Canadian Adventures 2011: Grade 8 School Trip - Ottawa 25th

Wednesday 25th May
Well there has to be some advantages of teaching this age group :-) I headed back to Ottawa on a bus with 60 excited grade 8 students. I was just as excited to be heading back to Ottawa, having already been in the middle of winter when it was freezing and covered in snow, I couldn't wait to see it during a different season!

Grade 8 in front of Parliament House

Grade 8

We left school just before 8am and really had a quiet drive to the capital city, maybe the ipod helped :-). Our first stop was the Canadian War Museum. Fascintating displays (well I thought so, not so much the kids :-) seemed to wind there ways through life size trenches. Even Hitlers actual car is part of the exhibit - just incredible.

Walking through trenches

Hitler's car

Tomb of the unknown soldier
At 11am on the 11th day of the 11th Month
The sun shines in and directly hit the tomb stone!

We then made our to Parliament Hill for a tour of the Political Buildings. Last time I was here it was so so so cold that we didn't want to even take our gloves off to take photos. I was glad I was going to get a chance to go inside, and what a stunning building it.

Parliament without all the snow

Peace Tower

House of Commons

Inside Parliament House

Parliamentary Library

Parliamentary Offices

The Senate

After dinner in Byward Market we went on a ghost walk through the city. It was such a lovely evening and I got another chance to see the Rideau Canal, last time I was here I skated on it :-)

Byward market

Rideau Canal - I skated down there :-)

Sunset over the canal

I love spring :-)

Thursday 26th May

We headed back to Parliament Hill where I was able to leave the group for a moment and race up Peace Tower for lovely views over the city. It wasn't such a nice day today, with rain and clouds but still it was wonderful to see the city from above.

The kids were then given free time to buy lunch and go shopping in byward market - I love these kinds of school trips :-) Also the school hires tour guides and security guards at night so the teachers are really just along for the ride - I will be bringing these suggestions back to HSPS :-) That meant that I also had some time to be a tourist again in Byward market!

Ottawa River

Parliament Library and Ottawa River

The city

National Gallery and Rideau Canal entrance

Parliament Library

Inukshuk :-)

Byward Market

Byward market

After lunch we had a tour of the National Gallery - such an awesome building, it was great to be able to go back inside.

The entrance to the National Gallery
Peace Tower in the window!

View of the Parliament Buildings
from the National Gallery

The National Gallery

Friday 27th May
We had a busy morning before heading back to school this afternoon. We started the morning at the Museum of Civilization - just a spectacular Museum, you could easily spend most the day here - we did last time :-) We also had a tour of the Supreme Courts, which was also interesting.

We arrived back at school 7pm that evening - one relaxing and restful weekend was in order :-)