PHOENICIA—Field trips—a much-loved part of the traditional school calendar—are just one of the many things that are difficult to arrange during a pandemic.
At Phoenicia Elementary School, however, Grade 2 teacher Sharon McInerney has found a way to safely recreate the excitement and sense of discovery associated with field trips—despite the fact that all of her students this fall have been learning remotely, in their own homes. (Phoenicia students also have the option of attending school in person.)
Ms. McInerney is accomplishing this feat by organizing virtual, real-time field trips, which her students are experiencing by logging on to their Chromebooks at the appointed times. “The field trips are live and on location, not pre-fab, pre-recorded perfection,” she explained. “It’s real life, in real time, with real people in our community!”
So far, her class has participated in two educational “expeditions.” The first virtual visit was to a pottery studio owned and operated by Doug and Pam Peltzman, professional artists whose son Leo is in Ms. McInerney’s class.
Leo and his family gave a tour of the Shokan studio, complete with hands-on demonstrations. The youngsters learned about pottery wheels, kilns, glazes, and much more. They also learned about how different kinds of clay materials can be used to fashion useful and beautiful objects.
“Pam made a porcelain mug in front of our eyes on the wheel, explaining her techniques as she created it,” Ms. McInerney recalled. “It was a great way to bring art into our classroom and also to demonstrate that a job can be something you enjoy!”
During the second field trip, the students had the opportunity to “meet” a quarter horse named Dudley. Ms. McInerney’s daughter, Annie VanKleeck, gave the students a virtual tour of her Shokan barn, demonstrating how to tack up a horse for Western-style riding.
Ms. VanKleeck, who is studying to be a teacher, also talked about important safety measures (like wearing a helmet), as well as the daily tasks involved with horse ownership (including brushing, picking hooves, changing water, and mucking stalls).
The highlight of the equine-themed expedition was when the students got to “ride” Dudley, courtesy of Ms. VanKleeck, who took her laptop up on the horse and rode around the paddock.
The field trips, which often attract parents and other family members, help to forge and strengthen ties within the class, within families, and with the community at large. “Community building is so important during the times we are living in,” suggested Ms. McInerney. “Real people in our community wanting to be with us, teach us, and spend quality time with us—it's a great feeling!”
Learning and teaching via technology has its challenges, Ms. McInerney admits, but she is thankful for the support she and her students have received. “It has been absolutely heartwarming that everyone in our classroom community—parents, families, and students—have truly come together to help each other with tips, ideas, and sharing information on what worked and what didn't in navigating our new learning venue,” she said.
Upcoming field trips include visits to the Woodstock Highway Department, the Olive Fire Department, and the SPCA.
