Source: Sussex Academy
Sussex Academy fourth graders made the most of an educational field trip by exploring Delaware’s ecosystem at St. Jones Reserve and state history at the John Dickinson Plantation.
“It was a fantastic learning experience,” said teacher Don Ott, of the trip he planned in coordination with teacher Tiffany McMahon at no cost to students; the trip was fully covered by activity fees. “Even our bus driver joined in, taking an interest in the historical sites, which the students found exciting!”
First, students visited St. Jones Reserve in Dover, where they explored the coastline and discovered the vital role of horseshoe crabs in the ecosystem.
“Students engaged in hands-on learning, uncovering fascinating facts—like how horseshoe crab blood is used to test medical equipment before it’s used on humans,” Ott said.
Next, the class visited the John Dickinson Plantation, where they toured the Dickinson mansion, smokehouse, Samuel Dickinson’s gravesite, and the visitor center.
“They participated in an interactive activity, filling small cloth bags with herbs, historically called ‘sachets,’ which were used to keep bugs away from clothing,” Ott said.
Students also learned about John Dickinson’s role in history. Dickinson’s plantation was once operated by enslaved individuals; Dickinson freed his slaves nearly 100 years before the Emancipation Proclamation.
“The plantation later became part of the Underground Railroad, playing a crucial role in helping enslaved people escape to freedom,” Ott said. “Overall, this field trip was a memorable, hands-on experience that deepened our understanding of history, nature, and the impact of those who came before us.”
Sussex Academy is a tuition-free, public charter K-12 school in Georgetown, Del. Its mission is to foster academic achievement and social responsibility in a small school environment where students participate in a highly accelerated college preparatory program that prepares them for the technological and global mindedness needed for the 21st century and that instills ethical conduct and service to others in their day-to-day lives.
