Rocky Heights eighth graders goin’ downtown
RHMS eighth graders visited the Federal Reserve Bank during their field trip to Denver. Pictured from left to right: Devin Hartwig, Julia Seifert, Sydney Hairgrove, Bryan Andrews, Alex Kane, Kyle Gross, Ross Macdonald.
Article by Kathy Dunker with photo courtesy of Amy Shanahan
When was gold discovered in Colorado? Why was the Denver Omelet developed? Who was the city of Greeley named after? These are just a few of the questions that the eighth graders from Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) found the answers to on their annual field trip to downtown Denver.
This field trip is one of the highlights of the year for eighth grade students. It’s a fantastic way for the kids to bond, it incorporates critical thinking with the use of technology, and they get to learn more about the state of Colorado as an added bonus. RHMS Social Studies teacher Holly Spurlin said, “Students report that this was the best field trip they have ever taken!”
This year, the three eighth grade classes spent a day on a scavenger hunt where they were required to find the answers to over fifty questions. The hunt took them through the state capitol building, the 16th Street Mall, and the civic center area.
Following the field trip, the students created a photo essay which detailed their trip. Spurlin said, “This trip combines all the elements of core classes with 21st century critical thinking skills and the kids have a blast! Following it up with a photo essay makes it all the more memorable.”
