Burleson Elementary took a field trip to the Burleson Center to celebrate Alabama’s birthday Dec. 14. The field trip included special presentations by Mayor Randy Garrison and David Burleson, and allowed students to explore the Burleson Center. Students were also able to make Alabama state flag cookies, walk across a large map of Alabama and hear a story.

The field trip took place to help celebrate 199 years of Alabama being a state. Just under 90 fourth grade students from Burleson visited the Burleson Center to learn not only about state and local history, but the history of their school. The students were first welcomed by Garrison, who spoke about the role of local government and answered questions about the history of Hartselle. Next, the students heard from Burleson, the son of the man that F.E. Burleson is named after. He spoke about the long history of schools in Hartselle and the role his father had at the school.

Enquirer photo/Lauren Jackson
Joseph Tucker holds his Alabama state flag cookie during his field trip to the Burleson Center.

Jessica Halverson was the trip organizer, and said she enjoyed being able to tie the role of state and local history together. “Really we wanted to link kids to the community and to the state and show them that history is all around them,” Halverson said.

Students were also able to have a tour of the building by a former teacher, and to be shown how the school used to operate. “I wanted them to realize that even though they are in a new building it all started with a community that saw a need and came together,” Halverson said.

Students were also able to make state flag cookies and walk across a map of Alabama. Halverson took to the opportunity to show the students where each of the five capitals of Alabama were at, and to help students visualize the state.

Halverson said she enjoyed being able to show the students the different aspects about local and state history and to provide the students hands-on learning opportunities. She said her favorite part of the trip was hearing what the students had gained from the visit. “I think overall it came as the students reflected on all they learned from the day, about the people they’d met, and the pride they expressed in their community and state,” Halverson said.