The Indus School fifth grade class has been studying the Renaissance both in history and in art.

According to fifth grade teacher Suzanne Matthews, they visited The Daily Journal to see how printing is done, finding quite a different printing press than the type used in the Renaissance.

At Koochiching County Courthouse, they compared the dome to Italy’s Duomo, constructed during the Renaissance. Then, from the top floor of the courthouse, the fifth graders noted the belfry in St. Thomas Catholic Church. They compared the belfry to the enormous basilicas built during the Renaissance.

After the field trip, students wrote a report for history concerning at least one aspect in their unit about the Renaissance.

Here is fifth grader Holger Olesen’s version of the trip experience:

“On Thursday, Nov. 19, my fifth grade class, taught by Ms. Matthews, went on a field trip to International Falls. We went to North Star Publishing, the Koochiching Courthouse, the Falls Public Library, and Domino’s Pizza.

“At North Star Publishing, we went on a tour; a lady took us back to the big newspaper printer and we learned how they make newspapers. We also learned that the paper rolls that they put in their machine weigh about 700 pounds. It smelled really funny in there. After that, we went in to another part of the building; we saw where they were making a book about Rainy Lake. Then the lady took us through the offices and gave us each a newspaper.

“After our visit of North Star Publishing, we headed to the Koochiching Courthouse and saw the dome and the old court room. Bob Peterson, the county auditor, was our guide during our visit there. He told us that the building is 100 years old and that the county tried to make it look more historical; so they painted new pictures in the dome and fixed up the court room. We got to sit in the jury chairs and Mr. Peterson answered some of our questions.

“Next, on our way to the Falls Public Library, we stopped at the new war memorial located behind TruStar Federal Credit Union. At the library, the librarian, Mrs. Adams, gave us a tour around the library and showed us the fiction spot and the nonfiction spot. Then she showed us some really old newspapers that were huge. We were given some time to sit and read.

“After the library, we headed to Domino’s Pizza. At Domino’s we meet our classmate Tylor’s dad, Brian, who works at Domino’s (as the manager). He cooked us some very good pizza. He gave us a tour of the Domino’s workplace and we each learned to fold up a box. Then we went back to school and gave a history report about the Renaissance to our art teacher.”