Nations Classroom Blog

June is here, the summer solstice has come and gone, and most teachers are officially on summer vacation.  Nothing is more important for teachers than taking some time for self-care and relaxation before the next school year begins in September (or at least before the “Back to School” signs come out in mid-July). 

But before you completely disconnect for summer, here are three easy steps you can take to make sure the next school year begins smoothly. And it won’t take you longer to do than one episode of HGTV’s House Hunters.  I promise. So open up a blank google doc or take out your bullet journal and reflect on these three questions...

If you have visited Gettysburg National Park, you've seen at least one of the 1,328 monuments, markers, and memorials that are on display across the historic battlefield. You may have even seen one of them any statues of generals mounted on horseback.

But have you heard the urban legend of the horse statue hoof symbolism?

Happy Independence Day from our team at NationsClassroom Tours. Wherever you're located, we hope you're enjoying the day with family, friends, and barbecue. 

Even though we celebrate Independence Day on the fourth of July, there have been disagreements about the "true" independence day since 1776!

If you asked the Founding Father's when American's Independence Day should be celebrated, you'd likely receive many different answers.

The Student & Travel Youth Travel Association administered a global survey of over 2,000 teachers and tour leaders over the course of two years to study the impact of youth travel on our students. Their findings suggest that "in the current globalized world, travel represents a vital learning experience, and not simply a luxury."  Travel provides relevance to today's students, who are often inundated with standardized tests and curriculum.  

The results are in!  The number of 2019 visits to each of the Smithsonian Institutions have been tallied and reported.  Can you guess which of your favorite Smithsonian museums had the most visits?

Charles Darwin would be 211 years old today and institutions across the world are celebrating #DarwinDay in honor of his revolutionary contributions to the world of science.

The Arlington National Cemetery will be expanding acreage in order to provide more 60,000 more burial plot for U.S. service members.  This expansion will ensure burial space for service members through 2050. Without the expansion, the cemetery is estimated to run out of burial plots in 22 years.  

The interior of the Mount Vernon Mansion will be closed for scheduled annual preservation work from January 27 to February 9, 2020. While no interior tours will be held during those two weeks, the rest of the estate and museum will remain open.  Visitors to Mount Vernon during the restoration will receive 25% off general admission prices. 

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is celebrating its 60th anniversary of its dedication in Washington, D.C.  Have you ever visited the Basilica? Read more about the largest Catholic church in North America in today’s blog post.

Today marks 133 years since the Statue of Liberty was dedicated in New York City in 1886.  The famous symbol of American freedom stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor in New York.  As one of the most recognizable statues in the world, no class trip to New York City is complete without a visit to the Statue of Liberty. 

Read on to check out our 5 favorite ways to experience the Statue of Liberty with students.