Gotta Love These Field Trips.......

Naturally a trip to Washington, D.C. featuring a tour of Capitol Hill, viewing the Congress and the Senate in session, along with seeing our Supreme Court in action would be the most desirable. Someday (soon) we plan to go... But for now, a replica will have to do.


Here's some of the 5th graders from our homeschool group at Quality West Wing.
Here they are in the Oval office. It is over 95% to scale and was designed by a Hollywood set designer. The details of the room are modeled after how the office looked while Ronald Reagan was in office.

Austin took a four part tour. First, the kids watched a cartoon about the Constitution and how the founding fathers developed it's concepts. Then the students break up into smaller groups and move into one of three rooms. They discuss some of the presidents, talk about the construction of the white house and get an up close look at the House of Representatives, Senate and Supreme Court in session with detailed models that perfectly represent the current members according to race, gender and age. The kids then go into a computer lab where they use a program that simulates a day in the president's shoes. They are sworn into office and must then sign bills, make speeches, and work with diplomatic leaders on solving today's problems. Later the kids go into a large room where the walls are covered in historical documentation, books are set out and other items to assist them in completing a questionnaire scavenger hunt.
Austin learned a lot,(in fact you should of heard some of the bills he passed) He would make a great president someday:) It was an amazing experience. Very Educational, fun and entirely out of the ordinary.