Metro Madness is an 8th grade field trip to work on skills of team work and map reading.
A quick explanation as to what our Metro Madness entails. The entire eighth grade class is split-up into approximately thirty-five groups of three students each. Each group of three has one parent volunteer that follows them throughout Shanghai as they attempt to answer various questions and take specific pictures of landmarks around the city. All transportation is on the metro.
Each group has prepared a written detailed plan they will use to visit the various sites. It will consist of the locations along with the Metro stops needed to get there. Teachers will be scattered throughout the city during this time. If a group is able to find a teacher, the group then needs to perform their jingle for additional points. They must visit 4 different regions specified on their map.
The parent’s job is to follow them around, but offer no assistance and provide assistance in case of any emergency. Plan on bringing a lunch as students and their parent leader are to have their meal when on this journey taking a 30 minute lunch break. In additional, two-20 minute breaks (one before and one after lunch) are required. The entire day starts off at the Science and Technology metro stop and ends there too.
I had Elyssa, a freind of Emersyn, Henry and Nikhil in my group. I didn’t have a camera as Emersyn took mine for her group. Nikhil was the trying the hardest in getting the most points. He did most of the map reading and asking for directions.
Our group didn’t start off well. It was 9am when we were hitting the metro…along with the working people of Shanghai. I got on the train, but my students did not. I squeezed the doors open and stepped off the train. Well, I was failing my ONE job – keeping the students safe and together. We put into action our HK train emergency metro plan…if someone gets separated from the group, get off at the next stop and wait on the platform. The next train pulls up just as crowded. Henry gets on and no one else does. He manages to squeeze the doors open and get off, also. On the third try, we all get on the train.
My group had planned their first stop at Fuxing Park. They had to sit on a bench at the park and take a photo. I took their photo on the bench with another man. I figured this was a good place for the first 20-minute break.
From Fuxing Park, we went to Xintiandi. The kids had to ask a few people how to get to Xintiandi once we exit the station. Once there, they were able to find a few items on the list to get points. From here we went to Lujiazui as there were many points in this area. A stop at the aquarium, the Pearl Tower and the Jinmao Towerall added up to needed points. We had our packed lunch at the Jinmao Tower. During lunch, the group looked at the time and realized they were not going to hit all 4 required areas. They would lose points for missing an area. They decided to go to the Super Brand Mall to get a few more points before heading back to Science & Technology. We had to be back by 1:30pm. If your team did not arrive back on time, the buses would leave because they needed to be back to school for after school runs. A taxi could be taken back to school, but points would be lost for being late.
This is a photo of Emersyn’s group at one of their sites. Emersyn was with Paula Nelson, Brandon’s Mom. Paula’s Mom was visiting so she ran around Shanghai with the kids, too.
it was a fun day. Mark Gandy had on a counter. He reported he walked 6 miles so we can guess we all walked about 5-6 miles. My feet were tired by the end of day so we headed to Pistolera for a few margaritas!