• There are several compelling reasons to take a school trip to Washington, D.C.Lincoln Memorial - Washington DC image by Misha Tyukin from Fotolia.com
  
  Washington, D.C., is one of the most popular field-trip destinations in the United States, with tens of thousands of young people descending on the nation's capital every year. This city, home to museums, rich in history and the location of key functions of government, holds a great deal of information for students.
  
  

A Better Understanding of the Functions of Government

• For students who have at least learned about the check-and-balance systems, you can show them all three branches of government so they will have more of a concrete idea how this works in practice. Before your trip, you can make arrangements with your representative in the House or one of your senators for a meeting with your group. Though typically busy, your congresspeople are generally eager to meet with constituents, even if they are still too young to vote.
  
  While it's not as easy as it once was, you can also make arrangements to tour the White House, a popular destination for school groups. You will need to go through a member of Congress and start your planning for this at least a few months ahead of time.
  
  Lastly, you can take your group to see the Supreme Court in session. The awe of being in the presence of the land's high court might wear off quickly as the day gets bogged down in legalese, but nonetheless, it is a day they will unlikely forget anytime soon.
  
  

Artistic Exposure

• Some of the most popular museums in town are the Smithsonian Institution's Air and Space Museum and Museum of American History. But don't forget that Washington has perhaps the greatest collection of art of any city in the United States outside of New York. The Smithsonian includes the Sackler Gallery, Freer Gallery and the Museum of American Art, and within easy walking distance of the National Mall is the Corcoran, Phillips Collection and the National Gallery of Art, nearly all of which are free. If your students hail from a small town or from an area where the opportunities for art appreciation are limited, bringing them to some of D.C.'s museums can open up a whole new world for them. Many of these museums have free, one-hour guided tours throughout the day, helping your class understand and interpret what they are seeing.
  
  

Appreciation for the Nation's History

• It is one thing to have to read and memorize parts of the Constitution in class; it is quite another to see the document in real life, in the same building as one can see the Declaration of Independence and the Emancipation Proclamation, among others. Seeing such historic items and visiting the architecturally stunning memorials for men such as Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson and Franklin Roosevelt will bring home to your students how important the achievements of these men are. In addition, a trip to Arlington National Cemetery to view the rows and rows of grave markers remembering the people who have died fighting for this nation will send home the message of service and sacrifice.