One of our favorite things to do at the start of a new school year is to have a field trip. Field trips are fun and memorable. Our field trips evoke happy memories most of the time. Thus, I like planning field trips and having them at the start of the school year so that our kids would associate all these positive things with the new school year. I want them to joyfully anticipate the fun and memorable activities and lessons that we will have.
We usually go on field trips as a family. But, there are also times when we invite other families to join us. This opens opportunities for us and our kids to meet new friends.
Our kids with fellow homeschoolers. It’s hard to have a photo without photobombers. There are many people (students mostly) who sit at the steps in front of the museum.
This year, we kick-off the school year again with another field trip. Two families joined us this time. Our destination? The National Museum of Anthropology, formerly known as the Museum of the Filipino People.
Why do I recommend that you go on a field trip to this museum even if you are not homeschoolers like us? Let me share 5 reasons.
- Entrance is FREE! (Need I say more on this?) 😉
- Â It’s open even on weekends. It’s open from Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 AM to 5 PM. Therefore, even if you work on weekdays, you can bring your kids here for a field trip on a weekend. The advantage, though, of coming here on a weekday is that the museum is not crowded during weekdays. If you like taking pictures, there wouldn’t be many photobombers. hahaha We went on a weekday, last June 19, after lunch. The were many visitors but the galleries are not crowded. We were able to see and explore without problems.
- You can finish touring the different galleries in half a day. That means it’s not too tiring for little children.
- Your kids will see the actual things or objects that are discussed in their books. They would have a better understanding and appreciation of the things mentioned in their books about Philippine history. The lessons come alive!
- Last but not least, learning together is a great way to strengthen your bond with your family members. Here, adults learn alongside the kids. It was the first time that our family went to the National Museum of Anthropology. My husband and I did not get to see the museum when we were still students or even after. That is why I love homeschooling. Parents learn with their kids.
Do you know this?
There are a number of galleries that you and your kids can visit. The galleries are on several floors of the building. Some galleries might not be that interesting to young children. They may just zoom past some of the displays. It helps to have a tour guide but tour guides are not always available, especially if you are not part of a big group. Anyway, parents or older children can read the notes or signs on the displays to better appreciate them.
Here is the sign on the elevator that you can use as a guide on what you’ll find on every floor.
Just a word of caution when you have very young children, remind them not to touch the items on display and not to run around. It would be better to hold the hand of kids who tend to get too excited and run.
I will be sharing photos from our field trip to give you an idea of what you can see there. I was not able to take a lot of photos during this field trip because my boys were moving too fast from one display to the next. That’s one of the challenges of having other kids. Kids get excited even more when with other children.
Anyway, what my kids found most interesting was the Baybayin (Traditional Scripts of the Philippines) gallery. Aside from the displays, visitors can try writing words or their names in Baybayin in this gallery. Our kids did this and they even brought home their paper where they wrote their name in Baybayin. Kids are really experiential.
This is the area where visitors are encouraged to write. There are pencils and pieces of paper that visitors can use.
Some of the stones found with Baybayin.
The other galleries that they found interesting were the gallery on Entwined Spheres: Mats and Baskets as Containers, Costumes and Conveyors, “Hibla ng Lahing Filipino:” The Artistry of Philippine Textiles, Lumad Mindanao and Of War and Peace. We also went to the other galleries but the kids didn’t pay much attention to the displays.
Entwined Spheres: Mats and Baskets as Containers, Costumes and Conveyors
Our little group exploring the baskets gallery.
Our boys exploring together.
I told our boys that my grandmother (Lola Caring) used to make banigs or woven mats.
“Hibla ng Lahing Filipino:” The Artistry of Philippine Textiles
This was one rare moment when we got the boys to pose together before heading to the other displays again.
The little boy stayed with me most of the time, unlike his older brothers. These were the pieces of equipment used by the weavers before.
Lumad Mindanao
Would you believe that this colorful and intricately-designed object is coconut grater? It’s a very beautiful piece that I initially thought it was a sculpture.
My husband explaining these items to our boys. These were armors and other items used by warriors before.
With musical instruments from Mindanao.
Of War and Peace
The boys liked looking and posing with these canons.
Rice Biodiversity and Climate Change
Another rare moment wherein we had a family photo before the boys rushed to explore with their new friends. Behind us were rice baskets.
Behind us were different kinds of birds.
Garing: The Philippines at the Crossroads of Ivory Trade
These are teeth of whales.
Geordan looks at the ship replica with ivory statues.
National Living Treasures (Mga Manlilikha)
One of the featured artists.
Overall, it was a successful field trip and we enjoyed it! Meeting other homeschooling families was a bonus.
The kids with the moms.
Let me end by sharing a few more tips and reminders for those who plan to visit the museum.
- You can take pictures but not with flash.
- You have to leave your bags in a package counter on the ground floor. Bring your valuables with you.
- No food and pets allowed inside.
- The building is air-conditioned but it can still be warm, especially when there are a lot of people. Walking around and up and down the building caused us to perspire even though the place was not crowded when we went.
- There are stalls that sell food and drinks outside but you will save money if you bring your own packed snacks and water.
- Since this museum is near other national museums and the Rizal Park, you can also visit those places IF you and your kids still have the energy and time. In our case, we still had to go to evening Mass and we were already hungry so we decided to visit the other museums next time.
My husband and our boys.
I chose to have a field trip that is related to our nation’s history this month of June because we celebrated our Independence Day this month. We also celebrated the birthday of our National Hero, Jose Rizal. I believe that helping our children to know more about their Filipino heritage paves the way for them to develop a strong sense of nationalism and pride in their country and people.
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