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As part of our government study we took a field trip last week to our State Capitol in Lansing Michigan. We had almost 40 moms and kids who made the trip to tour the capitol and then tour the four story Michigan History Museum down the street. We took time out for sack lunches we brought with on the lawn at the museum. God gave us great weather for the day!
The capitol building was beautiful! It’s all hand painted and they showed us lots of pictures of just how much restoration work they’ve done in recent years.
We got to sit in on the senate in session. One of the younger kids who was with us was appalled at the lack of respect the people were showing for whoever was speaking. If you’ve ever sat in on a similar session you’ll understand what she means. Everyone is wandering around, talking and doing their own thing while someone is at a podium speaking. For me I was noticing how much had changed.
When I was a Junior in high school I had gone on a trip to Washington D.C. with a program called Close-up. We sat in on sessions of both the U.S. House and Senate. The State seems much the same only NOW they all have laptops on their desks and voting is virtually instantaneous. It was amazing the difference a little more than 20 years makes. Does that mean I’m old?
After the tour and lunch we went to the Michigan History museum. We had a docent who walked with us much of the time and was very good at using the kids as examples and bringing the various exhibits to life using props and things. There were only a few references to “millions of years” we had to go over with the kids on the way home. (To which they reply, “I KNOW mom!”) After the tour the museum gave each of the moms a huge teacher pack of reproducibles to go with what we saw. Great unexpected bonus!
So if you’re in Michigan check it out sometime. Oh, and it’s free! Can’t beat that!
Gina | 
