Road Schooling Mississippi: Planning Our Trip Part 3

Hi again, travel families! We have made it through Florida and Louisiana on our road schooling adventure, thus far. Now, it is time to set our sights on “The Magnolia State.” When I told Amanda I was doing Mississippi, she broke into that recognizable elementary school chant:  M-I-SS-I-SS-I-PP-I. After a chuckle, I realized Sarah had not learned that yet. I’m sure I will be hearing it repeated incessantly on our road trip now. 

Mississippi tends to be an overlooked destination. You know, one of those “just passing through” places. This is unfortunate because the birthplace of the blues is a hidden gem possessing a number of unique, family-friendly attractions well worth your time. 

Since we were originally just passing through as well, we decided to adjust our return trip so that we could spend at least one night in the state. Sadly, Dockery Farms, one of the primal centers of the birth of blues music, and the birthplace of Elvis Presley are a bit too far north of I-20 for us to reach this trip. But at least one of those will make the cut for our eastern U.S. road trip in 2023.  

Well, let’s get the road schooling underway!  

(For those who want a bit more insight on road schooling, check out our road schooling series and our resources page where we will add useful information and links. You can always contact us if you’re looking for something specific. We’d love to hear from you.) 

1) Institute for Marine Mammal Studies – Gulfport 

Our road schooling stop is a short 3-mile detour off I-10E as we work our way into the Gulfport/Biloxi area. The IMMS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose primary purpose is “public education, conservation, and research on marine mammals in the wild and under human care.” What this means is that the folks at IMMS simultaneously care for sick and injured marine mammals and support public education through outreach programs and welcoming visitors to the facility. 

This is a cool place to start our journey as it isn’t your run-of-the-mill zoo, show, or museum. While it offers animal viewings, interactive exhibits, and entertaining experiences, the focus is more on animal conservation and care. Thus, visitors are integrated into the daily workings which makes for a unique experience. 

Lesson Plan 

Subjects: Ecology, Life Sciences, Marine Biology 

Topics: Conservation, Volunteerism, Animal Care & Rescue 

The thing that really draws me to the IMMS is that it is much more than a zoo or aquarium. I think there is a lot of educational value to a fully functioning conservation and rescue center. While there may be a greater degree of separation here compared to the Wildlife Sanctuary we visited in Florida, there is a good opportunity to observe people caring for these creatures. This lends itself to a good lesson on animal conservation, rehabilitation, and release. 

A number of interactive programs are offered, such as the Dolphin Interaction Program and the Stingray Swim Program. These allow visitors to get up close and personal with the animals. In some of the programs, you will learn how to feed and care for them. Weeklong summer camps provide a chance for children to become actively involved in the day-to-day, and the Job Shadow Program lets children 12 and older follow an employee behind the scenes!  

For the short-term visitor like us, build a lesson plan full of fun activities and engaging videos that you can implement on the road just before arrival. The Homeschool Mom has a fantastic list of ocean resources. I recommend checking out the North Carolina Coastal Federation’s Distance Learning Lab. The American Museum of Natural History also provides interactive educational games, stories, and activities for marine biology study.   

It is vitally important to integrate some videos to keep your little one engaged. TedEd has a great one on biodiversity. Crash Course offers a plethora of options that will supplement your IMMS trip and SciShow Kids keeps things light. 

Visitation 

Fees: $15.50 per adult; $13.50 per child (3-12); discounts available for Seniors and Active Duty Military 

Hours: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Daily 

2) Biloxi Visitor Center & Lighthouse – Biloxi 

Approximately 22 minutes east of the IMMS, we can park our road schooling bus for a quick look at the Biloxi Lighthouse. If you bypass the IMMS, jump off I-10E at exit 46B and head into the center of Biloxi. We will probably follow the coast so we can stop for a quick picture of Beauvoir, the Presidential Library of Jefferson Davis. 

The Biloxi Lighthouse was erected in 1848 after Mississippi Representative Jefferson Davis (yeah, the same J. Davis) sponsored legislation authorizing its construction in 1847. Standing at 64-feet tall, it was one of the first cast-iron lighthouses in the South. It has since become a symbol of the city’s resilience after withstanding multiple tropical storms, most notably Hurricane Katrina. 

The Visitors Center sits in the shadow of the lighthouse on U.S. 90. This is a great place to stop for local information, Biloxi memorabilia, and a quick history lesson at the multi-media museum located inside. 

Lesson Plan 

Subjects: History, STEM, Optics, Writing 

Topics: Seafaring, Light & Mirrors, Weather, Storytelling 

Lighthouses have always possessed an enchanting aura. This is especially true with children. Recalling that we are working with a 2^nd-grader, I want to make this road schooling stop as entertaining as possible. Leading up to arrival, I suggest incorporating a handful of fun activities that can be found on the United States Lighthouse Society’s website. Ranging from coloring books to an animated song to the tune of “I’m a Little Teapot,” this excellent resource is a one-stop-shop where you can also find a prepared curriculum for Grades K-4 and a teachers’ guide. 

For your more advanced scholar, try some of these picture prompts to inspire creative storytelling. Writing may be difficult in the car, but for the talkative type (like Sarah!), let them create a story out loud. This is a good way to keep you awake without having to buy another cup of coffee. Ha! 

A memorable way to finish up the lesson is to craft your own lighthouse. I’m going to pack the materials and work on this with Sarah when we stop for the night after our visit. I’ll post the pictures on our Facebook, so, keep your eyes peeled. 

Visitation 

Fees: $5 adults, $2 for ages 12 and younger; Discounts for groups 

Hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Daily; 9 a.m. – 10 a.m., Guided Tours of Lighthouse 

3) Mississippi Blues Trail – Biloxi 

The blues are deeply rooted in the Mississippian culture. After all, the state is the birthplace of this early-20^th century avant garde genre. Dockery Farms, formerly Dockery Plantations, is a primal center in blues history known as a safe haven which enabled a community to express themselves through music leading to the creation of the Delta Blues.  

We’d be remiss to glaze over the blues during our road schooling adventure! 

Just a short 5-minute drive from the Biloxi Lighthouse, you can take a gander at a bright blue sign that says “Biloxi Blues.” Historical markers like this one are strewn about Mississippi depicting the fascinating musical past in the Deep South. Together, these markers make up the Mississippi Blues Trail which stretches over 1,400 miles. 

Lesson Plan 

Subjects: History, Music, Social Studies 

Topics: American History, Music Theory, Cultural Studies, Gender Studies 

The Mississippi Arts Commission provides a lengthy curriculum plan which you can use to frame your blues discussion. This teachers’ guide is complete with background information, lesson plans, and quiz questions. The curriculum is geared toward 4^th-12^th graders; however, it is a good place to start when building a lesson plan for an advanced 2^nd grader, as well. 

PBS also has some excellent lesson plans. Each is broken down topically, then further subdivided into learning objectives, standards, and resources needed. I recommend starting with the definitional lessons. From there, you can move into something a bit more advanced. For example, we are looking forward to touching on the role of gender with our big girl. 

Visitation 

Fees: Free 

Hours: Any 

4) Vicksburg National Military Park – Vicksburg  

On our return trip, we will route our road schooling field trip along I-20W through Jackson and Vicksburg. Just before we leave Mississippi, we will hit the latter, a must-see in “The Magnolia State.” The city of Vicksburg is well-known as the last great Confederate bastion along the Mississippi River. Vicksburg played a vital role in the Civil War. Confederate President Jefferson Davis said it was the “nailhead that holds the South’s two halves together.” President Abraham Lincoln echoed the sentiment of Vicksburg’s vitality, stating that it “is the key” to victory. 

With over 1,400 monuments, tablets, and markers dotting the landscape, the park is an immense commemoration of a very important moment in American history. Thus, it is certainly worth a stop, even if you cannot dedicate the recommended 3 hours to see the entire complex (we definitely won’t have enough time). 

Lesson Plan 

Subjects: Math, Social Studies, Language Arts, Geography 

Topics: War, Secession, Division of Families, Daily Life 

Vicksburg offers us a wonderful opportunity for a multi-disciplinary lesson. Keeping in mind that we will be working with an elementary school child, it is important to keep things dynamic. That is why a straight history lesson would likely fall on deaf ears. 

Instead, I recommend focusing your teaching more on the social studies aspect of the site. From daily life of a soldier to the division of families during the civil war to the use of the mighty Mississippi River as a means to transport goods and people, there are countless avenues you can take on this one. 

The National Parks Service offers Educators’ Guides for various subjects. Personally, I plan on emphasizing math and language arts. For math, there is a cool guide that forces your little scholar to calculate the number of supplies they would need during the battle. And for language arts, we are going to have Sarah write a letter home while pretending she is a soldier at Vicksburg. These are just a few of many available options. 

Don’t forget to pick up your official Junior Ranger activity booklet at either the Main Visitor Center or the U.S.S. Cairo Museum. This fun activity book is great for children of all ages and allows them to earn an official Vicksburg Junior Ranger Badge. 

Visitation 

Fees: $20 per vehicle (valid for 7 days); $10 per pedestrian (not in a vehicle) 

Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., daily (Visitors Center is Closed due to COVID-19 as of April 14, 2021) 

The NExT Chapter 

Thank you for joining me on another road schooling adventure! I hope you found our stops entertaining and that the resources help you add some purpose to your travel. Even if you do not have kids, taking a magnifying glass to the places you are visiting can give you an entirely new perspective. That is when our eyes really begin to open. 

I tried to shorten this post a bit, and will continue on that trend as we close this series. We are under the 30-day mark before our departure and I want to finish up all the states before we go! I still haven’t decided if I am going to dedicate an entire post to Texas since we live here…and there is simply far too much to discuss in one post. That leaves Georgia and Alabama. 

Before we go, here are some other great places to check out in Mississippi: 

Infinity Space Center – Pearlington 

Mississippi Petrified Forest – Flora 

Crooked Feather, 30-Foot-Tall Indian Head – Ocean Springs 

Mississippi Museum of Natural Science – Jackson 

Elvis Presley Birthplace – Tupelo 

Dockery Farms – Cleveland 

Next time, we will head into Alabama! We won’t be routing through Tuscaloosa, so I apologize to any Crimson Tide fans. 

Make sure you sign up for our newsletter so you can stay up-to-date with all the happenings at Novel Excursion. We’d love to start talking travel plans with you, and throughout April, you can take advantage of our free “Travel Chat” consultation to dust off those pandemic cobwebs.

See you next time and don’t forget to travel mindfully! 

Think Big. Act Small. Travel with Purpose. 

-Michael 

~ Change the world one nameless stranger at a time. ~ 

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