We want to start this week's journal entry by telling you
that we are still trying to get all of the signed
media slips turned in so that we can post pictures of the
kids on this web site. We simply cannot do so until we have
those forms. We're hoping to be able to post pictures very
soon. We've taken a lot of pictures and have some fun ones
to share!
This week both grades completed the state of Illinois and
are now in their second state...
Missouri. It was the second
largest mileage week so far, and the 4th graders were
able to get a 7-mile lead over the 5th graders.
Mr. Staso
came in to tell a story about how Route 66
began. He also shared with the kids a
Route 66 slideshow
and then ran/walked with them... taking lots
of pictures along the way!
So, let's get to the important stuff! Where are the students
now? Well, the leading 4th graders are 8 miles south of
Stanton, Missouri - which is home to the world famous
Meramec Caverns. The caverns opened for tourist business in
1935 by a gentleman named Lester Dill. Mr. Dill was always
looking for ways to make money, and it's been said that he
created the first bumper stickers for cars. The town of
Stanton is also the alleged hideout of gangster Jesse James and his
gang, and is where you'll find the
Jesse James Museum. The 5th graders are only about a mile south of Stanton
and can easily make up the 7 miles that they're currently
behind the 4th graders.
Missouri is a state with heavy interest in manufacturing,
shipping, and the aerospace industry. It's also a world
leader in the production of corncob pipes! Most of
Missouri's land is nestled between the state's two major
cities -
St. Louis and
Kansas City. It's a state of rolling
hills, lots of antique stores, and a very simple slogan for
tourists selected by the state department of tourism -
"Come to Missouri. There's no state quite like it."
The kids navigated their way safely through the bustling
town of St. Louis, which is the 18th largest metropolitan
area in the United States. There are 2,801,033 people in St.
Louis and it was named for King Louis IX of France. Of
particular pride to St. Louisans are two events which
occurred in St. Louis at the beginning of the 20th century,
the
1904 World's Fair and
1904 Olympic Games (the first ever
held in the United States). St. Louis is also referred to as
the "Gateway to the West" due to the many people who moved
west through St. Louis via the Missouri River (first leg of
the Oregon Trail) and other wagon trails. The "Gateway
Arch", pictured to the left, is the most well-known symbol
of the city.
The students also encountered the
National Museum of
Transport this week, which has great displays of trains and
steam locomotives. Definitely worth seeing! Missouri also
constructed the first major
Route 66
park. It is a 419-acre recreational facility that
has
a history exhibit, gift shop, picnic areas, hiking/biking
trails, and river access. Let's see... what else did the
kids run/walk past this week? Well, they also went by a
place called Villa Ridge, where in the 1920s Mr. Spencer
Groff had some tiny but highly successful businesses...
including an all-night banana stand! He even constructed a
restaurant that was in the shape of a baseball diamond. Of
course, he named it "The Diamonds".
The kids had a terrific week and we're glad that they're now
virtually running and walking through the state of Missouri.
They still have about 230 miles left to go in Missouri, and
there will be lots to experience along the way!
Click Here To Read The Next
Journal Entry > >
|
5th Grade (41 students): They
did 81 miles this week.
Their total
is 363 miles.
