May 8, 2014: Royal-blue Austin t-shirts on everyone. The roar of a charter bus engine. Shouts of “I’m so excited!” and “It’s finally here!” The grinding sound of ice-chest wheels making their way across the pavement. It was an awesome day to be a Stafford 4th grader! We were loaded and headed to the Capitol Complex in Austin.

The “ooohhhs” and “awwws” erupted throughout the bus as students caught site of the Capitol. After unloading, students went on a quest exploring the grounds. Twenty monuments and architectural buildings are sprawled throughout the plush green lawn. Students observed monuments honoring pioneer women, veterans, volunteer firefighters, heroes of the Alamo, peace officers, Texas children and more. There was even a small version of the Statue of Liberty. Monuments also paid tribute to the Civil War, Spanish American War, World War II, Korean War, and Texans who were at Pearl Harbor during the 1941 bombing. Students could hardly contain themselves. Daniel Perez, a fourth grader, even spied a small plaque honoring Lady Bird Johnson, who we have studied in class.

During lunch we discovered that even the squirrels know that our motto is “Friendship.” They skittered here and there, coming close enough to touch and say hi (or maybe to find a nut).

Once inside the Capitol, our first stop took us to the office of State Representative Jim Pitts for an official class photograph. Our tour guide, Ester, explained the law-making process in the House and Senate Chambers. Students gazed up to the Texas star on the top of the rotunda, while a youth choir lifted their voices from below singing patriotic songs.

Students also enjoyed viewing portraits of Texas leaders and beheld one of the last two remaining flags of the Battle of San Jacinto. The final leg of the tour took us through the underground Capitol Extension. Gazing up through the glass ceiling, we viewed the Goddess of Liberty standing proudly at the top of the rotunda, making our Capitol taller than the United States Capitol.

We trekked a few blocks north to the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum for two fascinating films. TEXAS: The Big Picture in IMAX reminded us of Texas’ diversity and uniqueness. The Spirit Theatre gave us a thrill with special effects such as rumbling seats, gusts of cool air, and “lightning” during the film “Texas Weather.” The content of this film certainly put us on edge as we travelled home in treacherous weather.

Our students made many connections with all they have been learning in the classroom, particularly with our unit on Texas government. If you see us around town, ask us about our unforgettable trip to Austin!