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Why Take Field Trips
Why Take Field Trips
Why Take Field Trips
resources of the local community. Field trips increase student knowledge and
understanding of a subject and add realism to the topic of study.
Good planning must precede field trips. Careful attention should be given to trip
selection, previsit preparation, the trip itself, appropriate follow up, and evaluation.
When considering a field trip, teachers are advised to first consult with their
administrator regarding existing school board policies and follow those recommended
procedures.
Trip Selection
A. Identify the rationale, objectives and plan of evaluation for the field trip.
B. Select the site to be visited. Contact the educational coordinator for the site and
arrange the date and time. Obtain the pre-trip information package if one is
available. Record addresses, directions, contact persons, phone numbers, email
addresses, etc.
C. Conduct a pre-visit to familiarize yourself with the major features of the field
trip. Purchase postcards and posters. Take digital photographs to share with
students prior to the visit. Explore the exhibition(s) you plan to visit to get ideas
for pre field trip activities.
Logistics Planning
A. Discuss the purpose of the field trip and how it relates to the current unit of
study.
B. Introduce visual observation skills. Let students describe in detail ordinary
objects, like a paper clip, paintbrush, clothespin, or comb to their classmates.
C. Introduce vocabulary words that will be used by docents during the tour.
D. Show photographs or posters of the field trip site or related to exhibits that will
be viewed.
E. Assign students "specialists" roles in one aspect of the topic that they will be
studying during the field trip. Students could be grouped in different subject
areas related to the field trip topic to research (e.g., history, art, religion,
science, environment, etc).
F. Explore the Website of the location you will be visiting.
G. As a class brainstorm a set of standards of conduct for the trip and discuss
suggested spending money, lunch plans, appropriate clothing to wear for the
trip including gear for rainy weather.
H. Discuss with students how to ask good questions and brainstorm a list of openended observation questions to gather information during the visit. Record
questions on chart paper or in student field trip journals.
I. Overview the field trip schedule.
Final Planning
Check all permission slips the day before the field trip.
Conducting the Trip
Plan activities that allow students to work alone, in pairs or small groups. Activities
might include:
Adventure game "Journey to the World of..."
Mystery with clues provided
Sketch pages with partial drawings of objects found in the exhibits for students
to complete the drawings based on their observations
Peepholes in construction paper - cut different sized round holes in construction
paper and have students view a part of the exhibition through the peepholes.
Ask them to describe what they see, what they notice now that they missed
before, and how their perspective changes with each new view
Field notebooks for recording answers to prepared questions based on clues
Hand drawn postcards to write near the end of the tour that will summarize the
field trip visit
Provide time for students to observe, ask questions, and record key words, ideas and
phrases as journal entries in their Field book after viewing each exhibit
Ask follow-up questions as students make observations and listen to presentations.
How are these two objects different from one another?
What clues does this artifact provide about
Just as quality pre-planning is essential to the success of a field trip, planning for
appropriate follow-up activities will facilitate student learning and multiply the value
of hands-on experiences outside the classroom. The following activities provide a
general guide when planning for post-field trip classroom experiences.
Provide time for students to share general observations and reactions to field
trip experiences
Share specific assignments students completed while on the field trip.
Create a classroom bulletin board displaying materials developed or collected
while on the field trip.
Develop a classroom museum that replicates and extends displays students
observed on the field trip. For example, if the field trip involved an art
museum, develop a classroom art museum containing student artwork.
Link field trip activities to multiple curricular areas. For example, students can
develop vocabulary lists based on field trip observations; record field trip
observations in a classroom journal; complete math problems related to actual
field trip budget planning; etc.
Share and evaluate student assignments/activities from the Field Book.
Have the class compose and send thank-you letters to the field trip site host,
chaperones, school administrators and other persons that supported the field
trip. Include favorite objects or special information learned during the field trip.
Create a short news report about what happened on the field trip. Publicize the
trip via an article in your local newspaper, school bulletin board, trip
presentation for parent's night, or class Web page.
Evaluating the Trip
Complete a "Teacher Journal" regarding the field trip. This will provide a good
reference for future field trips.
What was of unique educational value in this field trip?