Overland... Underwater... 3rd Grade Adventure
Commemorative Air Force Museum & Globe Theater
November 21, 2009
What is seventy years old, doesn’t contain a battery or a single computer chip, yet can still evoke a chorus of “oh cools”, “wows”, and “look at thats” from a bunch of third graders? The answer, of course, is Fifi! She is an authentic, WWII era B-29 bomber parked in a giant hangar at the Commemorative Air Force museum in Midland, Texas.
| B-29 "FIFI" Bomber | F-15 Eagle | Fokker Dr. 1 "Red Baron" |
.jpg) |
.jpg) |
.jpg) |
The students went to visit the museum on Wednesday, November 18th. When they arrived, a short documentary film helped them understand the importance of the airplane, and the men that flew them, to the war effort both in Europe and the Pacific theater. They then toured a hangar full of vintage aircraft. They ranged in age from a WWI Folker D triplane (think Red Baron) to a modern F-15 Tomcat. There were fighters, transports, scout planes, bombers, and helicopters. The students were able to go up and touch the planes and get a real sense of their size and construction. The planes there are constantly maintained, or are being restored to be in flying condition.
One of the mechanics stopped working on his engine to talk to the students about the importance of school and how it can help you realize your dreams. He said his son decided in third grade to be an aviator and is now in the astronaut training program to fly the Space Shuttle. This brought a few oohs and aahs and seemed to plant a seed in some of the students.
.JPG)
After touring the rest of the museum and a less than quick stop at the gift shop, they were on their way to the Globe Theater to watch a live performance of The Little Mermaid. The Globe Theater opened in the early 1960’s as a place to perform community and professional plays. It was built largely upon the pattern of the original theater in England where Shakespeare directed his plays. The audience sits in a semi-circular pattern around the stage. The students were amazed that they were so close to the actors. Sometimes it seemed as though they were actually part of the show.
.jpg) |
.jpg) |
.JPG) |
The play was well produced and the actors ranged in age from four years old to a retired school teacher. The students were well behaved and seemed to enjoy the play very much. After the performance, the cast returned to the stage and answered questions from the students for about fifteen minutes. The students were very interested in the whole process of producing a show and asked some very well thought out questions. The director of the play was impressed by their enthusiasm. After posing with the cast for pictures, the students were herded onto the bus and on the way back to Plains.
It was a great day for students and teachers alike. They were exposed to many things that most of them had never seen. I look forward to seeing what new things await them next year.
Mr. Hise, Principal
