This week, the third-grade classes from Merriwether Elementary School went to the Ruth Patrick Science Center at USC Aiken. Recently, the students have been studying rocks and minerals in science as well as talking about important black history figures such as Harriet Tubman and her contribution to the Underground Railroad.During this field trip, the staff at the Ruth Patrick Science Center did a fantastic job of getting our students actively engaged with both of these topics. In order to build on the students’ knowledge of minerals, the students took a short class where they got to both examine different minerals and classify them based on different categories such as color and luster. The students were able to use what they learned in class in an innovative way through several hands-on activities. Also, while on this field trip, the third grade students were amazed by the planetarium. Inside of the planetarium, the students learned about stars and how slaves reached freedom on the Underground Railroad. The students truly enjoyed this field trip and received a better understanding of both minerals as well as the Underground Railroad.