You can teach a child about the ocean from a book. In our Elementary program, children also go and stand at the edge of it. Noozhawk ran a story about Going Out, the field trips our Elementary students help plan themselves.
A morning at the shore with the Maritime Museum
On a trip with the Maritime Museum, students learned why the ocean matters, how much oxygen it provides, and which creatures live in and around it. They were given the tools to catch a sand crab, build it a small habitat, and release it back into the sand. From the shore, the class watched a pod of dolphins playing in shallow water. Then they put their questions to a docent and learned about their own role in connecting with the marine environment.
Children who plan the trip learn more from it
Going Out lets children explore the world around them and connect what they learned in theory with real life. Seeing an idea from class with their own eyes makes the work tangible and relevant. Students also help plan and prepare each outing, from researching where to go to organizing the logistics.
Melinda Creman, who led our Elementary program at the time, said trips like these also build independence and responsibility. Planning them builds critical thinking and organizational skills. Over time, it helps children become self-directed learners. She also saw what happens when children leave familiar ground. “By stepping outside their comfort zones, students build resilience, adaptability, and a sense of adventure,” she said.
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South Coast Montessori
