Students at University School of the Lowcountry engaged in three experiences that reflect their belief in learning by doing and are part of the Learning Outside the Classroom program. Through LOTCs, University School students engage in weekly field learning experiences - over 30 per year.

On Wednesday, Jan. 20, the Learning Outside the Classroom experience involved a visit to Magnolia Plantation in West Ashley.

This is was part of a yearly study of a different plantation in the Lowcountry, including prior visits to Middleton and Hampton Plantations. After an orientation, students took a tour of the Plantation's diverse landscapes, lakes, woodlands, marshes, and rivers while their guide described plantation history and wildlife.

They followed this with the new Slavery to Freedom tour. The resident historian, DJ Tucker, explained Magnolia's unique array of slave cabins that were occupied well into the 20th century and have been carefully preserved to document the full arc of African-American life at Magnolia Plantation.

Each cabin has been restored to shed light on a different period of the African-American experience at Magnolia - from slavery to Reconstruction and on through the 1920s and the Civil Rights era. The rest of the day involved exploring the petting zoo and the Audubon Swamp Garden - a black water cypress and tupelo swamp, filled with a variety of wildlife and amazing plants.

On Wednesday, January 27, students learned about the culture of Lowcountry African-Americans through a Gullah Tour of Charleston with Alphonso Brown - a lifelong resident who demonstrates his native Gullah tongue.

This included stops at the American College of the Building Art's campus at the Old City Jail and first-hand lessons about the metalwork of renowned American artist Philip Simmons by his nephew Carlton.

Students also saw and learned about Denmark Vesey's House (and his failed slave rebellion), The Whipping House, the Old Slave Mart, Sweetgrass Basket Makers, Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Slave Quarters, and Black Slave Owners. A gem they saw was the joint Philip Simmons and Pearl Fryar (a self-taught and nationally known topiary artist whose home and gardens in Bishopville we visited in 2009) topiary and metalwork garden at St. John's Reformed Episcopal Church.

The day concluded with lunch at Gilligan's on the Market.

On Thursday, Feb. 11, the Plantation Singers performed at University School. This authentic, historic demonstration of spirituals and traditional songs was mixed with audience interaction and educational information about African American and Gullah culture.