ISHPEMING, Mich. (WZMQ) – On Friday morning, five classes of Lakeview Elementary fourth graders made their way to Ishpeming for a tour of the Cleveland Cliffs Mine Shaft.
The students had the chance to walk through one of the tunnels, see where miners prepared for their descents, and got to partake in a geology lesson.
“We’re connecting the past to the present, giving students a real-life feel for how mining has been a part of the background for this community for years and years,” said Fourth Grade Teacher, Nathan Fisher.
The fourth graders have been learning about local mining history this fall. They say being able to see it in person was a highlight of the experience.
“It feels really good learning about all of this history, it ties in with what we’ve learned in class” said Kamdyn Treloar and Jackson Speaker.
“It’s cool that we learned about it and now we get to see everything in real life,” said Teagan Harper and Margo Solander.
“We’ve been learning about where you can find iron ore and copper, we’ve also been learning about how they’ve been able to dig it up and create copper and iron ore,” said Vallory Swindle and Harper Thomas.
For every student who spoke with WZMQ 19, it was all their first trips to the museum. The school holds the annual trip with help from the historical organization, even during its touring off-season.
“Once you get the kids outside the classroom it cements all that learning, they just love it,” said Fisher. “Every year the museum goes all their way to help set up the trip, and we really appreciate that.”
To top the day off, the kids wrapped up the visit with pasties for lunch. Find out more about the Cliffs Shaft Mining Museum at ishpemingcity.org.
