As her students undertake the annual task of learning about the Constitution, eighth grade history teacher Hallie Rojeski put lessons into context by taking her classes to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library. This year’s classes made the trip, Nov. 17.

At a graduation party 10 years ago, Rojeski collected the idea from another teacher who takes her eighth grade honor students to the library. After she visited for herself, the educational plan clicked into place. Now, the classes visit every year on the Thursday before Thanksgiving.

“As she talked, I realized that this would be a great field trip for us,” Rojeski said. “During that summer I visited the museum to see for myself and was so impressed that I arrange a field trip by charter bus for the fall. Since then, I have been taking the students during our study of the Constitution so they can get an idea of what it is like to be President, and because they can see a replica of the oval office.”

Though the trip is intended to further students’ knowledge of the Constitution, the museum is not directly related to the topic. Instead, students gain a look into the life of a president.

“While we do not study Reagan?s presidency in eighth grade, his life is so varied and interesting that eighth grade students find much to like,” Rojeski said. “With the addition of Air Force One (the actual plane used by seven presidents including Reagan) six years ago, the trip is even more interesting.”

Having visited the museum many times now, Rojeski has watched it changed over time. With the most recent developments, it has even more to value, she says.

“In the last year they have totally transformed the museum,” Rojeski said. “It is better than ever. It gives an over view of Reagan?s life including his early childhood, his first job, his movie and military career, his time as Governor of California, and, of course, his presidency. There are many videos, interactive activities, numerous displays, and besides Air Force One, there is a large portion of the Berlin Wall, and Reagan?s gravesite.”

While the classes endure lessons and worksheets about the Constitution, Rojeski views the Ronald Reagan Library trip as a tool to expand the students’ horizons of history.

“This field trip makes our study of the Constitution less abstract and lets the students experience another time period in American history,” Rojeski said.

For more news, read the Nov. 21 article, Civics classes familiarized with local government at City Hall.