For the fourth year in a row, the Grade 4 students from Mississauga ventured out of the classroom and into the real-world. From May 12 to the 14, they travelled to Hamilton, down into the Niagara Region, and made a side trip into Toronto, all to experience first-hand the key levels of economic enterprise in Ontario’s larger cities.

However, their trip was not confined to economics alone! Science, history and culture all played a part in this rich learning experience. In Hamilton, they spent a morning at Dundurn Castle, taking on the roles of household servants. For the science component, they learned about the Welland Canal, and explored nature at Niagara Falls’ Butterfly Conservatory.

On the economic front, they visited Stonechurch Vineyards, where they witnessed all levels of economic activity in action: the growth and extraction of a natural resource, in this case grapes, how those grapes were turned into a product – juice and wine – and how that led to a service-based business – a retail store.

Further along the Niagara River, they took in a backstage tour at the renowned Shaw Festival and dropped in at Fort George, changing into period military costumes before taking part in an artillery workshop.

Finally, the last leg of the trip took place in Toronto – at the Cadbury factory, where they learned about its largely robotic form of manufacturing.  And, as you would expect, the whole trip was conducted almost entirely in French!