On Wednesday 24 March, the grade one students went on a learning adventure within the Changzhou community to the Changzhou City Planning Museum. The students had the opportunity to take action to enrich their concepts of the development of buildings and structures over time and what factors might affect how they  were built and used. This was an exciting chance for the students to gain access to local information on the cities’ growth to further enrich their knowledge. The Changzhou CIty Planning Museum l is the ideal educational centre to give the students a better understanding of Changzhou geographical history. Allowing the students to view the remarkable changes over the years and how it has even greater plans for its future.

Joyful in the school bus on the way to the museum the students were pointing out all the familiar places and buildings they know in Changzhou. Upon arrival, the students were greeted by welcoming museum guides and the grade one group started their urban planning tour. The students started off their journey by learning who the first mayor of the city was and if they knew the five districts of changzhou. The tour was very engaging as the students could identify local attractions and landmarks from all around Changzhou.

During their educational bilingual tour, the museum guides enthusiastically described housing, structures, city planning, designing, layout to give the students a better idea of this concept. The students were amazed by the evolving changes of Changzhou as they travel through time. The students were asked to compare photos of certain places in Changzhou from the past with some photos of Changzhou at present. In addition, interactive E-books and digital maps naturally sparked the student's interest to explore more. The students had the opportunity to use their prior knowledge when they were engaging in discussions with the museum guides.

After arriving at the biggest exhibit hall, the student's faces lit up enthusiastically at what they saw. The biggest large scale model of Changzhou city they have ever seen! It was rewarding to see the students identifying and recognising different buildings, structures and landmarks as all the lights of the model turned on. Upon watching a video of urban planning in Changzhou, the students got to inquire about some insightful questions from their unit of inquiry wall in the classroom (UOI). The thought further about what factors could affect the development of building and structures.

Throughout the tour, the students completed the UOI field trip report where they reflected on what they have learned from this excursion.  All the students had a pleasing time as they got the opportunity to connect academic concepts and ideas to the actual world outside the classroom.

Upon completing the tour the museum guides were presented with a certificate of appreciation from the grade one students. A big thank you to the Changzhou City Planning Museum for being part of our learning community!