Jan. 22, 2021 -- One of the joys of kindergarten is the experience of going on one’s first field trip. Boarding the bus — perhaps for the first time ever, walking in a quiet line, listening to an adult who is neither your parent nor teacher, learning and experiencing new and exciting things.

Obviously, in the age of Covid-19, none of that is possible. But the kindergarten teachers at Gearity Professional Development School are not letting that stop them from expanding the horizons of their young students by introducing them to new places.

Harron Hartig’s kindergarten class has already been on multiple field trips with more planned, all virtual of course. To culminate their science unit on the solar system, they visited the Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s Planetarium to participate in “Starry, Starry Night: The Sun, Moon and Sky for Little Ones” program. 

Their current physical science unit, on energy and sound, included a visit to Playhouse Square to view the musical performance of “Air.” And this month, they’ll return to Playhouse Square online as part of their study of sound and in celebration of Black Americans to experience 'Black Violin'.

The trips may not involve nametag necklaces or bumpy bus rides, but they are valuable nonetheless.