Friends Good Will

What an experience!  It is amazing to see the students out on Lake Michigan raising sails and learning about how people, and goods moved during the 1800's.  We began studying the Northeast Region this week, and how immigrants first came to America on sailing vessels like The Friends Goodwill.  The staff at the Michigan Maritime Museum does an amazing job recreating this time period for the students.  They use old nautical language and dress in 1800's style sailor suits.  The chance for students to relive history in this way represents the ultimate learning experience in my opinion.  Not only is this trip a fantastic experience for anyone, but the team building that takes place among the class as they raise and lower sails, help to pretend to load the gun, and learn knot tying skills is unmatched on any other field trip I've been on.  This is our culminating trip of the year, and it ties together our beginning of the year studies of the Great Lakes and our end of the year study of the Northeast Region.  I feel so fortunate that we can provide these types of experiences for kids.