Maggie McGee and Me at the Mint
Maggie McGee and Me at the Mint Maggie McGee and Me at the Mint Hi! My name is Chris Chen, and this is a photo of my best friend, Maggie McGee, and me. We are standing outside the United States Mint in Philadelphia. The photo was taken just after we won the class contest. Do you know Maggie McGee? If you do, then you won't be surprised to hear that she turned our third-grade class field trip into a contest. On the other hand, you might not know Maggie McGee. If you don't, then let me tell yo
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Maggie McGee and Me at the Mint
Maggie McGee and Me at the Mint
Hi! My name is Chris Chen, and this is a photo of my best friend, Maggie McGee, and me.We are standing outside the United States Mint in Philadelphia.The photo was taken just after we won the class contest.
Do you know Maggie McGee?If you do, then you won't be surprised to hear that she turned our third-grade class field trip into a contest.
On the other hand, you might not know Maggie McGee.If you don't, then let me tell you about the smartest, strongest,funniest kid ever to attend Browning Elementary School!
Maggie and I became friends on the day she challenged and beat the bully Johnnie Jaspers in a battle of the minds.Maggie recited the fifty states and their capitals in alphabetical order.Unfortunately for Johnnie, he could not even remember the capital of Pennsylvania,the state where we live! (It's Harrisburg.)
Johnnie had been giving me a tough time before Maggie had beaten him in the battle of the minds.But afterward, he troubled me no more!Even better, after Maggie won she told me, "Stick with me, kid, and we'll do fine."And that's just what I did.
Our class went to the Philadelphia Mint,where that photo I showed you was taken, at the end of third grade.On the day of the field trip, we boarded a bus.The ride to Philadelphia didn't take long and soon we were standing outside the mint.It was enormous! The mint was built of white stone.
It had sharp corners, dozens of tiny windows, and bright white walls.The entire class was excited to see the mint.Maggie and I were especially excited.We'd been looking forward to the field trip for months!
"This way class," Ms. Chesterfield's clear voice instructed."Here are your question sheets."Our class had brainstormed a list of questions we wanted answered about the mint.
"Let's have a contest," Maggie suggested."Whoever answers the most questions on the list wins."
"That sounds like a wonderful idea, Maggie.Class, please pick a partner and form teams of two," said Ms. Chesterfield.
Maggie and I decided right then to be partners.I was happy to be on Maggie's team.With our combined abilities, I was sure we could win the contest!
Inside the mint, Ms. Chesterfield reviewed the list of questions that our class had put together."Question 1: What coins does this U.S. Mint make?Questions 2 and 3: Which men and women are on the coins?Question 4: Why is one side of the coin called the ‘flip side?'Question 5: Why are there grooves on the edges of some coins but not on others?"
Ms. Chesterfield continued to read from the long list."Question 6: What jobs do people do at the mint?Question 7: Name a coin that's no longer in use.
"And finally: Choose any coin and respond to the last three questions.Question 8: Explain the history of the coin.Question 9: Explain what the images on the coin mean.And Question 10: Tell any interesting facts about the coin you chose."
How can we answer all those questions in just two hours? I wondered.Then I realized that if anyone could answer the questions, it would be Maggie McGee.I sighed and adjusted my backpack, waiting for the fun to start.
A man in a blue uniform came out and greeted our class."I'm Walter Jones, one of the mint's police officers.I will be taking you through the metal detectors and into the mint, where you will meet your tour guide, Ms. Smith."Glancing over the class, he added,"Please remember that this is one of the most heavily guarded places in the world.If you pay close attention, you'll learn many things today!"
On the other side of the metal detectors was a huge lobby.Its walls displayed coin exhibits.Maggie dragged me over to an exhibit called The History of the Philadelphia Mint."Come on," she whispered. "This looks good." "What?" I asked.
"This mint produces all the U.S. coins used today," Maggie explained."Quick, turn around," she directed."I need to use your back to write this all down.This mint makes pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, and half and whole dollars," Maggie continued."We've just answered question number one, and it only took us a few minutes!"
