During the school year we include fields trips, so students can experience real life situations.  Some examples are at the conclusion of our Animal Study we visit the San Barbara Zoo.  During our Ancestor Unit, we culminate with a performance on Grandparent's Day.  While studing weather we become weather forecasters, in which we videotape partners depicting the weather from the story  Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.   Also, we have a visit from a noted meteorologist.  While studying famous people, students video tape themselves in character in context of the time and place they lived. Children learn by watching their own videos.