All the fifth and sixth grade students in Garfield School District went to the Utah State Capitol on Thursday, August 29, 2024. We went to the State Capitol to learn about the Constitution.
At the beginning of the day we woke up at 3:30 in the morning because the bus from Escalante Elementary School was going to leave at 4:00. I hurried, got dressed, packed some snacks, and hurried to get on the bus.
We picked up some students in Boulder on the way. The bus almost ran into a cow. The bus driver, Brent Cottam, had to slow so he wouldn’t hit a cow. This caused kids’ snacks to fly out of their bags and onto the floor. I think that the bus driver did a good job driving because he stayed awake all day and did not hit a cow.
We listened to a long meeting at the State Capitol. They were talking about the Constitution. Students from American Prep Academy Choir were singing patriotic songs and at the end they lowered two huge American flags. I liked the big flags that were lowered from the third floor of the building.
Me and my group did some activities and walked around the State Capitol. We met an actor, dressed as Benjamin Franklin. He gave my friend, Declan, a hundred-dollar bill because Benjamin Franklin’s picture is on the hundred-dollar bill. Turns out that hundred-dollar bill was a copy but I learned Benjamin Franklin’s face is on the hundred-dollar bill.
After we went to the Capitol Building, we drove all the way to the aquarium. At the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium I got to smash a penny and it turned into a smashed penny with a turtle on it. We saw lots of ocean animals like penguins, otters, and fish. We also saw lizards, spiders, and snakes. We got to play on a playground there. There was a zipline and a water station. I got the water wheel to spin really fast by plugging the water.
I’m thankful that I got to go. It was very fun. Thank you to the school superintendent [John Dodds] and other people who worked hard for all of us to go on the field trip. Panguitch wrote a civics grant to pay for the trip. Thanks for getting us dinner, Bryce Valley. Thanks Mrs. Orme and Mrs. Griffin for taking us on the field trip.
– by Kaslo M. (5th) Escalante
Feature image caption: Garfield School District students join other students from across the state for a presentation on the U.S. Constitution at the Utah Capitol on August 29.