Stepping Back in Time: Exploring Latvia’s Rural Heritage

On February 20, as the culminating research experience for their Unit of Inquiry “How We Express Ourselves,” our Grade 2 students visited the Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum. This field trip provided a meaningful opportunity for the students to immerse themselves in Latvia’s rich rural heritage and traditional way of life.
Walking through authentic farmsteads, a traditional pub, and an original wooden church, our second graders experienced history far beyond the pages of a textbook.
Inside each building, they explored exhibitions of household items, tools, and interior furnishings, discovering how daily life was organized in the past. They also learned how homes were constructed using natural materials available in different regions of Latvia – and how architectural design reflected people’s needs, environment, and traditions.
The visit offered a valuable opportunity to connect classroom learning with real-life experiences and to develop a deeper appreciation for Latvia’s cultural heritage and traditional rural life.