Philadelphia trip help! (resources 4th grade)

[displace]

Hi!  I'm all frazzled and flustered after being evacuated from Hurricane Irma, and I realized itoday that n a week and a half our family has a trip (pre-arranged) to Philadelphia.  I was soooo meaning to have a super awesome homeschool experience with DS 4th (state study, different place study).  Now, I need a quick intro instead.  

 

Any great book recommendations that may cover Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Betsy Ross, Benjamin Franklin, and other awesome stuff?  We will only be there a few days (and some of them half-days of arrival/departure, etc). Which books might be best, like What was, or Who was, or some other series?  We haven't gotten into any of those yet, and we haven't discussed Independence much in detail either - if at all.  I can download a lot from Learning Ally, but I may have to order something quick on Amazon and just do a read aloud.  Any PA state study books that may be quick and good?

 

There seems to be so much in Philadelphia, but we also have a family event scheduled, and I wanted to see Hershey Park (I already promised the kids :ohmy: ).  But what other places are a MUST DO while in Philadelphia?  I haven't been in probably half a decade, and that was when DS was still young.  I do love science and kids' museums, but IDK if we'll have time.  

 

Any advice on what to focus on/do/read ahead of time?  I hate frantic planning, especially with kids and trying to be educational, but nature waits for no one!  

 

Thanks for any tips!

[PeterPan]

Well if you're into it, the Rush Revere series would hit those topics and is available on audio. My ds enjoys 'em. :D

 

Have you already gone through the Jean Fritz books?

 

ELEMENTARY SCIENCE 2000 TRADE LIBRARY WHATS THE BIG IDEA BEN FRANKLIN COPYRIGHT 2000 (Elementary Science Trade Library): Jean Fritz, Margot Tomes: 9780698113725: Amazon.com: Books

 

We've been doing a state study, and honestly we're using really basic children's books you can get in the juvenile non-fiction. They seem to give a really good sense for the state. You might find that if you do it in the inverse, looking at all your tourist trap options and then planning which ones you see, it will help you narrow down what to learn about.

[displace]

Thanks! Never heard of them before, I'll look them up :)

[PeterPan]

Listen to rush revere Audiobooks | Audible.com

 

They're really cute. Fictionalized, very patriotic.

[justasque]

There are quite a few old threads here about Philly.  I always suggest Reading Terminal Market, an excellent farmer's market "food court" with a wide variety of vendors.  There you'll find tourists and locals, rich and poor, enjoying a great meal or picking up their week's fish, meat, and produce.  Food includes Amish, Greek, NY Deli, Philly cheese steaks, Mexican, Italian, Thai, and a bazillion other choices.  With ice cream and baked goods for dessert.  Take a walk through and look at everything before you choose!  

Note also that the public transportation can be useful in center city.  

Don't overlook the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.  They have many treasures from the ancient world, including a large Egyptian sphinx, Greek and Roman artifacts, and a quite interesting exhibit of native Alaskan objects.  You can go to a science museum in most major cities, but very few places have the kind of treasures from the ancient world that Penn has been collecting for over a century.  (And we have always had good luck with the docents and curators there.)

[displace]

Brother... I asked DS casually about the Boston tea party (leading up to Declaration of Independence discussion), and he gave me a detailed 10 minute synopsis with details I probably would have left out. 🙄 😂 He's too smart for me. Here I am trying to make sure he knows the basics and we should be working at probably a high school level.

 

Anyway, I'd still like recommendations. I did download some who was and who is books. I'm not sure how much use they'll be. Those other books sounds good.

[PeterPan]

Oh mercy, don't kill it by covering it at a high school level. How about just getting a guide (Frommers, whatever) and seeing what things you want to see? Are the witch trial things near there? I thought I looked into Boston for a trip, and there was really eccentric stuff. Let him dig in on the things he's going to see that interest him.

[PeterPan]

Boston 2017: Best of Boston, MA Tourism - TripAdvisor

 

I always use Trip Advisor to plan things. Gives you pictures, reviews, everything. I use it for things to do *and* food to eat. I kinda hyperplan, hehe.

Edited September 18, 2017 by OhElizabeth

[ElizabethB]

Liberty Kids movies!

 

4 DVD series for under $10, fun, prime.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Libertys-Kids-Complete-Walter-Cronkite/dp/B00CMDPTTA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1505761494&sr=8-1&keywords=liberty+kids+complete+series+dvd

 

Liberty Kids used to have a website with some activities, I'm not seeing it off the bat.

Edited September 18, 2017 by ElizabethB

[Lori D.]

... a week and a half our family has a trip (pre-arranged) to Philadelphia... We will only be there a few days (and some of them half-days of arrival/departure, etc)...

... There seems to be so much in Philadelphia... what other places are a MUST DO while in Philadelphia?

... I do love science and kids' museums

 

Below I am copy-pasting my reply from this past thread: "Educational field trip to Philadelphia -- any suggestions?" -- lots of great ideas in there from all of the posters. Have fun, whatever you decide to do! :) Warmest regards, Lori D.

_____________________________

 

 

The Franklin Institute is one cool science museum -- AND if you are a member of any sort of homeschool group and have a card to prove it, you can get an educator's discount (for just you). Don't know how fast your family takes in a museum, but I'd suggest at LEAST half to 2/3rd of a day. Make this the only event of the day if you can, due to all the walking around.

 

We also enjoyed:

- Philadelphia Mint (where they make our money!) -- FREE

- Liberty Bell -- FREE

- Independence Hall -- FREE

- Arch Street Meeting House -- FREE (probably not too exciting for young ones -- i.e., preK/Kinder)

- Betsy Ross house (NOT free -- ANY you need to get TIMED ADVANCE tickets)

- Ben Franklin's grave (NOT free) -- although, you can see his grave through the fence and toss a penny on it)

 

These are all close together, within about 3-4 blocks. We got through most of these in a half day (3-ish hours), as there is walking between sites. For this day, we parked at some meters about 1/2 mile away and fed them enough coins for 4 hours, and then walked, with a lunch bag, and ate in the park area around Independence Hall.

 

NOTE: NO bags or cameras allowed in the Mint, so half your group goes through with one parent, while the other parent hangs onto everyone's stufff and takes the rest of the group through sites nearby, and then after 45-60 minutes, meet out front and switch.

 

We also made sure to get authentic Philly Cheesesteak while there.  ;)

 

 

.. I asked DS casually about the Boston tea party (leading up to Declaration of Independence discussion), and he gave me a detailed 10 minute synopsis with details I probably would have left out...

 

Since DS has a good understanding of key events and people already, I'm with OhElizabeth on this -- don't try and jam in a ton of facts in the 10 days before you take off! What a horrible way to stress out before a fun vacation!  :eek:

 

Just enjoy your trip, and then when you get home, spend a few weeks focusing on some of those book and video resources to expand on what you saw, and follow bunny trails of interest from what DS enjoyed on the trip. For example, if he enjoys the Franklin Institute, then read a biography on Franklin and do some hands-on projects linked to Franklin's printing and science interests. If he enjoyed the American History, try the Liberty's Kids videos and other resources about Colonial / Revolutionary / Early US topics.

 

 

...Are the witch trial things near there? I thought I looked into Boston for a trip, and there was really eccentric stuff...

 

Yes, that's Salem, which is an hour or so outside of NE of Boston. No witch trials in Philadelphia. ;)

Edited September 18, 2017 by Lori D.

[Lori D.]

... I wanted to see Hershey Park (I already promised the kids  :ohmy: )...

 

You'll have to schedule Hersey Park for a Saturday or Sunday, as those are the ONLY days of the week it is open during the off-season. Actually, now that I click on the calendar, it may be off the table entirely for your trip in 10 days, as Hershey Park is closed entirely from Sept. 25-Oct. 12. :(

 

Here's the link to Visit Philly, and also, Trip Advisor, with best things to see/do in Philadelphia. Looks like there may be some cool festivals going on while you're there! And check out Atlas Obscura: Hidden Philadelphia for cool and unusual things to see/do. A lot of those would be perfect to squeeze into a half day.

Edited September 18, 2017 by Lori D.

[justasque]

Oh mercy, don't kill it by covering it at a high school level. How about just getting a guide (Frommers, whatever) and seeing what things you want to see? Are the witch trial things near there? I thought I looked into Boston for a trip, and there was really eccentric stuff. Let him dig in on the things he's going to see that interest him.

 

The eccentric stuff in Philly would include the Mütter Museum and the Magic Gardens (neither of which I'd routinely recommend for a typical 4th grader).  

 

Philly is full of public art, including a substantial number of murals on the sides of buildings; do take the time to look at these as you pass them.  

 

[justasque]

dp

 

Edited September 19, 2017 by justasque

[displace]

Ok, so I'm just having us do read alouds and autobiographies of some people and events. I was joking about high school level work. 😆

 

Since I've been busy I didn't check the thread until today, though DH kindly informed me last night that Hershey park may not be an option. Funny because I remembered it being a large park. I had no thought to check ahead of time. Argh. So, maybe not. Kids will be super bummed but if they still get chocolate I think they'll be ok.

 

Those posts are good, thanks!

 

Yes, Salem is in MA, where they have awesome things too!

[...................]

For that age group

- independence Hall

-Betsy Ross house

-Liberty Bell

 

There are two sides to Hershey- the park and the chocolate factory- there is a store and there used to be a mini tour of the factory open at all times to the public so even if the park is closed it's a nice place.

 

However if you're going to venture away from

The historic founding stuff, I would recommend Amish country and the Strasbourg Railroad! Much more interesting to that age group than the museums or even the Reading Terminal.(sorry I love those ideas but not for the age group)

 

The Ben Franklin science museum is amazing but just like Amy kids hands on museum so with limited time I would go with the railroads instead. What 10 yo doesn't love a ride on a steam locomotive!

[boscopup]

Not academically educational, but my husband took my 10 year old to Philadelphia this year, and they went to Diggerland USA, a theme park with construction equipment that the kids can use. They enjoyed it. :)

[Lori D.]

Not academically educational, but my husband took my 10 year old to Philadelphia this year, and they went to Diggerland USA, a theme park with construction equipment that the kids can use. They enjoyed it. :)

 

Oh.my.goodness. That is a *brilliant* theme park! If only that had been available when we were there! DSs *adored construction trucks when they were little!