Lower School students in grade 3 took a step back in time during a field trip to Heritage Museum of Orange County’s (HMOC) Gospel Swamp Farm, where they explored the natural history of Orange County and learned how California’s Indigenous peoples lived off the land.

Gospel Swamp Farm is a 3-acre urban micro-farm and living seed library on ancestral Tongva land, including the site of Pasbenga Village. The farm features a greenhouse, sensory garden, aquaponics and vegetable production. 

According to Ashley Tyus, grade 3 teacher, the experience, A Walk Through Time, brought California’s grade 3 history-social science lessons to life through activities and an exploration of Gospel Swamp, described as the last natural swampland in Santa Ana. “Students gained a deeper understanding of the area's natural history, native plants, and the traditions of the people who first lived here,” she said.

Grade 3 students learned about the Tongva people, who lived in the Orange County region for thousands of years and relied on the natural environment for food, shelter and other everyday needs. Mrs. Tyus explained: “By exploring the area’s native plants and landscape, students gained a better understanding of how the region’s first inhabitants adapted to their surroundings and used available natural resources.”

Throughout the visit, students participated in activities that connected history to everyday life. They identified native plants, ground cornmeal and learned about plant growth by germinating beans. Each activity offered insight into how the Tongva people gathered, prepared and cultivated food, highlighting the knowledge and skills required to live sustainably off the land.

The field trip also introduced grade 3 students to modern regenerative farming practices, including crop rotation, composting and aquaponics. These methods helped students understand the relationships among soil, plants, food production and environmental sustainability.

The visit also encouraged curiosity about the local environment and the importance of protecting natural resources. By experiencing history firsthand, students developed a deeper appreciation for California’s Native peoples, their traditions and their enduring connection to the land.  

“Hands-on, place-based learning makes history more meaningful because students can experience what they are learning beyond what they are reading and learning in class,” said Mrs. Tyus.