
District 24 State Senator, Tracy McCreery, kindly met with our MICDS crew and shared her path into politics as well as her desire to write and support legislation that focuses on children, women, the elderly, and the environment. The BEST part of her job? Meeting with students who visit the Capitol—without a doubt!
After lunch, Team Third-Grade was guided into Governor Kehoe’s office for a meet-and-greet. When asked about his focus as serving as Governor of the State of Missouri, he shared that he wants to emphasize that the American dream is still alive and that he wants to bring business into government. Students were shocked to learn that the Governor’s office is twice the size of that of the Oval Office.
This year, we were afforded a special tour of the Cole County Historical Society Museum. The docents shared artifacts and stories from Jefferson City’s past, including tales of Jesse and Frank James as well as events leading up to the Civil War between the Jayhawkers and the Border Ruffians.
Jefferson Landing, an old depot, warehouse, and market-turned interactive museum, offered a much-appreciated respite in the afternoon. Students played games from long ago and learned about the thriving fur trade business of the past.
Our last official tour of the Supreme Court Building began with a viewing of the courtroom and an overview of the Missouri court system. The classic court case of Old Drum enthralled the third graders and chaperones alike. We wrapped up our visit in the Supreme Court library, which houses over 110,000 legal texts.
Prior to departing the state capital, a stop at Central Dairy, established in 1920, was met with cheers and applause by all!