Benjamin Logan Fourth Graders Explore Ohio Government on Columbus Field Trip

Benjamin Logan Elementary School fourth graders recently traveled to Columbus as part of their social studies curriculum, visiting the Ohio Statehouse and the Thomas J. Moyer Judicial Center.

At the Statehouse, students toured the House and Senate chambers, as well as the Governor’s Office, and visited the Rotunda—where Abraham Lincoln’s body lay in state during his funeral journey back to Springfield. Tour guides also shared interesting facts about the Ohio Statehouse, which—when completed in 1861—was second in size only to the U.S. Capitol.

The group then visited the Thomas J. Moyer Judicial Center, home to the Supreme Court of Ohio. Students saw the courtroom where oral arguments are heard, learned about the significance of the murals throughout the building, and explored precedent-setting cases in the Visitor Education Center. A highlight of the day was an interactive mock trial, where fourth graders took on every role in a civil case—judge, jury, bailiff, plaintiff, and defendant—in a scenario involving Harry Potter and Hagrid.

Transportation for this trip was supported through a transportation grant offered by the Supreme Court of Ohio to help schools visit the Supreme Court and its Visitor Education Center.