Education program launches inaugural field trip

Three Queens schools recently sent their students to the very top of Rockefeller Center in midtown Manhattan, but it wasn’t just a sightseeing trip. Over 100 fourth and seventh graders were the first to experience aerial urban history in Top of the Rock’s new citywide education program that features a field trip offering an interactive history of New York from 70 stories above midtown.
Making the visit were students from P.S. 52 in Jamaica, M.S. 216 in Fresh Meadows, and P.S. 41 in Bayside, who, along with their teachers were the inaugural participants in the program, which features learning activities in four subjects such as history, media, art and business. The program artifacts, original photography and first-hand narratives of the construction of Rockefeller Center during the Great Depression.
The Top of the Rock education program was developed in conjunction with City Hall Academy, an educational resource center for administrators, teachers, and students that works to promote dynamic and effective partnerships between schools and other educational institutions. It’s intended to take advantage of the rich heritage and resources of Rockefeller Center and New York City by offering educational opportunities to schools. The program, sponsored in part by Target, is expected to reach more than 10,000 students in its first year.
Students were given the opportunity to take part in drawing city maps from an aerial view, identifying geometric shapes in the surrounding buildings, learning about architectural landmarks and developing historical timelines.
“The Top of the Rock Education Program fills an important experiential learning need for students and offers an unprecedented perspective on New York City’s rich history,” said Keith Douglas, director of marketing at Top of the Rock. “We are so pleased to be working on this program with Target, a company that has long been committed to students, schools and educational innovation.”
A supplementary Teacher and Student Guide also includes suggested reading lists, web resources, and fact sheets. These are also available to the public, free of charge, at www.topoftherocknyc.com.