Field Trips

Every Kid Outdoors Field Trip (4th Grade)

Grade Level:
Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
Subject:
Social Studies
Common Core Standards:
6-8.RH.3, 6-8.RH.4, 6-8.RH.6, 6-8.RH.7, 6-8.RH.9
State Standards:
Missouri Learning Standards for Social Studies (3-5): 1E, 1F, 2B, 2C, 3aB, 3aC, 3aG, 5C, 5E, 6B, 6D

Every Kid Outdoors (EKO) is a special field trip program for students in the fourth grade. Schools that participate in EKO with Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site have to opportunity to enjoy a fun, interactive field trip the teaches students about Ulysses S. Grant's rise from St. Louis farmer at White Haven to Civil War General and President of the United States. At the end of their field trip, all fourth graders in a given class are given their Every Kid Outdoors pass, which grants the student and his or her family free access to all NPS units until they become fifth graders. Individual fourth grade students may also earn the pass by completing a short activity on the official Every Kid Outdoors website, printing out a voucher, and visiting any NPS unit with their parent/guardian to redeem the pass. 


Pre-Visit

Prior to visiting the park, a Ranger from Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site will visit your classroom for a 30-minute presentation. The ranger will introduce students to the National Park Service and prepare them for their field trip to the site. 

Teachers also have the option of borrowing a copy of the park orientation film, "Ulysses S. Grant: A Legacy of Freedom," to show to their students prior to the field trip. A question and discussion guide is included with the orientation film. 


Field Trip

The field trip consists of three different activities and will vary depending on whether or not the park orientation film is shown prior to the classroom visit. 
 
  • A 22-minute film about Ulysses S. Grant's life (if not shown prior to the field trip)
  • A room-by-room tour of White Haven
  • A Museum activity about Grant and leadership
  • A hands-on activity about primary sources used by historians to understand Ulysses S. Grant's life (for groups who see the film prior to the field trip)
Students will receive their EKO pass at the end of the visit. This field trip lasts two hours long with about 40 minutes time at each activity station. Please note that only 15-20 people are allowed inside White Haven at one time. Schools with more than 20 students will be broken up into smaller groups and rotate between the three activities during the field trip. 

Interested schools may contact the Education Coordinator at 314-842-1867 ext. 229 to schedule a field trip. Field trips may be scheduled on the top or bottom of each hour between 9AM and 3:30PM. 


Post-Visit

A short post-visit activity asks students to reflect on their favorite moment from the Every Kid Outdoors experience through writing, drawing, or other visualization on a large index card. Teachers will be given a batch of index cards at the end of their field trip. While not mandatory, teachers are encouraged to mail the index cards back to the park at the below address: 

Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site
7400 Grant Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63123

 

Tags: ulysses s grant national historic site field trip ulysses s grant

Last updated: May 12, 2020