Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
Keswick School Visits the Virginia Museum of Transportation
August 16, 201
6
Five students participating in the TKS Bridge Program visited the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, Virginia. There they experienced what it was like to ride aboard a private jet, sit in the engineer’s chair of a diesel train engine, and work in a mail car from the turn of the century. They also learned about the rich history of transportation in Virginia, with a focus on rail transport. Students were able to view many historic engines and automobiles, and learn about the role of aviation in transportation in Virginia.
Over the August Bridge Program students have been engaging in activities and learning experiences centering on ancient culture and technology. They have learned about Archimedes and his many inventions and the Roman invention of concrete and their creation of a massive road system. They have tried their hand at building Roman arches and aqueducts and at creating their own Greek pottery.
While at the museum of transportation, students were asked to look for connections between ancient technologies and those that fueled transportation in Virginia. They considered pistons and cogs and even looked at the lead up to modern aviation from the time of Leonardo Da Vinci’s conception of flight. They considered the relationship between railways and the roman road network. Experiences like this help our students have a connected and vibrant understanding of the world that brings learning into their daily living. Rather than simply reading a book or watching a video, we encourage our students to understand the world around them and its history through experiences that bridges their own story with their learning.
