Civics Lessons Come to Life
Last month, the Gesher class (grades 4-5) went to the State Capitol to tour the Connecticut State Capitol Building, the Legislative Building, and the Museum of Connecticut History. The trip was the culmination of their unit on the American Revolution and the subsequent creation of the three branches of government, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. At the start of the tour, the students were introduced to Representative Jillian Gilchrest and Senator Derek Slap. The group met in one of the committee rooms where legislators debate issues before they are sent on to the Senate or House. Gesher students were encouraged to ask questions about this process or state government in general. After going through the underground tunnel connecting the Legislative Building to the Capitol, the students learned some Capitol history and saw statues of famous Connecticut heroes/heroines. When they toured the House of Representatives chamber, more than one student mentioned that they "remember this from iCivics" (an educational game they play in the morning), drawing fantastic connections between their knowledge from class and their in-person experiences at the Capitol.