Nations Classroom Blog

The city of Brotherly Love offers the chance to visit the iconic places where colonies became a free and independent nation. Philadelphia offers the opportunity to step back in time to walk in the footsteps of America's Founding Fathers, but the city has more to offer than just history lessons. Benjamin Franklin's legacy as a scientist lives on in countless museums, and students can experience the arts and theater downtown.

When planning your itinerary for a Philadelphia school trip, you'll have a lot of attractions to choose from. Here are the five most popular attractions that always make their way onto our Philadelphia itineraries!

As Veterans Day approaches, many of my colleagues are finding creative and cross-categorical ways to integrate classroom activities that honor our nation's veterans. The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia has created a few resources to help you celebrate Veterans Day in your classroom.

In October of 1787, the first copy of The Federalist Papers is published in support of the U.S. Constitution, one of the foundational documents of America's government. The authors (John Jay, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton) believed in the importance of the document and studied it from top to bottom, much like we still do in our modern-day civics classes. 

Today we have more resources when it comes to studying the Constitution, one of them being the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. If you're looking for content to spruce up your unit on the Constitution, look no further than these free, online resources. 

One of the most popular attractions in Philadelphia, the Museum of the American Revolution is dedicated to telling the story of our nation’s founding. The Museum offers guided tours with trained educators who explain the challenges and ideals that were at the heart of the rebellion.

On June 15, 1215, King John signed Magna Carta at Runnymede.

According to the Library of Congress, Magna Carta exercised a strong influence both on the United States Constitution and on the constitutions of the various states.

There were two big ideas of Magna Carta that can be seen throughout most of America's constitutional documents: that every citizen had a right to personal freedom and private property (National Constitution Center).

We all know that American women were granted the right to vote when the 19th amendment was ratified in August of 1920.  But did you know that women and free people of color were legally able to vote for years in New Jersey a century earlier?  

The newest groundbreaking exhibition at the Museum of the American Revolution will explore the history of America's first women voters and examine the reasons why this right was eventually stripped away from them nearly 30 years later.  Visitors to historic Philadelphia and the popular Museum of the American Revolution won't want to miss this new exhibition opening soon.

Happy Independence Day from our team at NationsClassroom Tours. Wherever you're located, we hope you're enjoying the day with family, friends, and barbecue. 

Even though we celebrate Independence Day on the fourth of July, there have been disagreements about the "true" independence day since 1776!

If you asked the Founding Father's when American's Independence Day should be celebrated, you'd likely receive many different answers.

With the end of the school year just around the corner, most students are looking forward to their next big steps. For our twelve to thirteen year old students, that means thinking about moving on to their final year of middle school.

The summer is the perfect time to start planning for next years eighth grade trip. Celebrate your eighth graders by putting together a special itinerary to one of the top 8th Grade School Trip Destinations.

Philadelphia is a hot-spot for student trips because of its historical significance. With Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the Museum of the American Revolution, it's easy to overlook the incredible STEM experiences Philly has to offer. 

If you're making a stop in Philadelphia, here are five amazing STEM experiences you should make time for.

Raise a glass to freedom and to one of America's founding fathers!  The founder of our nation's financial system was born in Charlestown, the capital island of Nevis and the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean.  There is some historical debate about whether he was born on January 11th 1755 or 1757.  He went on to become of America's most influential statesmen, a supporter of the U.S. Constitution, and even introduced plans for the U.S. Mint.