YVR EXPLORER TOUR
FOUR-YEAR-OLD CLASS
Our four-year-old class recently took a wonderful trip to the airport for a YVR Explorer Tour.
It started with a skytrain ride to the airport. Once we arrived we walked to meet our tour-guide, Eliza, at The Spirit of Haida Gwaii: The Jade Canoe. The Jade Canoe is a bronze cast art piece in the rotunda of the International Departures level. Eliza spoke to the children about the art piece and had them locate as many creatures and beings they could. The children were asked not to touch the art piece, and showed them how the jade green finish was being rubbed off by the many visitors touching it.
Eliza explained to the children that YVR's architecture was reflective of the province's diverse landscape and people. She encouraged them to look for art that was located throughout the airport, art that draws on the themes of land, sea and sky. As we took our short walk, Eliza pointed out the elements of nature the airport encompassed, wood, stone, water, trees, sky.... This included the beams leading up to the ceiling, and how they were shaped like trees.
As we were walking we passed by an art piece of a pig (year of the pig) that was decorated in red flowers in honour of Chinese New Year. Eliza explained to the children that the screens throughout the airport displayed the times when planes were scheduled to arrive and depart. Children enjoyed sharing their experiences of flights they had taken themselves. Disneyland seemed to be a popular destination point!
The children had their snack in a beautiful atrium showcasing a totem pole, moon and sky. From there we went up a glass elevator to a look-out. There the children watched the suitcases being transferred to the planes, watched the planes reverse, get in position and... take-off!! We discussed the importance of the job the Traffic Controllers have.
Before leaving the airport we had one last look at the atrium from the floor above. Eliza walked us to the train station and the children said a heartfelt good-bye to her. Each child then had the opportunity to push the buttons to collect their skytrain passes, and used them to open the gates to the train.
On our return to Templeton Station to meet the parents, we passed by a construction sight, and went under a tunnel. Everything we saw seemed to provoke enthusiastic conversation. Once off the train we walked up the stairs to the top of the overpass, and watched an incoming train and a plane, and briefly discussed the different modes of transportation. We then walked downstairs to meet the parents.
The conversation was flowing on this field-trip and the children seemed to be sincerely interested in the airport's architecture. Eliza was an informative and very engaging guide. The tour helped us all, child and adult, to remember to look around us as we walk, as there is so much beauty to behold, both at the airport and in the world around us.
Barbi
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