Special Trips

Annual trips include an all-day outing to the North Carolina Zoo as part of the children's studies of animals. As well as a trip to a local business to culminate the children's Factory unit where they learn the importance of jobs and how to be contributors in their own homes.

Beginning in second grade, each year there is an overnight trip connected to a unit of study. One parent accompanies each child, enhancing the bonding experience that occurs during these exciting trips.

The class studies the ocean as a theme and completes projects such as researching an ocean animal and testing buoyancy of salt water vs. freshwater. Then, the unit culminates with a two-day trip to the North Carolina coast, with activities such as dissecting a squid, exploring the sound searching for creatures and examining ocean life via shells.

The class begins its study of the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars with an overnight trip to the NC Museum of Natural Sciences Contentnea Creek location. Third graders engage in hands-on lessons, learn about the stars in the onsite planetarium, and explore telescopes with an evening star party. Children and families even have the option to camp on the property and enjoy a fun evening sleeping under the very stars they’ve been studying. 
 

Our fourth graders study North Carolina ecology and history, and they make a special trip to Blue Ridge Assembly during the unit. Nestled in a beautiful lodge on Black Mountain, they conduct a stream study, explore new heights on the alpine tower, and gain an understanding of predator and prey relationships.

In fifth grade, significant time is spent on literature and history of the American Revolution, as well as U.S. geography. The trip to the nation's capital is the culmination not only of the year of study but indeed of the entire Raleigh School experience. Three action-packed days are intended to expose the children to the wonder of Washington D.C. and our nation's treasures. In preparation, each child selects a monument or landmark, prepares a tour guide book, and then plays the role of tour guide as the topic expert.