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Monday, February 3

Roadschool Trip to Tulsa

The Good & the Beautiful covers Post-WW2 Modern History, and this field trip was the perfect accompaniment!  We learned about post-war aviation history at the Tulsa Air & Space Museum, visited Route 66 roadside attractions, and discovered a major shipping port in the middle of America!

Y'all know just how airplane-crazy our little one is....so when given the option of where he wanted to spend his birthday, naturally he chose the Tulsa Air & Space Museum!  This little gem is tucked in beside the Tulsa airport...

In the back of the museum is a big section about how the pilots and workers from Tulsa helped with wartime efforts - including this bit on "Tulsamerican" and "Tulsa Joe."  It's always interesting to see your town in history...
While all aspects of aviation, from its inception all the way up to the space program, are included in the museum, he is really into WWII planes right now, thanks to his Tales of the RAF series, so we focused on this section of the museum.

 We counted the number of bombs dropped by the 765th, and how they affected the Japanese fleet....and I think I just found a new tactic for math class!

World War II Airplanes
Catoosa
Just a hop, skip, and a jump from Tulsa is the town of Catoosa - home to a famous Route 66 roadside attraction!  We visited the blue whale and the Port of Catoosa after finished up the OERB Homeroom curriculum.  If you homeschool in Oklahoma, this is free program that you definitely need to look into!

At the Port of Catoosa, you can go into a towboat and walk around the engine room.  They offer a free tour (book here) for both small groups and classrooms.

Did you know that there are 25,000 miles of inland river system used for transportation in the United States?  Products can leave the Tulsa Port of Catoosa on the waterway and be shipped anywhere in the world!

 Just like trucks are transporting goods on the highways and trains are transporting goods on the rail system, towboats pushing barges are transporting goods on this “highway of water.”  At this maritime center, you can learn about the history, engineering, and science behind the river systems.
A classic Route 66 roadside attraction, the Blue Whale has been greeting families since the 1970's.  It's easy to imagine families enjoying a picnic at these whale-themed tables, or climbing on the whale itself, which was once a popular swimming hole.  You could climb the ladder to use his tail as a diving board, slide down his fins, or simply jump off of him.  What a fun side trip from being in the car on a hot day!

Sadly, due to liability concerns, no one is allowed to use this area for swimming anymore, and the whale's popularity has faded.  He has been relegated to little more than a roadside whimsy and memories for older folks.
Whale Activities
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