The following story is adapted from a press release provided by Education in Action.

Fourth graders from Garland ISD’s Walnut Glen Academy for Excellence stepped out of the classroom and into history on May 8 during an Education in Action Discover Texas Field Trip to Austin and San Antonio. The hands-on experience brought their social studies and science lessons to life.

Students kicked off the day with activities on the charter bus, preparing for their visits by learning what makes Texas history so unique. Their first stop was the Texas State Capitol in Austin, where they explored the Senate and House of Representatives chambers and visited the offices of their local legislators, State Senator Bob Hall and State Representative Ana-Maria Ramos.

The group then traveled to San Antonio to tour the Alamo, gaining a deeper understanding of its role in the Texas Revolution. On the way home, they stopped at Inner Space Cavern in Georgetown to explore geological formations and learn about ecosystems and the water cycle through hands-on activities like panning for minerals.

“Education in Action’s Discover Texas Field Trips are based on the understanding that the most effective way for students to learn is through experience,” stated Jennifer Pasteur, Education in Action’s Executive Director. “Student activities during Discover Texas Field Trips reinforce and supplement Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) learning objectives in fun and hands-on ways at significant Texas sites that bring the content to life.”

Education in Action’s Discover Texas Field Trips make it easy for teachers to take their 3rd, 4th, or 5th-grade classrooms on organized, fun, and educational site-based learning experiences. For more information, visit educationinaction.org.