Field Trip !
Do you remember the feeling of excitement you experienced when a teacher announced an upcoming field trip ? I do !
For many years , the Monroeville Historical Society and the Gateway School District partnered to bring 5th grade students to the historic McCully Log Home and McGinley Stone House . The tours gave the children the opportunity to experience the living conditions and furnishings of 18th century pioneer life , to handle the implements used to plow and harvest crops , and to laugh while speculating on the consequences of no indoor plumbing . The educational field trips began in the mid- 1980s and flourished under the direction of Dick McClain , a local social studies teacher and eventual historical society president . The program hosted an average of 150 students a year for almost 30 years before budget constraints brought it to an end in 2017 .
Thanks to Joy Mattis , an energetic and dedicated 4th grade teacher at Evergreen Elementary School , the field trips are back ! In 2022 , Mrs . Mattis contacted the historical society about the possibility of a tour for her class . Two equally energetic and dedicated historical society volunteers , Denise Leithauser and Tracy George , responded with a wholehearted “ Yes !” Miss Denise and Miss Tracy have hosted school tours for the last two years and are on track to do them again in 2024 . The Monroeville Historical Society is happy to have the students back and grateful to its volunteers for making it happen .
Mrs . Mattis ’ desire to create a meaningful learning experience for her students is the driving force behind bringing the tours back , but the tours are only part of the curriculum . To immerse her students in the history of Monroeville , she utilizes activities like creating timelines and engaging in interactive games . Her students learn about the Native American tribes that once inhabited the area , and trace the lineage of the founding families of Monroeville to develop a comprehensive understanding of the area ’ s heritage . Mrs .
Mattis tells us her students enjoy comparing historical maps , sales ads , and photographs with their modern counterparts . “ The airports and drive-in theaters are landmarks that capture the students ’ attention , as well as Burke ’ s Glenn Amusement Park and The Holiday House .”
The students culminate their journey through Monroeville ’ s past with a field trip to the historic properties , including the Old Stone Church and Crossroads Cemetery , where they can connect the artifacts and stories they studied in the classroom . Historical society volunteers dress in period clothing for the school tours to provide an immersive experience for the students . “ The tours are a major undertaking , but I love everything about them ,” says Miss Tracy . “ The kids are attentive and inquisitive .”
According to Mrs . Mattis , the collaboration with the Monroeville Historical Society has significantly enhanced the educational experience of her students by intertwining curriculum objectives with real-world exploration . The MHS hopes that the students leave with a memory that just might spark a lifelong interest in and appreciation of history .
The cost for each classroom ’ s field trip is approximately $ 110 for buses . If you would like to help offset the cost , you can make a donation online at monroevillehistorical . org or send a donation to the MHS c / o Municipality of Monroeville , 2700 Monroeville Blvd ., Monroeville , PA 15146 . Be sure to indicate that the donation is to support the cost of a field trip .
For more information about the Monroeville Historical Society , join us for our monthly meetings on the third Tuesday of each month , 6:30 p . m . at the Monroeville Library , and if you have a story to tell , contact the MHS at publicity @ monroevillehistorical . org or 412.510.7568 . Thank you to Joy Mattis and Tracy George for their contributions to this article . Article by Nancy Philpot .
For more information about the Monroeville Historical Society , visit monroevillehistorical . org , email info @ monroevillehistorical . org or call 412.856.1000 .
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