Fourth Grade Goes on a “Gem” of a Field Trip to Rutgers Geology Museum

Fourth Grade students recently took a close-up look at the topics they have been studying in class during a field trip to the Rutgers Geology Museum on the campus of Rutgers University.

The visit connected directly to the class’s rocks and minerals unit. After learning about different types of rocks and minerals and how they form, students had the chance to see real specimens up close and explore the museum’s collection in person.

Among the highlights were the fossils and other artifacts on display, perhaps most exciting were those connected to New Jersey. Students also completed a scavenger hunt throughout the museum, which encouraged them to slow down, observe carefully, and ask questions about what they were seeing.

The trip gave students a hands-on way to deepen their understanding of how rocks and minerals shape the world around them and why they matter in everyday life.

Before heading back to campus, the group made one more stop for a photo in front of the original Rutgers Preparatory School building, just across the street from the museum. It was a fitting end to a day that was equal parts science and local history.