Norton Simon Field Trip

It is that time of year again when all our AP test are over and we can stop worrying about them. During this time is usually when most AP teachers take their students on a field trip that is related to the topics they learned all year.

On May 17, 2019, Mr. Flores took his AP Art History students to the Norton Simon Museum. While there, students were able to admire different types of artwork and scenery.

According to Mr. Flores, the reason he chose this museum in particular was because,”It was small enough to tour in under 2 hours and it also has a collection that features many of the artists we studied in AP Art History. The tour guides also led the students on an informative tour through the museum that included fun and interactive activities.”

When senior Lindsay Onofre was asked how the trip went she had a lot of positive things to say.

“It was amazing. Immediately after arriving, we saw a statue by Rodin that we had learned about in our art history class. Going to an art museum with an understanding of the artist’s life and inspirations gave the meaning a lot more depth than if I had gone into it “ignorant” (as the tour guide called us).

After waiting for our tour guide to greet us, she informed the group that we would be the only ones in the museum. It was a whole different experience seeing the artwork with a clear mind and no distractions. Pieces by Pablo Picasso, Diego Rivera, and Van Gogh were some of the many that were present at the Norton Simon Museum.

After touring with our guide, we were allowed thirty minutes to roam freely before we had to return back to school. I personally went to the garden to take a stroll, and it was the most relaxing experience I’ve had in awhile. Considering I was stressing over the AP exam the week prior, it was nice to be rewarded for the year of hard work.”

From a teacher’s perspective, Mr. Flores mentioned how education and beautiful the museum was.

“As a teacher, the experience was great! The kids had fun and it made my heart happy to see students recognize all of the art styles we learned about in class.”

The overall experience seemed to go smoothly and it was a great way to end the year off. Hopefully next year‘s students will get an equally amazing trip.