MICDS second graders expanded their worldview by embarking on a journey to explore St. Louis and the state of Missouri. Guided by educators from the Missouri History Museum, students learned about the unique architecture of St. Louis and studied the rich history of the city’s landmarks, including the History Museum itself!
One of their first stops in the museum was a guided tour of the Coloring STL exhibit. In the exhibit, students were encouraged to color on the walls, filling in the kaleidoscope of St. Louis architecture of every age, shape, and size. From downtown’s iconic landmarks to our homes and everything in between, the interactive exhibit unveiled the stories behind over 50 local structures, all waiting to be filled with color. All the museum representatives asked of the students was to bring their imagination. Additionally, students got an up-close look at dozens of artifacts about the dreamers and designers who left an indelible mark on the city through the creative use of local materials.
After students left their mark on the colorful mural of St. Louis, they attended a class to learn about different building materials and the challenges of building in St. Louis, which is prone to flooding. They went through a series of lab experiments to design plans to protect a floodplain and tested different materials for their absorbency and flood resistance.
This field trip was a perfect companion to the students’ study of St. Louis landmarks, a signature project-based learning endeavor in second grade. The information students gather will provide background knowledge and may even spark ideas as they choose a St. Louis landmark for an in-depth study.
This adventure expanded their horizons and nurtured their creativity and problem-solving skills, making it a memorable and enriching experience they will carry with them into their study of St. Louis!