9th Graders Extend Learning Beyond the Classroom on 9/11 Museum and Memorial Tour

September 16, 2019

On September 12th, the entire ninth grade class took learning beyond the classroom on a social studies field trip to the 9/11 Museum and Memorial. During this trip students went on self-guided tours around the museum, learning about the tragic event, as well as looking for artifacts that impacted them either emotionally, intellectually, or aesthetically.  

The students' assignment focused on their own reflection of the experience. They each selected and photographed artifacts from the museum, wrote two reflections and recorded one video reflection. 

The reflection criteria that they followed included:

• Describing what happened: retelling their memorable moments, identifying what was important or influential, what went well or was difficult, obstacles and successes.

• Expressing feelings: articulating emotional responses to their experiences. 

• Generating ideas: Rethinking or re-examining choices and actions increases awareness about self and situations.

• Asking questions: Questions about people, processes or issues prompt further thinking and ongoing inquiry.

The final piece of the project will be displayed on a bulletin board in the Morris Building and will include photos of artifacts the students chose, as well as authentic written reflections. In addition, the video reflections will be available for those artifacts through QR codes that will allow students to scan using their phone and to watch the video reflections at that moment, introducing their classmates to an augmented reality experience.