By Sabrina Fay
Over the course of the year, the Port to Port class has ventured outside of the classroom on many occasions in order to take in the beauty of New Bedford and better understand their history lessons through little pieces of local history. This week, this work all culminated into the class and Mrs. Eastman setting their own itinerary for learning and a great deal of fun. Putting their knowledge of the spice trade to use, each student created a special dish to serve to the group; among the delicacies was stir fry, tiramisu, and tortellini salad made with fresh tomatoes! This meal was had at the Belle Maison Studio, the site of which used to be an old whalers' dormitory.
This, and many other spots around Westport that the class traveled to, gave Mrs. Eastman an opportunity to lecture about Massachusetts history in connection with various world events and important societal constructs, from the world wars to architectural development. Driving past numerous farms and reading the descriptive plaques on many of Westport's homes prompted discussions on economy, agriculture, and more. Seeing the students' eyes light up coming across the old World War II forts on Gooseberry island and hearing the excited tenor of their voices in talking about the richness of the cultures from which their recipes originated was a testament to place-based learning and the efficacy of Port to Port itself.
The class on Gooseberry Island
And of course, what field study would be complete without a trip to a sea port? At the Westport pier the students eyed scallop and lobster boats of various shapes and sizes, getting the chance to see up close and personal what they had been reading and writing about in their journals for months, as Mrs. Eastman relayed facts and figures about the sea food industry.
The weather, the company, and the learning made it a truly memorable experience that the students overwhelmingly agree was more informative than just a classroom lecture on its own. This final field study of the year perfectly encapsulated all the best elements of taking the Port to Port class and put a delightful cap of firsthand experiences on many of the lessons the students have taken over the year. It was a high, high note for this year's field studies to end on, and this particular intern can think of no better way to have polished off her turn as digital storyteller for this class.
The class overlooking the rest of Westport from the pier. To see some other pictures from the trip, check out the Field Study page!