Fayetteville-Manlius School District fourth graders capped off their year of social studies curriculum with the annual Fayetteville Historical Walking Field Trip. The engaging, place-based learning experience brings local history to life, allowing students to explore how geography, industry, and civic life have shaped their community.
“It is not only an engaging and educational experience for the students, but also a meaningful way to involve local community members who bring their unique insights and perspectives to the learning experience,” explained Academic Enrichment Program Coordinator Sheila Gordon.
Students visited a variety of landmarks, including the Fayetteville Free Library,
where librarians shared stories about the village’s development, including its ties to the Erie Canal and regional industries. At the Stickley Furniture Museum, students learned about the village’s role in American craftsmanship and design. Students also visited key sites such as Ledyard Dyke, Mill Street, and Limestone Plaza, where students saw firsthand how hydro power, limestone resources, and canal connections helped Fayetteville grow into a bustling industrial hub in the 19th century.
A visit to the Matilda Joslyn Gage House offered students a chance to explore the life and legacy of one of Fayetteville’s most influential residents. Gage’s leadership in the Women’s Suffrage movement and her contributions to abolition and the Underground Railroad were front and center as students toured her former home and learned about her contributions to local and national history.
The experience continued at Fayetteville Village Hall, where students met with local leaders and gained insight into the workings of town government and civic responsibility. The trip concluded at the Fayetteville Cemetery, where students used iPads to view interactive, 360-degree videos about notable local figures buried there. Each video, recorded and developed in partnership with the district’s instructional technology specialist Tim Teelin, featured high school students portraying historical individuals and sharing insights from their era.
This memorable day of learning helped students connect their classroom studies to the real world and gain a stronger appreciation for the rich history that surrounds them. It was a powerful reminder that history isn’t just something we read about, it’s something we walk through every day. This field trip is part of the district’s K-4 Academic Enrichment program, led by Jill Coccagnia and Sheila Gordon.
