Field Trip: The Mayflower and Plymouth Rock
One of the advantages of homeschooling is being able to take an unexpected opportunity to make history really come alive for your children. When DH was scheduled for a training class for work in the Boston area, the girls and I got to tag along to explore the history-rich village of Plymouth, Massachusetts. It was the perfect timing to kick-off our Thanksgiving and Pilgrim studies for November!
Big Sis was in awe of seeing it all in person, soaking up the atmosphere as she imagined what it must’ve been like when the Pilgrims landed here. She was surprised to learn that they arrived in December, which must have made it even more difficult. She read every sign along the walkways and we discussed the details, making note of any questions that we wanted to look up later.
Big Sis treated the memorial with respect, commenting about the litter that others had thrown. I was proud to see her mature behavior and concern for the national landmark.
Her first comment about the Mayflower was, “All those people came all that way in a boat like THAT?” Can you imagine 102 people spending 66 days sailing into the unknown on a relatively small boat? Not exactly a luxury liner! Of course this is a smaller replica, but accurate in its details.
I wish I could’ve captured the look on her face as she learned about the conditions on the Mayflower, the sickness and death that the Pilgrims endured. All because they believed, they had faith, they had ideals. When she heard that half of the people died that first winter, her eyes got a little teary.
on a cold December day
a hundred and two pilgrims
sailed into Plymouth Bay.
Still wary from their voyage –
still bracing winter’s chill –
they kept their sights on freedom
with courage, work, and will.
Pilgrims did not stop to think
of riches, fame, or glory
while bravely playing starring roles
in our new nation’s story.
I’m thankful that those brave souls were determined enough to make the voyage. I’m thankful for the sacrifices they made to do it. I’m thankful for the freedoms we have in this country today because of their dedication. At Thanksgiving time, how can we not take a moment to think of these people who celebrated the very first Thanksgiving?
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Wow, I wanna go there. It’s pretty far for us but hopefully someday I’ll get to take the kids.
God Bless.
We went there in April this year. It was fantastic. I had a TON of fun and my kids enjoyed it – added bonus. 😉
What a great field trip just before Thanksgiving!! Thanks for linking up with FTF!
<--- jealous! I SOOO wanted to bring the kids to Plymouth this fall! (Did you go to the plantation too? Favorite!) We love staying at John Carver Inn – there’s an indoor waterslide that comes out of the “Mayflower”! LOL) Such a fun place! You don’t live in Maine by any chance? We do!
What a great field trip it is on my list of places to visit when we return to the states:) Thanks for sharing on the Homeschool Field trip hop:)
Forgot to say I am now following you:)
What a wonderful trip I would have LOVED to go there, ….someday. Thanks for sharing
We would LOVE to visit there! Thank you for sharing. I’m stopping by from the Homeschool Field Trip Blog Hop.
Oh, I WOULD LOVE to go on that field trip! We watched a video last night that made me want to hop in the car and head to Boston!!!
Awesome! I am currently planning a road trip for this coming summer and we will be going to Plymouth! Great pictures.
What great timing and field trip!! Looks like you guys had a blast!
This is one of those places on my I need to go there! Right now we are living on the other side of the country, so I’m happy to live vicariously through posts like yours.
What a way to celebrate Thanksgiving! It is also fun to visit historical sites like this and learn a little about our forefathers. And as for the Mayflower boat, I think it is bigger than the replica. According to history, the original weighs 180 tons and is 100 feet in length! [Cami Collazo]
Can you somehow make a virtual tour of the ship? Can you do it with plymouth, eccept when it is like the way the pilgrims first saw it.