8:00am – 9:00am Breakfast at the hotel
9:15am – Depart hotel [packed luggage will be left at the front desk of the hotel]
We left the hotel about 9am, instead of the 9:15 as listed on the itinerary. In retrospect, leaving early was the best thing we did. This bothered David multiple times, because I didn't go by the itinerary. But we decided that going to tour the campus before the physics class would be better than touring afterward. I was never able to get an actual tour set up, so self-guided was the best bet. There was one bus that would take us directly where we wanted to go, and we JUST missed it as we walked to the bus stop. Saw it pulling away. With 20 minutes to wait, Mr. J and I decided that we need some starbucks, so everyone needed some starbucks. We started walking the 4 blocks and when we got there, we all streamed in single file style. Somehow, when I turned around, there was a lady nicely nestled between Mr. J and me, and Vince and David. I looked confused for a second and the lady replied that she was there before them. I gave her the best confused-evil eye I could, and she then responded that 'the line usually wraps around the other way'. I told her then, that we were all together and that we weren't from here so how could we know which way the line usually went? I can't believe how snotty she was. So we let her go in front of us. Being that we ended up missing the second bus because of this move, I wish I had stood in front of her and asked the starbucks lady every question under the sun about coffee. But that would've been snotty.
Travel to the University of Chicago via the L. Tour campus depending on time.
Nope,took the bus. Three of them actually. But we made it early enough to walk around, and I like to think I gave a really good campus tour. I didn't know anything about the campus so I started mak
ing things up. Funny what students believe. I had to reassure them I was joking and that I didn't know anything about the
campus. We did get some time in the book store and walked in the math building for a self-guided tour of some classrooms and views of the campus from the 4th floor. I didn't know the campus was so pretty!!! It had a 'Gothic' style to most of t
he buildings and I'm sure it's a whole other site in the spring time!
ing things up. Funny what students believe. I had to reassure them I was joking and that I didn't know anything about the
campus. We did get some time in the book store and walked in the math building for a self-guided tour of some classrooms and views of the campus from the 4th floor. I didn't know the campus was so pretty!!! It had a 'Gothic' style to most of t
he buildings and I'm sure it's a whole other site in the spring time! 11:30am – 12:20pm – attend a University Physics class taught by David Biron
The main reason for our visit to the University of Chicago was to sit in on a college level Physics class! I knew ahead of time that it was a calculus based class and that they would be talking about electromagnetism. This was a topic we had covered yet, so I tried to assure the kids that it was okay that they wouldn't know everything. In fact, there might be a lot they didn't know. 
To overcome this, we gave each student a paper and a pen to take notes with.
They were instructed to take notes on the class, as well as what the students in the class were doing. It was important for them to examine what college students looked like, acted like, and studied like. The demeanor of the classroom was quiet and focused. There were a few students that were reading other materials, listening to ipods, or playing on their computers. 
This of course was frowned upon by me, and them even!, but we briefly talked about how they (the actual college students) were the ones in charge of their learning and no one could make them do it. It was exciting to watch the kids in class. I could see their confusion, but was interested in how they dealt with this. Carmen and Fernando took a lot of notes, while the others took some. I think it was a worthwhile visit, and I hope the kids thought so too!
This of course was frowned upon by me, and them even!, but we briefly talked about how they (the actual college students) were the ones in charge of their learning and no one could make them do it. It was exciting to watch the kids in class. I could see their confusion, but was interested in how they dealt with this. Carmen and Fernando took a lot of notes, while the others took some. I think it was a worthwhile visit, and I hope the kids thought so too!12:30pm – Lunch on campus – or nearby
After class we walked to a near-by suggested set of restaurants. None of them appealed, so we walked back to the green line and headed back towards downtown. Unfortunately this took a long time. We walked around campus looking for food, which, looking back, took a lot of our souvenir shopping time. Once we were back on Michigan Ave, we stopped into a couple small shops that sold Chicago gear, and then headed for the hotel.
1:30 – 2:30 Tour the campus and get a feel for campus life at the U
As David previously pointed out to me, here was another time we didn't follow the itinerary. No campus tour. :(
2:30 – Depart for hotel to pick up luggage and return to the airport
About 3:00 we arrived at the hotel, gathered our bags, and headed out to the airport. We had one final picture together, at the request of Jose Juan, in the lobby of our hotel! Everyone seemed a bit sad to go at this point. Maybe one more day of walking miles and miles would've tired them out more?!
6:10 PM – Depart CHICAGO MIDWAY
GOODBYE CHICAGO!!!!!! What a wonderful trip you gave us! I'm sure this will be something each one of us will never forget. Thank you for the fun times, the bonding, and all the learning opportunities you gave us! Till next time- The Physics class.
*Arrive in DENVER CO (DEN) at 7:50 PM
Ms. K, this weekend was great. I loved the whole thing. Just in case I haven't thanked you before, "THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!" It was awesome. It sure was a trip that I myself (and everyone else) will not forget.
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