Feltwell Fourth Graders: Living History While Building the Future
FELTWELL, England — For fourth-grade students at Feltwell Elementary School, the classroom recently expanded far beyond school walls, stretching into the historic streets and innovative learning spaces of Norwich, England. Students from Ms. Cassandra Guerin’s and Ms. Diane Seufert’s classes participated in a field trip designed to connect their host nation’s rich history with modern science and technology.
Bridging Centuries at Norwich Castle
The day began at Norwich Castle, a landmark in the East Anglia region that has stood for nearly 1,000 years as a Norman stronghold, royal residence, and former prison. Today, the castle serves as a museum showcasing artifacts excavated from the local area, allowing students to connect history directly to the community where they currently live.
As students explored the Great Hall and examined locally discovered objects, history came to life. One of the highlights for many students was the opportunity to dress in period clothing and imagine daily life in medieval England.
“It was so unique to dress up from the past and see items that were found nearby our base,” shared one fourth-grade student.
Ms. Guerin highlighted the importance of blending host-nation learning with future-ready skills.
“It’s important for our students to learn about their host nation and understand the history of the place they’re living in,” Guerin said. “At the same time, we want to continue building skills that will help them grow and succeed in the futuristic world they are becoming a part of.”
Powering Up at STEM X
The afternoon shifted from stone walls to circuit boards as students traveled to STEM X for a customized robotics workshop aligned with fourth-grade science standards on energy transfer and electrical circuits. Using updated technology, students worked collaboratively to build and program robotic models, including a radar satellite and a Royal Air Force helicopter.
The hands-on experience allowed students to apply classroom concepts to real-world systems while strengthening problem-solving, teamwork, and critical-thinking skills within a host-nation context.
A Lasting Connection
By the end of the day, the blend of medieval exploration and modern engineering left a lasting impression.
“This day was magical, and I will never forget it,” one student shared.
By learning from the history around them and applying classroom knowledge through hands-on STEM experiences, students deepened their understanding of both their host nation and their own learning. For military-connected students at Feltwell Elementary School, experiences like this help build lasting connections—to their community, their education, and the world beyond the classroom.
