Top 12 Phrases of the 2009 Trip

In case anyone wanted to see it again- or laugh at the memories...

The Top 12 Phrases of the Road to Revolution Seminar 2009

12. Now Ty's GPS is taking us.....

11. Look- an old cemetary. Let's see who is buried here!

10. I just ran a marathon

9. Follow the Red Brick Road (to the tune of The Yellow Brick Road)

8. I hopped a ferry......

7. I have a great butt! (if you didn't get to see Sharon's amazing butt, you are missing out :)

6. Take out your journal and take 5 minutes to reflect

5. More Stairs? Are you kidding me?

4. The subway took us where?!?!?!

3. Change of plans, back on the bus.

2. Now, a learning strategy you could use for this is....

1. Where's Bob?

Life Changing

First, let me say Thanks to everyone for making the trip so much enjoyable. It was amazing to be able to see so many historical sites- including cemetaries, with other people who found them interesting. Also, as a new teacher I was able to learn so much from everyone on the trip. Thanks in advance for letting me take your ideas :) As for the trip itself, there were two places that were the religious experiences Gene kept talking about. The first was being able to visit Braintree and Peacefield. The love of the country that Adams had was unbelieveable. It was extremely humbling to be inside the houses where he lived. It makes me wonder how many people today would be willing to sacrifice as much as he did. I have so much more respect and love for our founding fathers now then I ever did before. The other place was Independence Hall in Philly. To see pictures about it and learn about it is one thing, but to be inside that room knowing what happened in there was almost magical. It definitely has its own spirit and I am so grateful that I was able to experience that. I did also love the Consitution Center. I'm going to implement the theme of "We the People" throughout my classroom/curriculum. I think as social studies teachers, not only are we teaching history- but we need to give our students an understanding that they are active citizens and that the founding fathers did what they did for each of them.

Thanks for all of the memories! ps, Where's Bob?

Making It Real

Now that I have had the opportunity for history to become real for myself, I will embark on a journey to make it become real for my students. Standing in Independence Hall, where the dream of many became a reality and began years of struggles was an unforgettable feeling. I only hope that through my experiences, I will be able to inspire my students to understand the sacrifices of many who came before us. Philadelphia was truly a highlight for me. Starting with the mad dash to see the Liberty Bell, Franklin Square, the Quaker Meeting Hall to the presentation in the Constitution Center, the Mint (even if it was not working), Betsy Ross' house and everything in between inspired me so much. Using the memories of my senses (although I didn't lick the bell---Riko???) during that day, I hope I can make it real for students. 5th graders want to experience things, not be told or read about them. My job has just begun to make it "real" for them. Thanks to all that I spent time with in Philadelphia- you each helped create a memory! Can I also say the signer's gallery was really interesting to me. Never have I been in a room with so many adults so close in size to my height!

A summation

What a great experience to be able to have the sensory experience I did at these wonderful sites. The challenge is now to provide my students with the opportunity to "feel" the experience. My students typically appreciate the sacrifice that was made for them, but as they often hear of the great sacrifices made on their behalf, like their parents, they sometimes, tune that out. The emotion is what my students connect with when it comes to history. Making it impactful is always a challenge. I appreciate the opportunity I had to feel the emotional impact.
Additionally, thanks for the opportunity to learn from all of you. Not only are you great teachers, but also great people.
Can't wait to see some of your pictures, which I am sure are better than the ones I have. Have a great summer.
Anyone hear how Riko's leg is doing?

Crossing Reflections

To me the Crossing of the Delaware had particular impact. Realizing how this event was a turning point for the war and how we also have an awesome DVD, The Crossing, that brings the Crossing alive for our students, really helped me to connect to the visit to this site. Looking at replicas of the boats and the size of the Delaware made the whole battle/war come alive.

Philadelphia Reflections

By far this was the most exciting day for me of the whole trip. I have been wanting to go to Philadelphia for years to see the places where the Declaration of Indpendence and Constitition were written. I absolutely loved this day. To be able to stand in Indpendence Hall in the room where our country began was amazing. There was such a feeling there and you could just feel how important the events that happened inside that room where. It was almost as if you could hear their voices and I really feel like you will always feel thier spirit inside that room. The second favorite by far was the Constitution Center. I loved the movie we were able to watch and it really made me think about the Constitution and our country. It really hit me sitting there and brought tears to my eyes. I definately have a better understanding and appreciation for our Constitition. I know that this will be brought into the classroom as I teach about the Constititon. I truely believe that every American needs to watch that video to help them gain a better appreciation for themselves. I also really enjoyed visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary War Soldier. As I went there I couldn't help but to compare it to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in D.C. It was so different. I felt like this was one of the most forgotten places in Philadelphia, yet it is so important. This tomb is really what it is all about. Men dying for our country so that we might enjoy our freedoms and the lives that we have. Inscribed on the tomb it said, "Beneath this stone rests a soldier of Washintgon's army who died to give you freedom." I think that says it all. Behind the tomb there is a statue of Washington with the inscription "Freedom Is A Light For Which Many Men Have Died in Darkness." I believe that Phildelphia captured the whole essense of this trip. The men, and women who have struggled to give us the freedom, rights, and the coutnry which we live in today. I am so thankful I was able to go on this trip. I gained so much knowledge, a better appreciation, and even more excitement about the subject which we teach. I am excited to teach my students about all that we learned and to incorporate the new materials that I was able to obtain. Thank you Larry H. Miller and Zions bank for this great opprotunity. It means more than you will ever know.

New York Reflections

I really enjoyed being able to see more of New York. I had been there about 10 years ago, but loved being able to tour not just the city, but West Point as well. I loved seeing Ft. Putman and learning about it. I have knew about that place really, and it was so interesting to me. You could just imagine the soldiers sitting in the rock fort watching out over the Hudson for the British. I also never knew about that chain they stretched across the river before. I found that very interesting. As we toured West Point it also gave be a deeper appreciation for the military and all that they do for our country and their willingness to sacrifice thier lives for us. As we got into the city, it was fun to be there once again. I forget how NY stinks. I will not miss that aspect or the wall of people to people. I really enjoyed seeing the city but would have to say that my two favorite places would have to be the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The statue is such an awesome sight to see in person. It gives you such a great feeling you could imagine the feelings that the immigrants felt when the saw her for the first time. I have never been to Ellis Island before and was so excited to go. I loved it and learned so much there about what immigrants went through before being allowed into the U.S. I loved all of the old photographs they had everywhere. It made it seem more real to be able to see the faces of people who had gone through Ellis Island. Overall, I had a great time in NY and learned much more by being able to be there in person and experience it first hand.

Boston Reflections

I have waited so long to visit this city and was so excited to be able to go there first hand. Boston has so much history and important events that happened there. I loved being able to walk around the city and see these important places. My favorite places that we saw on the Freedom Trail would have to be the Old North Church and the USS Constitution. I thought the Old North church was beautiful inside and I could just imagine them putting the lanterns in the tall steeple. I also loved seeing the USS Constitution and being able to take a tour of the old ship. It has so much history and has survived for so long. It it amazing that it never got sunk and survived through each of its 33 battles. Can you imagine how huge that ship would be dry-docked? I loved being able to stand in the same places as the Revolutionaries and in places that played such a role in history. I loved Boston and hope that I can go back there some day.

Philadelphia Reflections

Hands down, the highlight of Philadelphia for me was the National Constitution Center. Unfortunately there is no way to effectively share the experience there with my students, but the effects of that experience on me will trickle down to my students in my teaching about the Constitution. The program, as many of you experienced as well, brought tears to my eyes. Then as I walked around the rotunda there I gathered numerous ideas and insight as to how the Constitution affects our lives today. That is what I can pass along to my students, the realization that it is more than an old crusty piece of paper. It is a lasting and living document that affects their lives and their actions, even in small town Spanish Fork, Utah.
Valley Forge also left a lasting impression on me. I had no idea how enormous the encampment really was. And I was able to find, through their database, the names of three relatives who were camped there. Cool!

New York Reflections

New York City is just as I remembered it from my last trip there - busy, loud, and teaming with energy. As we set out from Boston, I anticipated the highlight of our stay in that state being a visit to Ground Zero. Our first stop in New York proved me wrong though - West Point. What an experience to visit that Academy and get the insider's tour. It gave me a renewed appreciation for the young people who selflessly enter into the service of this country.
Ellis Island surprised me as a close second to my favorite New York spot. Prior to this visit, I didn't understand how extensive a process it was for immigrants coming through Ellis Island. I didn't realize that it was more than just checking IDs and immigrants' outward appearances. The pictures and stories from this island will most definitely add to my immigration unit.

Boston Reflections

What an absolute thrill! There's little else I can say that suitably expresses my reaction to the past nine days I was able to spend with you all at some of the most important places in our nation's history. Plymouth Plantation was a real treat, interacting with the historical players there. The Freedom Trail was a grand experience, but the Boston highlights for me were Peace Field - having read about it in John Adams - and the USS Constitution. That's an impressive record for a ship, 33-0. Our trip to Lexington and Concord put the distance in perspective for me, something I fear my students struggle with as well. Being able to give them a more accurate geographic perspective will hopefully increase their understanding of the beginning of the Revolution.

What Awesome Teacher We Have!

Besides visiting all these amazing places I feel most blessed to have gain knowledge and ideas from such great teachers! I enjoyed the open mic time listening to many great and innovative teaching strategies many of the teachers were using in thier classrooms. It's always been easier for me as a less experienced teacher to steal as many ideas as I can from great teachers! You all have helped me much on this trip! I hope many of you have had the same experience I had of learning from our peers on this trip! So I would like to thank many of you for being the great teacher you are! My philosophy is I can always be better at teaching and there is always a resource in many of my fellow teachers. My philosophy was proven this past week on this amazing trip with some great Utah teachers! Thank you!!!!

How do you choose a FAVORITE place on this amazing seminar?

As I finished up my learning logs for places we had been throughout our tour I had a hard time deciding my favorite place. So I will give you a summation of where I had what Gene called a "religious experience". My first of these experiences came when we were able to tour the Adamses residence in Quincy. It was powerful to be in the rooms where many of these letters were written by Abagail to John in McCullough's book, John Adams. It was a moving book and even more moving to be in there home and see where both John and Abagail had passed away. Peacefield was beautiful and surreal.

The Freedom Trail was a venture that was coupled with many of these experiences. What historical sites one after another was found throughout this day. The Old South Church, the Boston Massacre site, the burial grounds of many patriots, Paul Reveres house, Bunker Hill and the U.S.S. Constitution! What a fun day!

Last but not least was the experience I had in Philadelphia! To be in the room where two of the greatest events happened in United States history, the signing of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution! Liberty Hall was the greatest of these "religious experiences"! It was very moving to have read about the Constitutional Convention in Miracle of Philadelphia and then to actually witness where it had all gone on! What an opportunity!!!

American Revolution by Immersion

Our journey through the American Revolutionary was amazing. Just think of the places we can tell our students that we have been and be able to show them pictures of us there! At times I felt like it was a history overload BUT I enjoyed every minute of it!

How great was it to be lead by three lovers of history on our journey (thanks Gene, Val and Cindy!). This experience of history by immersion will truly help us be better teachers in many ways! We not only were able to visit some of these amazing places but were able to interact with great teachers from all over Utah.

We shared many ideas and teaching strategies that we will be able to take back and use in our classrooms. These ideas and strategies became priceless tools for me as a teacher. The last thing this trip did for me as a teacher though was give me a thirst for knowledge in history! It once again excited my zeal for history and teaching that to our youth! What a great program for teachers! Thanks to Larry H. Miller and Zion bank for this great opportunity that I will never forget!

Last thoughts (3)

I feel that using my own personal experience to share with my class to make it more real and more personal to them. The strategies were good and there are many things I can add to my teaching, but the most effective is to make the kids know it is real and how important these events are to us and our history.

My favorite spots

wow it is hard now as I look at the pictures I took to really think about what I liked the best. I think that Independence Hall was a great palce becasue it brought a lot of what we were talking about to a head. It was amazing to see tha room that it all happened in. What the guy there said is so true, that this might be the most important room in our history. I also loved the Adams homes which ment so much more to me having read the books and seeing the HBO movie. It was makign it all so REAL That I feel is the most important thing I got out of this..making it real.

My reflections 1

Ok this is my first post of the three during/after the trip. I am going to cover a few areas that made me think the most and effected me the greatest. The first of these would have to be the sights on the Freedom trail. I was so in awe of what I was seeing and the feelign of being where it happened. Even though some of them had been commercialized I could still feel the spirit of it all. I wish I had more time there to really suck it all in. It was amazing and I loved every second I had. Bunker Hill and the North Churh really touched me.

Hello Cindy: I suppose this blog is response to "Miracle @ Philadelphia. It is a miracle that all the pieces fell together both people wise and event wise so that our nation was founded. After the events of the last 6 days  this is evident, even self evident. It is my belief that our founding fathers were very aware of their actions and what they were doing. They were aware of the very experimental part of their works. I don't think they knew what was going to happen but I get the feeling that they thought it would work? And I would like to be a spiderman on the wall ( not hiding behind some tree at the ferry) if we were to take George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, George Mason and even the insignificant George Rogers Clark and give them a look at Time Square today. I even have to wonder what Alexander Hamilton would say?

I'd also like to go on record publicly and Thank Mike for taking an old Mormon guy to Mass today. That group hug thing you guys do in the middle of Mass was probably one of the most Christian things I have ever felt. Thank you.

Where's Bob?

Time has come

I just finished 1776 for the second time. you have to give it to General Washington in being able to hold men together. Normal fellow would have been home sipping on their colonial coladadas.

By Bob

While reading, Miracle at Philedelphia, I think that the framers applied a quote from Cicero that John Adams quoted. It states, "the people's good is the highest law". Whenever they came to a stumbling block and then thought about the "people's good", it seems that they were able to compromise and work through the impasse.

While reading the book, Miriacle at Philadephia, I was impressed with Washington's ability to influence with few words. I love the description of him as "the greatest character in America". I also like the quote, "In his silence lay his strength".

As I read 1776, I couldn't help but think of Washington's motivation for fighting the war. He really had so much at stake, and very little chance of winning. I would love to be able to ask him what his motivation was.

Battles

OK gang it's about time. I have some internet links in my reports on "The Battles of Saratoga and Vincennes." These are word documents and if you copy them directly you may just click and go to the original sources. I posted them to my web page  at the following address           http://my.uen.org/51443            .            On my front page there is a set of subject tabs running along the top of the page. The tab on the far right is labeled L. H. Miller. Click on this tab and you will find the templates for our class and also word documents about, "The Battle of Vincennes" and also "The Battle of Saratoga." You may also visit any of the other subject tabs that you wish to, because I have no sacred cows about people using stuff. My only stipulation is that if you find any homework there, DON'T DO IT! I really don't want to correct it.

Enjoy and see you soon,

Bob Hoopes