Field Trips
National Mall & Memorial Parks
- Partnership - National Park Trust: Buddy Bison Program
September 30, 2024
3rd Grade
Each Buddy Bison trip aims to incorporate the three pillars of the Buddy Bison School Program: Students learn about 1) lessons in STEM, history, and/or social studies, 2) the health and wellness benefits of outdoor recreation and 3) their role as our future stewards of parks and the environment.
The walking tour started at the Jefferson Memorial, where students were welcomed by a park ranger who led them for the day. Memorials along the tour included the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, FDR Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, and Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Cox Farms
October 24, 2024
ECE/Kindergarten
Students were provided with hands-on experiences of the farm lifestyle. Students learned all about milking cows and had the opportunity of milking a heifer for themselves! Through various hands-on activities, students hoist bales of straw, used the grain elevator, and pumped water. Students also were able to visit the apple orchard and learned about the life cycle of the apple and the process of making apple cider.
Aquatic Resources Education Center - Canoemobile
- Partnership - National Park Trust: Buddy Bison Program
October 25, 2024
3rd Grade
All Buddy Bison trips aim to bring their three pillars to life; students will learn about 1) lessons in STEM, history, and social studies, 2) the health and wellness benefits of outdoor recreation, and 3) their role as our future stewards of parks and the environment.
Canoemobile is a “floating classroom” that took students on local waterways in 10-person canoes to learn about science, history, geography, and culture. These experiences are often enhanced with land-based activities from partners like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service. Canoemobile connects classroom learning to the outdoors, helping improve school performance, foster stewardship, and develop essential social-emotional skills. Traveling across the country, Canoemobile provides immersive field trips for students from diverse backgrounds, reaching over 30,000 youth and adults annually. It also offers free paddling opportunities in local communities to encourage recreation, learning, and community-building.
Ford's Theater
November 7, 2024
5th Grade
The Ford's Theater trip was a historical visit focused on the events surrounding Abraham Lincoln's assassination on April 14, 1865, and its lasting impact on the nation. During the field trip, students:
- Toured the theater and museum with an educational guide,
- Saw the box where Lincoln was shot,
- Learned personal stories from Civil War-era Washington,
- Discovered the fates of the assassination conspirators and the manhunt for John Wilkes Booth, and
- Explored the complex legacy of President Lincoln.
Baltimore Aquarium
November 8, 2024
5th Grade Boys Group
The 5th Grade Boys Group visited the Baltimore Aquarium for an educational field trip, where they had the opportunity to explore marine life and learn about various aquatic ecosystems. During their visit, the students:
- Explored diverse exhibits featuring sea creatures from around the world, including fish, jellyfish, and sharks
- Gained knowledge about ocean conservation and the importance of protecting marine environments
- Learned about the different habitats and ecosystems that support aquatic life
- Engaged with interactive displays that deepened their understanding of marine biology and ecosystems
- Had the chance to observe live animals and discuss the science behind their behaviors and adaptations.
Overall, the trip provided an enriching experience that expanded their knowledge of the ocean and environmental science.
National Children's Museum
November 22, 2024
ECE/Kindergarten
Students were provided with playful STEAM experiences that sparked curiosity and developed 21st-century skills. Through the various exhibits, students were able to build muscle while moving their bodies, discovered light and shadow (called naïve physics!), explored with their senses, and tried new learning experiences.
MPD's Youth and Family Engagement Division Holiday Celebration
December 6, 2024
Kindergarten / 1st & 2nd Grades
A select group of students had the exclusive opportunity to attend a private, invite-only event filled with fun holiday-themed activities and entertainment by the "Side-by-Side Band." The event offered a festive atmosphere to celebrate the holiday season, providing a cheerful environment for students to connect with each other and engage with "Officer Friendly." It was a special occasion that allowed students to enjoy the season’s spirit while building meaningful connections.
White House Tour
December 6, 2024
4th & 5th Grade
President's Park offered several school programs at the White House Visitor Center to help students strengthen skills in critical thinking, analysis, observation, research, and writing, all while learning about presidents, the White House, and President's Park.
Ford's Theater
December 9, 2024
4th Grade
The Ford's Theater trip was a historical visit focused on the events surrounding Abraham Lincoln's assassination on April 14, 1865, and its lasting impact on the nation. During the field trip, students:
- Toured the theater and museum with an educational guide,
- Saw the box where Lincoln was shot,
- Learned personal stories from Civil War-era Washington,
- Discovered the fates of the assassination conspirators and the manhunt for John Wilkes Booth, and
- Explored the complex legacy of President Lincoln.
Baltimore Aquarium
December 13, 2024
ECE/Kindergarten
Our ECE and Kindergarten students had an amazing adventure, getting up-close with animals, exploring their habitats, and discovering the exciting careers that make science so cool! They learned all about conservation and brought STEM concepts to life in the most fun and hands-on way possible!
Robinson Nature Center
- Partnership - National Park Trust: Buddy Bison Program
February 21, 2025
3rd Grade
All Buddy Bison trips aim to bring their three pillars to life; students will learn about 1) lessons in STEM, history, and social studies, 2) the health and wellness benefits of outdoor recreation, and 3) their role as our future stewards of parks and the environment.
Students took part in the Starlight, How Bright program, watched a Planetarium Movie, and explored the nature center exhibits. During the classroom portion of the Starlight, How Bright program, students explored the size and scale of our solar system, as well as objects other than planets that are near our solar system. In the planetarium, students viewed different components of the solar system (stars, moons, meteoroids, and planets) and learned their various attributes.
The National Building Museum
February 28, 2025
ECE/Kindergarten
Our ECE and Kindergarten students had a blast exploring how homes are built! They learned all about the tools, materials, and steps it takes to construct a home, and even got to build one of their own. With the help of a museum educator, they discovered how what they’re learning in school connects to their own community. This adventure also tied into their study of "Buildings in My City!" as part of the DC Young Explorer program. What a fun way to bring learning to life!
Museum of Natural History
March 11, 2025
1st-5th Grade
The purpose of this field trip was to help students make the necessary connections with the content they were exposed to in the STEM classroom through experiments and other hands-on activities. The field trip also provides learning and engagement through real-world, hands-on experiences that complement classroom instructions and foster a deeper understanding of STEM concepts and their applications. The National Museum of Natural History encapsulates various elements and focus topics for all these grade levels such as: fossils, the ecosystems, mammals, mineral and gems, botany among others.
Kelly Miller MS Tour
March 17, 2025
5th Grade
Our 5th grade scholars were invited to tour and learn about what Kelly Miller Middle School offers. It was an opportunity to ease their transition to middle school for those interested in attending for middle school. By touring their potential future school, students were able to familiarize themselves with the new environment, meet some of their future teachers, and get a sense of the daily routines and expectations. This experience helped reduce anxiety about the upcoming change, built excitement for the new academic and social opportunities, and fostered a sense of community and belonging. Overall, this visit will make the move to middle school smoother and more enjoyable for everyone involved.
Cluster III Competition - Battle of the Books
April 2, 2025
Debate Team
Our 4th and 5th graders had an amazing time on their field trip to the Battle of the Books competition! This exciting event brought together 15 elementary schools from Cluster III for an epic showdown of reading skills. The students had spent months reading five fantastic books: Bud, Not Buddy, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Holes, Because of Winn-Dixie, and The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.
On the big day, our team came together with enthusiasm and energy to show off everything they had learned. Even though we didn’t take home the trophy this time, the students had an absolute blast competing and sharing their knowledge with others. The best part? The friendships and memories they made with fellow book lovers.
Next year, we’re ready to come back stronger and give it our all to WIN BIG! Until then, we’ll keep reading, learning, and having fun—because in the end, it’s all about the love of books!
Ultimately, a trip to the zoo offers a unique opportunity for boys to bond with each other, experience the natural world up close, and gain a better understanding of who they are and how they relate to the world around them.
Upcoming Trips
- Kingman Island - 4.23.25 (4th Grade / Partnership - Living Classrooms Foundation)
- Port Discovery - 5.9.25 (1st & 2nd Grade)
- Natural History Museum - 5.13.25 (ECE & Kindergarten)
- National Air and Space Museum - 5.29.25 (3rd Grade / Partnership - National Park Trust: Buddy Bison Program)
- National Zoo - 5.24.25 (2nd Grade & ELS)
- US National Arboretum - 6.6.25 (2nd Grade)
- International Spy Museum - 5.29.25 (4th & 5th Grade)
- Spirit of Washington - 6.10.25 (5th Grade Class Trip)