Last week, our 6th-grade Humanities class embarked on an exciting field trip to the Peabody Museum in New Haven, where history truly came to life! The visit was packed with hands-on learning experiences, allowing students to connect what they’ve been studying in class with real artifacts from ancient civilizations.

One of the highlights was seeing Hammurabi’s Code up close. Students were in awe as they examined the monumental stone engraving of all 282 laws—a moment that left a lasting impression. This experience was particularly special because students had spent the previous week preparing for a debate on the fairness of Hammurabi’s Code. Witnessing this historic artifact in person was the perfect culmination of their hard work and sparked even deeper discussions.

Another incredible moment was viewing a clay tablet from the Epic of Gilgamesh. The students were amazed by the precision and detail of the ancient cuneiform script, marveling at how scribes managed to carve such intricate symbols onto such small surfaces.

Of course, the trip wouldn’t have been complete without meeting ‘Lucy,’ the earliest hominid archaeologists have discovered. After learning about her in class, students were thrilled to see her reconstructed remains and understand her actual size. Seeing Lucy in person helped bring their studies about human origins to life.

The Peabody Museum visit was more than just a field trip—it was an opportunity for our students to engage deeply with the artifacts that shaped history. Moments like these remind us of the joy of learning and how powerful it can be to step out of the classroom and into the past.