field trip action plan

How to plan an amazing Field Trip

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Field trips are the best days to be a student.  They provide a n opportunity to get out of the daily school routine and take learning to new levels. Field Trips allow students to learn through exploration and hands-on experiences , while connecting to curriculum topics. But they can also be stressful to organize and lead. We’re here to help! Here’s our guide to planning the ultimate field trip based on our adventures in renewable energy education.

Tip 1: Build excitement for your trip!

Planning a simple activity focused on the topic your students will be exploring before their field trip will help to get them ready and excited. Many organizations may offer this already, so make sure to ask ahead of time. If you’re up for preparing this yourself, determining what your learning outcomes are will help you pick an appropriate pre-activity. Here’s some examples:

• Watch a short movie related to the topic
• Research significant people or relevant places
• Do a quiz on the topic
• Prep them for what they’ll be doing
• Get students to discuss in groups to predict about their trip experience (Who/What/Where/When/How) and share their predictions with the class. This can be a great way to follow-up after the activity and compare to their initial thinking.

Tip 2: Choosing your destination

When considering what field trip to choose, the number of options can feel overwhelming. We recommend creating a short list of your must-haves before choosing your trip, such as:

• indoor or outdoor
• max. cost per student
• how will we get there/back
• educational topic or focus
• value for experience

Using this list will help you determine whether to add a field trip to your options. Many teachers return to the same locations each year, but we believe it’s important to explore different opportunities for your out of school experiences. Using a list like the one above may show you new opportunities you may not have considered before.

Here at Relay Education, we provide two field trip opportunities focused on solar and wind energy.  These field trips take place on the beautiful grounds of  the Canadian National  Exhibition (CNE) in Toronto, Ontario .  

Both field trips inclu de hands-on workshop, an outdoor tour of a renewable energy project at an affordable price of $150 per class, which works out to approx. $4-6 per student depending on number of kids in your class. There is a reduced rate if multiple classes attend at the same time.

Tip 3: Connecting to the curriculum

Learning from field trips doesn’t need to be limited to the day of the trip. Whether you’re using the field trip as an introduction or a wrap-up to your unit there’s many ways you can tie in the curriculum before and after. Here’s an article with examples of field trip lessons . All field trips should be connected to the curriculum, and most providers will help you identify which connections they make. Relay Education’s programs connect to many curriculum strands in the STEM topics, and we design our program content with this in mind. We make sure to hit the relevant grade links and more.

Tip 4: Checklists

To ensure a great field trip, a checklist is handy. Create a simple checklist, so everyone can remember to bring items such as:

• notebooks and pencils
• appropriate clothing and shoes
• litter-less lunches
• cameras/cellphone cameras

Teachers will also want to bring:

• directions to the location
• contact information for the field trip organizers
• payment for the field trip (if needed)
• attendance list and emergency contact info

Tip 5: Get involved in the learning

First get caffeinated (we’re kidding, but it helps us). Be as curious as your students. Harness their desire for asking questions to dive deeper into the subject with the facilitator during group discussion. Move amongst all the different groups and inquire about the learning your students are having. In our field trips we encourage teachers to watch and explore with the students during their experiments. We even welcome you trying them out yourself!

Don’t forget to find moments to enjoy in the day with your students, and  your field trip memories will be as positive and long lasting as theirs.

By following these tips your students will have a pleasurable, fun, and educational field trip.  If you’re looking for a great outdoor STEM trips for your class in the Toronto area, check out our program options:

Wind Energy Trip

Solar energy trip.

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Ten tips for a successful field trip.

Planning a field trip to a national park near you? Here a 10 quick tips to help you and your students get the most out of your trip:

• Plan everything well in advance. Call to schedule the field trip or request an educational fee waiver, get a confirmation, and make necessary arrangements for school and parental permission and transportation. Plan the educational experiences and activities for the field trip. Know how to get to the field trip site, how long it will take, and where you will have lunch. Bring along any supplies and materials needed for activities that you have planned. Share this with all the teachers and chaperones involved.
• Use pre-visit activities to help prepare the students for the field trip. Make field trip planning a part of in-class learning.
• Develop clear learning objectives and share them! Make sure that the students and other teachers know these objectives.
• Chaperoning is not a spectator sport. Chaperones can be a big help if they understand their role.
• Give everyone nametags. Make sure that even the teachers and chaperones are wearing readable nametags. It also helps to divide large groups into smaller sub-groups before the trip and color code their name tags.
• Keep the students engaged. Encourage the students to participate in the activities but remember you are responsible for their behavior.
• Keep students accountable for learning. A field trip is not a day off from school! Did you accomplish the planned learning objectives?
• Encourage independent observation time. Constructive free time can help make the trip more memorable.
• Bring the experience back home. Use post-visit activities back in the classroom to make the field trip relevant and reinforce concepts.
• Use evaluations and sharing. Improvements can only be made through honest feedback and evaluation.

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November 13, 2018 Leave a Comment

The Secret to Planning a Successful Field Trip from Start to Finish

Inside: Planning a field trip? Here’s everything you need to plan a successful art field trip to a museum this year–from managing field trip chaperone behavior to scheduling the buses to preparing your students.

I know. I know! Planning a field trip can be a stressful nightmare. Coordinating with administrators, obtaining transportation, getting permission slips, collecting money, keeping track of students, recruiting chaperones, planning with the museum, and more. The list of to-dos for art field trips are nearly never-ending.

You should take your classes to an art museum. There will be paperwork and headaches and hassles, but planning a field trip is all worth it. Seriously. Let’s talk about why to do it and, more importantly, how.

Importance of Field Trip

Seeing art face to face is a singular experience. There is no way to replicate seeing an artwork in person in a classroom. There’s just not. We can do a lot with hi-resolution projectors, updated textbooks, and full-size posters. Our students can and will connect with the artworks we show them at school, but they deserve to lose their breath and feel the goosebumps that only happen when interacting with art directly.

Textures and tiny details that are lost by a lens or scanner come to life under museum lights. Artworks we’re familiar with can astonish and surprise us when we see their true scale. When I saw Picasso’s Guernica in person, I became utterly transfixed by the depth and texture of the paint and the enormous scale of the composition. The terror and heartbreak were inches away. I could see it all with devastating clarity. The emotion and impact of Guernica reached me through pictures, but I literally could not walk away when I saw it in person. My perspective shifted forevermore thanks to an experience that was impossible to achieve via screen or reproduction.

An art field trip can open our students eyes to the varieties and possibilities of art. Museums allow them to walk through history and dive into the expanse of human expression and experience cultures both familiar and otherwise firsthand. Art has the power to change lives. I’ve talked before about a museum trip that changed the course of my life . An art field trip helps mold our students into world citizens, igniting their curiosity and infusing their futures with wonder and delight.

Learning isn’t limited to the classroom and museums offer students a perfect chance to forge connection internally and externally, with their world and their peers. Classmates will converse with one another and their museum guide, making new meaning and gaining new understanding. These social and communication skills will serve them throughout their lives.

Are field trips worth it?

Budget cuts and a heavy focus on test-taking skills have made field trips seem like an unnecessary luxury rather than an important education tool. Across the country, out of school excursions are becoming less and less common , but the importance of field trip cannot be overstated. Students learn an amazing amount from taking their learning outside of the classroom. A recent study  showed field trips help students develop into “civilized young men and women who possess more knowledge about art, have stronger critical-thinking skills, exhibit increased historical empathy, display higher levels of tolerance, and have a greater taste for consuming art and culture”.

In short—yes, that art field trip you’ve been thinking about is 100% worthwhile.

Planning a Field Trip

It’s time to clear your throat, don your strongest teacher voice, and get ready to put your ducks in a single-file line. There’s no such thing as being too prepared when it comes to planning a field trip. That’s why we created a Field Trip Packet with everything you need to plan a successful field trip from start to finish.

Field Trip Packet

The Field Trip Packet includes:

• Why Field Trips are Important
• Why Field Trips are Worth It
• Scheduling Tips
• Funding Tips
• Parent Communication Tips
• Busing Tips
• Chaperone Tips
• After the Field Trip Tips
• Planning Checklist
• Week of Field Trip Checklist
• Day of Field Trip Checklist
• Student Roster
• Parent Communication Template
• Permission Slip Template

For students:

• Museum & Trip Information Page
• Sketching Page
• Scavenger Hunt
• ‘I Am’ Character Poem
• Twitter Perspectives
• Exploring Place: The 5 Senses
• Trip Reflection Worksheet

This Museum Field Trip Packet is full of documents to help you plan a successful field trip + worksheets and activities for students to complete during the museum field trip.

Scheduling your Field Trip

Check with your front office or school administration and find out what information you’ll need for planning a field trip. Usually, you’ll need to provide an itinerary of your trip. Be aware, some schools are sticklers and want near minute-by-minute schedules.

Please note, this post includes Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

This is also a good time to find out what dates you’ll need to avoid planning a field trip on—testing dates, other field trips, assemblies, and so on. Be sure to ask when you’re allowed to leave and what time you’ll need to be back. Often, field trip times are limited by bus schedules and pickup times.

With potential dates in hand, call the art museum to book your tour. Museum staff will usually provide you with all the information you need for planning a field trip, but make sure you get these questions answered:

• How many students are allowed per group? (Museum tours usually limit the number of individuals to 15 or so, but ask your museum so you know for sure.)
• How many chaperones are required?
• What time should you arrive with students?
• Where do you park?
• Where do you enter the museum?
• Where can you eat lunch? Are there any museum policies regarding food that you need to be aware of?
• Can students go into the gift shop?

Field Trip Funding

Talk with your front office about funding your art field trip. Art museum visits are usually free, but someone needs to pay for the bus. Figure out if the school or district can pay for it or do you need to collect money from the students. Divide the amount needed by the number of students going to get the amount each will owe. If you teach at a low-income school, ask the museum if they know of any grant possibilities for funding buses.

Ask your school about the best method to collect funds. Some schools do not allow teachers to give students change, in which case you’ll need to ask students to bring the exact amount. If you are allowed to make change, keep a bunch of $1 bills on hand. Keep meticulous records of the money collected. Receipt books are an easy way to keep track and can be purchased cheaply from places like Wal-Mart, Target, or an office supply store. This will make keeping track of all the money paid and owed. Trust me, you’ll be glad to have it when a student insists they already paid.

Get a big envelope to hold the funds and keep them locked in your desk or file cabinet. Ask your front office if they want it all turned it at once or at the end of each day. Print a roster of all of the students who are supposed to go on the trip to keep alongside your envelope. Make two columns alongside each name, one for money and another for permission slips.

Field Trip Permission Slip and Parent Communication

Make sure you follow your school’s protocol for sending and collecting field trip permission slips. They should have a standard form you can use. Set a deadline for your students to turn in permission slips well before the field trip and write the deadline across the top in huge, bold letters before you copy and distribute it to students.

With the field trip form, send a letter to the parents about the field trip. As a parent, I sometimes get random permission slips with no information and am lost trying to figure out what it’s for. Write a little note about how excited you are to take the kids to the museum and staple it to the field trip permission slip.

Scheduling Buses

First, figure out who is responsible for scheduling the bus. Do you do it? Does your front office do it? Does the district do it? Even if you think you know, double check! Once the art field trip is scheduled, get the bus scheduled as soon as possible. When planning a field trip, be sure to factor in driving time, getting on and off the bus, and any possible traffic into your decisions about when the bus should arrive for pickup.

When the bus arrives, be sure to get the name and cell phone number of the bus driver, as well as the bus number. You don’t want to be lost in a maze of buses with students in tow or be late getting back to school because you can’t find your driver.

Field Trip Lunch

With so many details to consider, you might forget about planning a field trip lunch, but don’t make that mistake! Consider:

• Will you be back in time for lunch or do you need to bring lunches? Work with the front office and cafeteria staff to plan sack lunches for your students.
• Do the students need to order their sack lunches in advance? If so, get the form to send home alongside the parent letter and permission slip.
• For students packing lunches, it is best to put their lunches in disposable containers so everything can be thrown away and you don’t have to worry about kids losing their favorite lunch box.
• Will the museum allow you to store lunches somewhere inside or will they need to stay on the bus?
• Where will you eat lunch? The museum staff can tell you where to go. If they don’t have a designated courtyard or cafe, consider visiting a nearby park.
• Will you allow students to buy food? Many museums have a cafe or are located in metro areas with nearby restaurants. For example, at the Dallas Museum of Art , there are always food trucks at a park across the street. When I took middle schoolers, I allowed a chaperone to accompany them to the park to buy lunch from the food trucks. If so, don’t forget to add that to your parent letter!

What to Bring with You on the Art Field Trip

• First aid kit (Often the front office or nurse will have something already prepared for you to bring.)
• Roster of all participating students
• Cell phone numbers for your chaperones, plus the school and museum phone numbers
• A map with directions to and from the destination for the bus driver—They probably know where to go, but it’s good to have ready just in case.
• An art field trip museum assignment for the students to complete. Get creative! Look at the current collection on the museum website and create a scavenger hunt or bingo cards. Encourage the students to interact with the artworks by using art appreciation worksheets .
• Pencils and paper

In addition to these things, talk with the school nurse about which students are going on the trip to find out if any medications or special precautions are necessary.

Field Trip Chaperones

Once you know how many field trip chaperones you need, recruit other teachers and parents. Your school or the museum you’re visiting will likely have their own guidelines for you to follow. As a rule of thumb for museum tours, be sure you have at least 1 adult per 12-15 kids.

Print personal copies of all the information each field trip chaperone will need—times, when and where to meet, the bus number, names of children they will watch, expected behavior, and your cell number. (Don’t forget to get their cell number as well!) Put the information in a folder or on a clipboard so it’s easy to keep everything together.

For each teacher going on the trip, make sure substitutes will be available to cover their classes. If there will be a sub in your classroom, plan your sub lessons. Pair an art appreciation worksheet with an artwork for an easy, mess-free sub lesson. You can even tie it into the art field trip by choosing one or more artworks students will see in the museum.

Preparing the Students for the Trip

Get your students excited for the art field trip! Beyond the novelty of getting out of school for a bit, you want them psyched for the experience too. Here are some ways to do that:

• Share pictures of the museum and the type of art they will see
• Lead art discussions with students so they can show off their awesome art interpretation skills (They’ll be sure to impress their chaperones and museum guides!)
• Discuss expected behavior. (More on this below)
• Use museum resources—museums often send great lessons and supplemental information before your art field trip. These are perfect for both pre-visit and post-visit lessons and will help students remember what they see.
• Tell students the schedule in advance what you’ll expect from them and and what they should expect regarding lunch, buses, gift shop, free time in the museum, etc. Repeat this information before you leave, on the bus, and when you arrive.

Student Behavior

As a former museum educator, I can tell you I rarely had an uncontrollable student groups. Students love field trips and the museum environment helps them stay in line. Nonetheless, discuss behavior in advance, plan and tell them consequences for misbehavior. Student behavior is a reflection on you and the school, so make sure to follow through on consequences if needed. Remember, if they respect you, they won’t want to make you look bad . Be sure students know that you’re watching and that all of the field trip chaperones will report back on their behavior.

Student Rules for Art Field Trips

• Don’t touch the art—keep an arm’s length from artworks at all times.
• Don’t yell.
• Treat the docent, museum staff, chaperones, and each other with respect.
• Participate in the lesson.
• No bags/backpacks allowed.
• No food/candy/gum/drinks
• No pens, pencils only. (The museum will provide pencils when needed.)

Field Trip Chaperone Behavior

Honestly, the worst behavior I saw when I was a museum teacher came from parents and field trip chaperones. Don’t shy away from including a do and don’t list in the information you give chaperones.

Don’t Do List for  Field Trip Chaperones

• Talk loudly in the background with other adults.
• Treat the tour as a break. The museum teacher needs your help controlling poor behavior and inattention.
• Answer questions asked of students. It’s fun to participate in art discussions, but don’t take the opportunity away from the students. (If you’re still itching to participate in art discussions, join me every Monday at 6 pm Central on Facebook for Masterpiece Monday ! Get reminders by clicking here .)
• Play games or scroll through social media on your phone. If you aren’t respecting the learning and experience, your students won’t either.
• Lose anyone.

What to Do List for  Field Trip Chaperones

• Direct student attention. Pay attention to who is or isn’t engaged. If someone isn’t paying attention, give them your best teacher look, stand by them, and talk to them between stops on the tour about their behavior.
• Model enjoyment and delight in the art. Engage with the art and the students to show them that this is a wonderful, fun experience.
• Know the info—who is in your group, where to go and when to be there, the bus number, etc.
• Constantly check to make sure all of the students in your group are present and accounted for. Count again and again.

After your Art Field Trip

When planning a field trip, don’t forget to think about the follow-up! On the return bus ride or when you get back to school:

• Have students write three art field trip takeaways.
• Ask students to reflect and write a paragraph about the experience.
• Lead a class discussion about what they saw and did. (What did they like/not like? What surprised them about the experience? Do they want to go back?)
• Have students draw pictures for or write thank you letters to send to the art museum. (The museum most likely offered that tour for free and the teacher was probably a volunteer. Make their day with a lovely note.)
• Thank students for good behavior
• Follow through on the discipline plan by giving consequences for poor student behavior.
• Send a follow up letter to parents telling them about the art field trip and encouraging them to visit the art museum as a family so students can show their parents what they learned. Make sure to include information and upcoming events at the museum, as well as any free admission the museum offers.

When all is said and done, take time to reflect on the art field trip yourself. Take stock of what went well and what didn’t work. Take note what your students enjoyed and what you’d like to do differently next time. Breathe. Enjoy a job well done. Then, start planning your next artful excursion!

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Teacher Tips: How to Plan a Field Trip

The end of the school year is prime time for field trips. Assessments are over and so is most, if not all, of the curriculum; you and your students are ready to get out of the classroom for some enrichment. However, newer teachers can be intimidated by the prospect of leading the students off school grounds, and veterans may have suffered a bad experience. Here are some ways to make sure everyone has a fantastic time.

Talk To Someone Who Has Been There Before

Whether your school is in a major metro or a rural area, there are probably only so many good field trip options nearby. Chances are one or more of your colleagues has already led a trip to your target location, so take advantage of their experience. Connect with other teachers at your school who have visited the site in the past to learn the ins and outs (or warn you away). If you are the first from your school, you still probably aren’t the first class. When you call to book, ask for some tips from the site staff to make your planning and organization go smoothly. The personnel at the site will have seen both successful and trying field trips before.

Visit The Site Beforehand

Heading out on a field trip sight-unseen is not recommended. You can learn a lot about a site and how to plan for your trip from a quick stop before or after school or on the weekend. You don’t need to take in the full field trip experience, just give yourself a brief preview to get an idea of some potential pitfalls or things you may want to cover in class before you go.

Educate Your Chaperones

Parents who volunteer to chaperone field trips tend to do so throughout their child’s school career, so it’s likely they have some idea of what they’re getting into. But they may not have chaperoned a trip with you. Of course, be appreciative, but also be firm about your expectations. Divvy up the on-site jobs that may be necessary and clearly assign duties. It’s also a good idea to briefly reconvene all of your chaperones at the end of the trip to find out what went well and what can be improved.

Structure Your Students’ Experience

On a trip, students need to be kept busy, preferably with hands-on activities that will keep their minds engaged. Time that students are left to their own devices is time when it’s more likely for something to go wrong. Make sure you have a well thought out schedule for the day, and try to keep unstructured time, like lunch or a chance to explore the gift shop, to the minimum. We know the final stretch of the school year can be the hardest to get through. Hang in there, teachers, and consider trying these additional end-of-the-year activities to keep students learning. 

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Field Trip Planning

Structure your field trip planning with this checklist.

Planning an educational field trip can be both exciting and challenging, but with the Field Trip Planning template, you can stay organized and ensure a smooth trip from start to finish.

This user-friendly template is designed with you in mind, providing a step-by-step guide to help you cover all the essential aspects of planning a successful and enriching field trip.

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10 Tips on How to Plan a Science Field Trip

If you are a homeschooling parent, I am sure you are looking for ways to get your kids outside. I also know that you probably want to do some meaningful science projects. But how can you combine the two? A great way is by going on field trips. One of the greatest challenges. however, is knowing how to plan your adventure and make it a meaningful learning experience. Let me share with you ten tips on how to plan a field trip: where to go, what to do, how to do it, and how to build community.

Tips on Where to Go

When you step out your door, the world is a big place. It may feel overwhelming to come up with a good idea for a field trip. So many possibilities exist. The key is to keep it simple. 

Tip #1 is to take a look at your immediate surroundings. Do you have a yard or a garden? Does it have plants, trees or other natural features?  Do birds fly in to visit at a feeder? Some of the easiest field trips can be done from the convenience of your own property.

Tip #2 is to consider what is located within walking (or biking) distance from you. Try thinking outside the box a little here as we often stick to our well-worn paths. Are there any babbling brooks in your town?  What about flower gardens downtown?  A path through the woods? An open area to look at the sky? An urban park? If it helps, take out Google Maps and get to know the geography of your area a little better. You might find something new to explore that would make a fun field trip.

Tip #3 is for when you feel like going farther afield, Brainstorm what types of places appeal to your family the most. Are you water lovers?  Perhaps drive to a river, lake, or ocean that you can do for a day trip. Do you like to hike? Plenty of field trips center around terrain that you might see on a typical walk through meadows, woods, or hillsides. Do you want to see the stars? Perhaps a camping trip away from the city lights would be best.

No matter where you decide to go, the most important thing to remember is that there is a science field trip in the offing! Why am I so certain about it? Because that’s what The Field Trip Academy is all about!

Once you have picked a place, the next step is to think about what types of science activities you might like to do while you are there. 

• Tip #4 is to consider using a community science (a.k.a. citizen science) project as the “anchor” for your learning. If you are not familiar with this term, it is basically a partnership between scientists and the community. The researchers provide guidance on what to observe and record and you provide them with the information that they seek when you are on your field trip.To get some ideas, consider reading one of our blog posts:

After looking through some possibilities, try to match a project to your preferred location so that you have a starting point for your science exploration.

Tips on How to Do It

This step is the one that will require you to put in the most time in planning. Here are some tips on what to consider as you plan out your field trip:

• Tip #5 is to ask yourself, “What resources do I need to do this trip?” If you are doing a community science project, it may require gathering some materials or downloading an App onto your phone. If you want to incorporate additional experiments or projects, add those materials to your list. Plan your field trip far enough in advance so that you can get your materials ordered (if needed), get your Apps downloaded, and have proper clothing packed.
• Tip #6 is to decide whether you think any background lessons are needed before you go to your location. Ask yourself, “Would my learner(s) benefit from reading about this science topic or watching a video? Preparing them ahead of time will make their experience in the field a lot more focused, purposeful, and successful.
• Tip #7 is to maximize your time while you are on site. The community science component might be a relatively small “ask” on the part of the scientists. It could be as simple as taking a chemical measurement or uploading a photo of a nature observation. If you have set aside a large portion of your day, you will want to go further in your science engagement. Ask yourself, “What other activities can my family do while we are at this type of nature location? You may want to do some google searching ahead of time to come up with some ideas.
• Tip #8 is to consider whether you would like to incorporate other subjects into your field trip day like math, art, or writing.  Math is a natural corollary to doing science since so often science observations require measurements, calculations, data tables, and graphs. Art is another easy fit since the natural world can often be so beautiful and inspiring.  And for those who like to express themselves through the written word, having a writing prompt ready can help round out a kid’s field trip day.

How to Build Community

Finally, as you embark on your science field trips, consider bringing along another family or your co-op! It makes the whole experience more fun if you can do it as a community. This leads me to final two tips:

• Tip #9 is to find ways to make your field trip a collaborative experience between different youth. Often more than one set of hands is needed to perform a task or take a measurement. By making the activity collaborative, you allow each homeschooler to feel like they have an important role to play in the activity
• Tip #10 is build in opportunities after the field trip for your homeschooling families or co-op to share their experiences with one another. It gives the youth a way to express themselves and everyone then gets to learn from one another.

I hope that you have found these top 10 tips to be helpful. If you follow them, you will be able to provide a quality educational experience for your kids.

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How to go about Planning a Field Trip Checklist

Field trips are not only exciting and academically beneficial, but they also give students great experiences and indelible memories. 

Regardless of the benefits, some schools encounter budget reductions. This means that accessing admission to cultural centers, historical museums, and other attraction sites can be almost impossible. 

Various tips can help you understand what goes into planning a field trip checklist. In this post we shall discuss:

• How to plan a field trip
• Checklist for teachers and parents to ensure that students have everything they need to make the trip a success 

About Field Trips

Many times, field trips are not given proper consideration in the educational curriculum. Today, however, many schools are realizing the importance of field trips and incorporating them into the school program.

Les Elfes offers field trips for students from different parts of the world. There are numerous things for your students to learn at this resort as seen below.

There are various sports activities for the students to engage in. They will learn how to use different sports equipment and gain the confidence to attempt a vast range of sporting activities. 

Team Building and Social Skills

Les Elfes organizes field trips that bring together students from across the world. This creates an ideal environment for them to mingle, get to know one another, and make friends. By working together, the students can strengthen their team spirit. 

Individual Development

Field trips at Les Elfes are exceptional experiences that help promote both group and individual development.

Can Students Benefit from Attending International Field Trips?

Yes. There are numerous benefits of attending field trips overseas which include:

·         Enhanced Self Awareness

The world is fast becoming a global village thanks to the internet. However, experiencing a different country with different cultures and exciting scenery is marveling. 

It allows students a better experience than they would achieve from watching videos or looking at photographs. 

·         Enhanced Cultural Awareness and Appreciation

Going for an overseas school trip enables students to discover and embrace different cultures. They can learn a new language, various customs, and sample a wide range of food options. Further, they get to develop relationships with different people. 

·         Attempting New Things

Many parents struggle with encouraging their children to try new things. A field trip is an excellent way of getting the kids all excited to attempt new things.

These include: learning a new sport or language, sampling new food, discovering the new country, and discovering different methods of traveling. 

How to Plan a Field Trip

Understanding the process of planning a field trip is crucial. Teachers who are preparing to take students for an outdoor learning experience can benefit from this skill. Here is how to go about it.

·         Choose Your Preferred Location

Deciding where you want to go can be an arduous task especially if you have various choices. Involve your students and colleagues in assessing and weighing your options.

Consider places that focus on enhancing your curriculum objectives. Further, you need to conduct extensive research to figure out the practicality of your ideas.

Assess the cost involved and the services you and your students will enjoy.

Enquire about their operational schedule. This will help you determine whether they will be open for business when you visit.

Remember, you can always ask your students for their preferred locations and activities they would like to engage in. 

·         Why Choose Les Elfes?

While Les Elfes is a ski resort, there are various other activities you can engage in. Apart from having trained and experienced staff, there are state-of-the-art facilities designed to maximize your learning experience.

Further, there are stringent safety standards in place to protect each student. You can be assured that your child will be safe throughout the trip.

Located in Verbier, one of the largest and most popular ski areas in Switzerland, numerous students visit the resort every year.

Guides will help students to navigate their way through the expansive resort.

·         Plan

Planning is a crucial step if you are to achieve a successful field trip. What’s more, you will need to exercise caution when planning a field trip checklist to ensure you have all your essentials.

Often, student-based field trips involve going outside the school compound and discovering a new environment.

Consider the age group of your students and establish what they expect from the trip.

For instance, if you are traveling with young students, consider taking them over to the park. Here, they will have all the freedom and space to engage in their preferred activities.

·         Older Children

If you are dealing with older children, chances are that their field trip will be integrated with a particular learning goal. For these trips to succeed, you should work harder to collect the required materials, to facilitate activities. 

You will also need to:

• Obtain approval from the administration
• Visit your preferred location beforehand to assess the area and designate different places for your planned tasks, and
• Come up with a program of activities

Prepare Your Students for the Trip

Studies suggest that students will learn more from a field trip if they can relate it with classroom lessons.

Are you dealing with older students? Try to incorporate activities relating to the field trip in some of your lessons before the trip.

Establish various trip-related activities that you and the students will use on-site or during your post-trip practice.

Where possible, create a video detailing the location you will be attending. For the ultimate experience, students shouldn’t carry their gadgets. This way, they will be fully immersed in the activities of the day. 

·         Lunch

If the students have to carry packed lunch, have them pack it in brown bags that they can easily recycle on-site. This is one way of teaching them how to be responsible when it comes to taking care of the environment. 

Proper Dressing

Monitor the weather and ensure the students dress in appropriate and comfortable gear. If you will be going for a one day trip, ensure all students eat a heavy breakfast. You can have them carry snacks to consume before lunchtime. 

Ensure Everyone Understands the Rules

Apart from planning a field trip checklist, you should also need to come up with rules for the field trip.

Focus on behavior conduct and discipline during the trip. Make copies of the rules and have the older students sign.

If you are dealing with younger students, train them in advance on acceptable practices during the field trip.

Place the students in small groups and have designated chaperones in advance. Where possible, you can even request their parents to become chaperones to enhance student discipline. 

Exercise Caution when Choosing Your Chaperone

You won’t be everywhere to monitor the students. This is why you will need trustworthy chaperones.

Send them letters requesting for their volunteering services in advance. Follow up-to confirm attendance before finally including them in your list.

Try to have three extra chaperones to act as backups just in case one fails to show up. Take the chaperones through an orientation process to ensure they are conversant with their responsibilities.

Discuss what you expect from them and make sure they are up to the task. Finally, ensure each chaperone has:

• Name tags for all students and fellow chaperones
• Enough label grocery bags that they can utilize to carry lunch and other items for their group
• The rules, itinerary, a list of all students in individual groups, and the field trip organizer’s phone number

Planning a Field Trip Checklist for Teachers and Students

Whether you are a teacher or a parent, planning a field trip checklist helps you know the things you need.

The checklist comes in handy to ensure that you and your students have everything you need for the field trip. Many people struggle with planning a field trip checklist.

Here are checklist examples to make the process easier. 

Often, teachers are tasked with planning the field trip. This checklist will come in handy to ensure that you don’t forget crucial things.

What to pack

• Dated and signed permission slips
• Lunch cards or packed lunch
• Enough money to cater for the trip’s expenses. You can either carry the student’s money or have them carry it safely in their bags
• Student and chaperone contact details
• First aid kit
• Allergy forms and first aid kits
• Equipment and gear to cater for sudden weather changes

Teachers should also have:

• Booked the bus and obtained the driver’s contact details
• Presented a plan for the students who will not be attending the field trip
• Prepared a schedule for the trip and sent copies to the chaperones and parents
• Notified the school’s administration about students who will not be attending the trip

Before your child embarks on the field trip, you want to ensure you have packed:

• Lunch if need be
• Pocket money for emergencies and souvenirs
• Appropriate gear to help them cope with the weather change
• Motion sickness medication
• Contact details of immediate family members or guardians
• A camera to capture the moments

Ensure you have:

• Discussed the trip itinerary with the teacher in charge and the chaperones
• Signed the permission slip and given it back to the trip organizers
• Presented your contact details 
• Ensured that your children can memorize your phone number

Field trips are not only exciting, but they also help students to interact with new people and learn different cultures. Further, it is the perfect chance to explore different locations and learn new things. As a parent, releasing your child to attend a field trip can be a daunting albeit rewarding task. 

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Planning field trips

With spring just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to think about how to expand your teaching beyond the walls of your classroom. One way to do that is by taking your class on a trip.

There’s no better place to plan a class trip than in New York City. Your students can do everything from traveling back in time at the oldest farm in New York State, the Queens County Farm Museum, to exploring the city’s wastewater treatment system at the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant.

No matter what grade or subject you teach, there’s a trip for you. Here are some tips to help you plan.

Think through the logistics. If you plan to use the Department of Education’s yellow bus service, the Office of Pupil Transportation has its own requirements: Buses must leave from your school after 9:30 a.m. and return before 1:30 p.m. The DOE also requires that, for classes of up to 30 students in elementary and middle schools, at least two additional adults accompany the teacher. (High school classes require only one additional chaperone.)

Your school may have its own internal guidelines or policies — a charge of $15 per student, for instance, might be considered acceptable at one school but cost-prohibitive at another. Check with other teachers or with your administrator before you plan.

Consider collaboration. If you work with other teachers on the same grade or subject, you may want to team up. At some schools, for instance, teachers rotate planning duties so that everyone takes a turn coordinating a trip for the entire grade.

Expand your horizons. Some units in your curriculum may naturally lend themselves to classic field-trip destinations in New York City. Third-graders studying Egypt in social studies, for instance, will get a lot out of a trip to the wing of ancient Egyptian art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

But less conventional destinations can also align with your curriculum. Kindergartners who are learning about places in their community will benefit from trips to ordinary community destinations like the post office. Students who are working on “how to” pieces in writing can visit a restaurant to practice writing a step-by-step guide to making a meal.

Check our some of the many possibilities »

Connect with your curriculum. The most powerful trips for students will be those that help them make connections with what they’re learning in the classroom, before and after the trip.

Before the trip, talk with your students about what they’ll see and do and what they hope to accomplish. When Jonathan George, a teacher at MS 447 in Brooklyn, took his 8th-graders to the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in lower Manhattan, he gave his students a specific task: to sketch and reflect on a Native innovation that correlated with a modern invention.

After the trip, give students a chance to continue reflecting on their experiences and how they correlate with what they’re learning. That way, the trip isn’t over when they return to the classroom.

• Grades 6-12
• School Leaders

FREE Poetry Worksheet Bundle! Perfect for National Poetry Month.

260+ Field Trip Ideas for Grades Pre-K Through 12 (In-Person and Virtual)

Get out of the classroom and explore the world!

Field trips are a quintessential school experience. You usually only get one or two a year so it’s important to do it right! Our roundups of unique field trip ideas have something for every age, subject, and interest. We’ve even got resources like permission slip forms and chaperone tips. Get ready to leave the classroom behind to take learning on the road!

Preschool Field Trip Ideas

Early-grade field trips help kids learn about the world and also teach them good field trip behavior. These are our top picks for the pre-K crowd, but many of the options on our kindergarten list are perfect for this age group too.

• Library: Not every student’s parents take them to story time. Schedule your own trip, and show kids that having fun isn’t hard when you have a library card!
• Farm: Whether you learn how vegetables are grown or where milk and eggs come from, the farm is always a hit.
• Grocery store: Go behind the scenes at the supermarket, and use this trip as the foundation for lessons on healthy eating.
• Park: From local playgrounds to majestic national parks, it’s always worth getting kids into the great outdoors.
• Children’s museum: This is the age group most children’s museums were designed for! They’ll love all the hands-on fun and excitement.
• Post office: Learn how mail is sorted and shipped, and teach students about stamps and other mail-related items.
• Bank: Money is a new concept for these kiddos, and they’ll be fascinated to step inside the vault and learn other bank secrets.
• Fire station: There’s just something about a fire truck that gets every little one excited.
• Nursing home: Is there anything sweeter than watching seniors and wee ones spend time together?
• Animal shelter: For kids who don’t have pets at home, this can be a good introduction to animals. Others will just enjoy the time with dogs and cats waiting for their forever homes.

Elementary School Field Trip Ideas

@mjdstoronto

These are the prime field trip years! Here are our favorite trips for every grade.

• 14 Kindergarten Field Trips (Virtual and In-Person)
• 15 First Grade Field Trips (Virtual and In-Person)
• 15 Second Grade Field Trips (Virtual and In-Person)
• 15 Third Grade Field Trips (Virtual and In-Person)
• 23 Fourth Grade Field Trips (Virtual and In-Person)
• 22 Fifth Grade Field Trips (Virtual and In-Person)

Middle and High School Field Trip Ideas

@salinasvalleybasingsa

For this age group, you’ll need to step up your game a bit. (They’ve probably already been to the zoo, the aquarium, and the art museum.) Try some of these locations, which offer educational, social-emotional, and real-life learning opportunities.

• Food bank: Hold a food drive, then arrange a trip to your local soup kitchen or food pantry. Volunteering makes for truly meaningful field trips.
• Recycling facility: In a time when reducing landfill waste is more important than ever, a trip to a recycling facility can help drive home the message.
• Theater: Many theaters offer behind-the-scenes tours for schools and discount pricing when you buy tickets in bulk. (Want to go virtual? Check out the Hamilton Education Program !)
• Community college: Parents sometimes take kids on college visits, but a community college trip offers opportunities for even more students to see themselves getting a higher education.
• TV station: Kids interested in communications or technology will find this completely fascinating.
• Courtroom: There’s no better way to understand the justice system than to see it in action.
• State or county capitol: Every government class should visit a local capitol to meet with officials and see how the government works.
• Local business: This can be a cool way to learn about managing a business, working with customers, or discovering how products are made.
• Wildlife rehab facility: Introduce students to the people who help injured wild animals recover and live free once again.

Virtual Field Trip Ideas

@edtech_tusd

The terrific thing about virtual field trips is that they eliminate so much of the hassle. No need to collect permission slips, arrange for buses, or recruit chaperones. Plus, they’re usually free!

• 40 Amazing Educational Virtual Field Trips
• 20 Terrific Virtual Art Museum Field Trips
• 18 Incredible Virtual Zoo Field Trips
• 15 Fascinating Aquarium Virtual Field Trips
• 3 Science Virtual Field Trips Let Kids Travel the World

Field Trips by Location

If you live in one of these cities, check out some of our favorite spots.

• 16 Cool Field Trips in Houston, Texas
• 21 Terrific Field Trips in Chicago, Illinois
• Top 10 Washington D.C. Field Trip Ideas

Field Trip Tips and Resources

There’s a lot to do when you’re organizing an off-site field trip. These resources are here to help.

• Preparing Parent Chaperones for a Field Trip
• Free Printable Field Trip and School Permission Forms To Make Your Life Easier
• Things To Do Before Taking Your Students on a Major Field Trip
• Mistakes To Avoid When Planning a Field Trip for Students
• Why I Hate Field Trips (And How I Learned To Deal)
• Help! Is There Any Way I Can Get Out of Our End of the Year Field Trip?

Bonus: Looking for a laugh? Check out  Ways School Field Trips Are Like The Wizard of Oz !

What are your favorite field trip ideas? Come share your thoughts in the  We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook !

Plus,  virtual college campus tours to explore from home ..

You Might Also Like

The Best PreK and Kindergarten Field Trips (Both Virtual and In-Person!)

From the pumpkin patch to the fire station. Continue Reading

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How to Plan a Family Field Trip

Without a doubt, taking your family on a field trip is one of the best ways to spend some time together. Whether it’s a free afternoon or a whole week trip (or longer!), taking the initiative to explore a new place can be the first step into fun and educational adventures!

But, if it’s your first time planning a foray into the unknown, planning your field trip can seem a lot harder than it actually is. No matter where you hope to go, keeping a few simple principles in mind is all it takes to plan a successful family field trip.

Trip Location 

The first step in planning an amazing family field trip is picking a location that will work well for your family. After all, a trip to an area known for great whitewater rafting could be amazing! But it’s probably a no-go for a family with younger kids, or for someone who prefers not to get wet. 

Don’t worry too much about picking the perfect spot, though. Almost any location has things to offer visitors of all ages. Still, paying attention to a few key factors can really take a family field trip to the next level. 

Some factors to keep in mind are:

• Any special reasons for visiting a particular place
• The area’s climate/weather
• The time of year or season
• How far away it is
• How much it will cost to visit

When I pick a location for our next trip, I like to start out by thinking about the special reasons category. Usually, this looks like me trying to find trips that have a connection to something that we’ve seen or read about recently, like taking a mushroom foraging tour the week after we tried a new kind of mushroom we saw at the farmer’s market. Or, it could look like visiting a place that we read about in a book. For instance, my family is actively planning a trip to Cumberland Island National Seashore because a book we read was set there! 

After I’ve come up with a handful of possible places, it’s time to narrow them down! I start by considering the time of year, and how that will affect our trip. If you’re hoping to see the northern lights on your trip to Minnesota, going during the summer won’t help much. Likewise, going to see turtles hatch at Tortuguero National Park in Costa Rica won’t turn out well if you go during the off-season. 

From there it’s narrowing it down by considering how far we want to travel, and figuring out which trips are in and out based on budget. Usually, by this point, we have a pretty good idea of where we’re headed. 

Once you know for sure, it’s time to find a place to stay. We tend to use Airbnb for our longer stays, while we stick to sites like booking.com for finding our short stays. Try to balance the price of your stay with getting a place that’s close to your destination. If you don’t mind a bit of a commute, you can often get a great deal on a place that’s a bit farther away, but be mindful of traffic! 

Traffic can be a problem if you’re staying too far from where you want to be, but it can also be a problem if you’re staying too close! When we stayed in Washington DC, we actually ran into a problem with parking in the city that wouldn’t have been an issue if we had stayed outside the city and relied on the subway to bring us in.

Activity Brainstorming

After you decide on the location, it’s time to figure out what you’ll be doing there! 

As I said earlier, there will be some fun and educational activities available pretty much anywhere you go, even if they’re easier to find in some areas than others. I’ll be using my family’s upcoming adventure to St. Marys and Cumberland Island for my examples, but the techniques I use can be applied pretty much anywhere. 

I like to start out by grabbing as many ideas for things to do in the area as possible, which means it’s time to turn to good ol’ Google. 

I usually start with a really general search for activities in the area. I might also do a search for a specific one that I already know about so I can collect important information From there, I open every tab that looks interesting. Usually, I’ll end up with a ton of open tabs, many of which are “best things to do in X area” style articles. 

Some search queries to get you started

I also like to do some more specific searches. I typically will search for UNESCO Sites, National Parks, and State Parks near my destination, since these are some of my favorite kinds of places to visit.  

For our St Marys trip, I found a handful of locations, but the ones that stuck out to me were:

• Cumberland Island National Seashore (of course!)
• Crooked River State Park and
• Fort Clinch State Park

Lastly, I like to check Atlas Obscura , since they often have some great off-the-beaten-path kinds of attractions listed on their site. A search for locations near St Marys gave me two different possibilities. 

The Dungeness Ruins were already on my list for things to check out on Cumberland Island, but the submarine museum was something I hadn’t found yet! 

Once I’ve compiled a decent list, I like to save them all to a Google Maps list so I can have a visual representation of the different places I’m considering. 

From there, it’s all about whittling the list down to fit our scheduled amount of time there! I Google each spot, and get as much information as I can about what’s available there and how long different activities take. I ask questions like,

• Which things best fit our kids’ interests, or would teach them something new? 
• What are our goals for this specific trip?
• Is there something that we absolutely want to see, and when is that thing available?
• Are there any locations that go really well with each other, or that follow a theme. 

Depending on the pace of our trip, I either schedule one or two main events for each day we’re there, or as few as one a week, if we’re planning on staying a while. Many attraction websites will also tell you how long you can expect to spend there and that may help plan out your day. I’ve found that my kids tend not to hurry through natural areas, so I can expect to spend longer amounts of time than suggested there and they’re speed walkers in museums, so we can get through those in less time than estimated. 

Making an Itinerary

An itinerary isn’t as important if you only have a couple activities, but it can be a life-saver if you are wanting to fit as much in as possible!

I tend to be as detailed as I can when it comes to making an itinerary, and I’ll include time blocks for travel time and meal times along with our actual destinations. This gives me a better picture of what the day looks like and reminds me to schedule in break days so we don’t burn out. After all, having an early morning after a late arrival can really put a drag on the day’s activities. 

Things to keep in Mind

• Travel time
• Time spent at the attraction
• Souvenir shopping

For our family’s trip to Cumberland Island, I discovered that the only ways to access the island are by using the ferry or through a private boat charter. That limited the times I could schedule our island trip pretty significantly and ended up being the factor that dictated our schedule for that day. 

This is also the stage where I check to make sure that any necessary reservations are made, and that I have all my confirmation codes together. I like to keep them in a couple different places, including my planner, just in case my phone dies. 

I have found that even for trips where I’m trying to fit a ton of different activities in, it is best to only schedule a couple hours of activity for the morning, and a couple more for the afternoon. More than that and I end up feeling really rushed and distracted. Of course, different people feel differently. The key is finding a rhythm that works well for you and your family.

It can also be a good idea to alternate high-energy level trips and low-energy level trips. I’ve found that trying to fit too much into a single day ends up exhausting the whole family and keeps us from fully enjoying the rest of the trip. So, getting those easy field trips in can be a much-needed respite from the action.

Definitely keep in mind, though, that the itinerary is always subject to change. If a cool, new opportunity comes up, go for it! I’ve found that it’s often those unplanned-for side-trips that end up being some of my family’s favorites!

Organizing a family field trip can seem like a monumental task when looked at from a distance, but with a little practice and the ability to break the planning into smaller chunks, it’s a lot simpler than it seems.

Need someplace to keep all your field trip plans?

My new Field Trip Planner for Parents is designed to help with the hard work of planning a family field trip, from beginning to end. It has room for brainstorming activities, creating itineraries, thinking about questions to ask, and even a place for taping in your entrance tickets or other mementos!

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Zoo Lesson Plan

Please note, this lesson plan was created by FieldTripDirectory.com as a general guide and is not specific to any particular venue listed on our site.

The giraffe’s tongue is black to prevent sunburn while eating in the hot sun. Their spots, which are as unique as humans fingerprints, are designed for camouflage. And they need less sleep than any other mammal, using the time instead to browse for food.

When you go to the zoo, be on the lookout for the clever ways animals adapted to their surroundings and developed traits that help them survive.

OVERVIEW Students act like scientists to observe animal life while focusing on the diets and eating habits.

OBJECTIVES Students will observe animals and note their habitats and diets. Students will understand the connection between diet and habitat.

MATERIALS • K-W-L Chart of Diets and Eating Habits.

• Pencil and clipboard

KEY VOCABULARY/CONCEPTS Habitat                 Carnivore                      Herbivore                     Omnivore

Hook:  How do you get your food? (Student answers may include the store, my family, a restaurant). How would your eating habits change if you didn’t have a microwave? Would it change if you had to grow and prepare all your own food? Why? (Discuss that what we eat depends on our surroundings and abilities, just like animals).

Step 1:  Explain to students that we will be observing animals in their habitats to discover what diets and eating habits they have and why.

Step 2:  Create a K-W-L chart to assess prior knowledge. Have students list examples of eating habits of animals they already know in the “Know” column.

Step 3:  Have students observe 5-10 animals. On paper, they will note the animal name, describe the habitat and the diet, and include any notes on eating habits. **You may want to assign students 5 animals to observe or allow them to choose before they visit the aquarium.

Step 4:  With younger students, you may need to model how to observe exhibits in the aquarium. Look carefully and slowly at all parts of the exhibit – animals, plants, rocks, sand. Notice the colors, textures, and amount of organisms in the exhibit, as well as what they are doing. Read the informational signs around the exhibit. Ask questions and make hypotheses. Focus on one animal and take descriptive notes.

Step 5:  Allow students to move around the zoo, observing and making notes.

Step 6:  After viewing the exhibits, ask students to share their findings. What animals did they learn about? Where do these animals live, what do they eat, and what habits do they have? Add these to the “Learn” column of the K-W-L chart.

Step 7:  Discuss the following questions:

– How are an animal’s diets related to their habitats? – How are an animal’s diets related to their eating habits? – Compare and contrast two animals’ diets and habitats. What do you notice? – Some animals have special traits that make finding food easier. Did you see any examples?

EXTENSIONS 1. Students view the interactive lesson about carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores .

2. Students create a menu for an animal they studied, including options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.

3. A great lesson about animal instincts vs. learned behavior: http://www.discoveryeducation.com/teachers/free-lesson-plans/animal-instincts.cfm

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How to Prepare for School Field Trip Emergencies

Have you ever headed off on a preschool or elementary school field trip without giving a second thought to emergency preparedness? You’re not alone.

Many a first-time leader has traveled without considering worst-case scenarios. Then a student gets lost or is stung by a bee, and a leader learns quickly that there’s a lot more to field trips than picking a great destination.

While planning your field trip, consider the possibility that a member of your group could become missing or injured. Then, create a plan for avoiding or addressing the most likely risks.

Preventing Lost or Missing Students

Incorporate these safety measures into your next outing:

• Provide students with matching, brightly colored t-shirts or bracelets, and set up a buddy system.
• Give children clear instructions on what they’re to do if they get lost while on the field trip.
• Never allow students to go into the restroom without a buddy. Depending on the age of the students, a chaperone may need to survey the restroom to be sure it’s safe for students to enter, and then wait outside the restroom until the children emerge.
• Create a roster and bring it with you on the field trip. Check students against the roster several times throughout the day to make sure no one is missing. Good checkpoints include when the group leaves the school, once you arrive at your destination, and at lunch.
• Consider bringing a school yearbook or class photograph on the field trip so a photo of each child is immediately available.

If any child is missing, notify facility staff or police immediately. Ask people in the nearby area to stay there until staff or police arrive so they may provide any information they may have about the missing student.

Addressing Medical Emergencies

In addition to a well stocked first-aid kit , teachers should carry bottled water, sunscreen, a working cell phone, any emergency medications students may need, a list of emergency phone numbers, parent contact information, and the phone number of the area’s poison control center. It also would be helpful to have at least one chaperone on each trip certified in first aid and CPR .

If a student is hurt, determine the extent of the injury. If there’s a possibility of neck or spinal injury, don’t move the student. Summon professional medical attention immediately.

Otherwise, provide first aid and make sure an adult stays with the injured child. Obtain medical assistance, if needed, and contact the students’ parents or guardians as soon as possible. Complete an accident report afterward to document what happened.

Preventing Disciplinary Problems

If you have a student that acts up at school, expect the same behavior while out in public. Follow these tips to help prevent disciplinary issues:

• Up to a week beforehand, tell students about behavior expectations and discipline rules that they are to follow while on the field trip.
• Make all chaperones aware of these expectations and the appropriate disciplinary tactics and rules to follow.
• If vans or buses are being used for transportation, each vehicle should contain at least one chaperone besides the driver to help supervise the students.

When a student breaks the rules on a trip, be sure to follow through on the discipline you have established. 

Avoiding Dangerous or Hazardous Activities

Adequate supervision can help keep students out of harm’s way. Generally, it’s good to presume that if you can’t see students, you’re not supervising them. 

You’ll generally need one chaperone for every eight to 10 students. This number can vary, depending on the age and obedience level of the children you’re supervising.

It takes a lot of time to prepare for a field trip, but with proper planning, you and your students can enjoy an incident-free day full of adventure and education.

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• Travel Guide

How To Plan A Field Trip Lesson Plan

Published: December 1, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Trescha Prescott

• Plan Your Trip

Introduction

Field trips are an invaluable educational experience that can greatly enhance a student’s learning journey. They provide an opportunity for students to explore the world beyond the confines of their classrooms and engage with real-life examples of the concepts they have been studying. Whether it’s a visit to a museum, a nature reserve, an historical site, or a local business, a well-planned field trip can bring learning to life in a way that textbooks simply cannot.

The purpose of this article is to guide educators and trip organizers on how to plan an effective and engaging field trip lesson plan. From choosing a suitable location to organizing transportation and ensuring student safety, every aspect of the planning process will be covered. Additionally, we will explore strategies for preparing students, creating interactive lesson plans, and assessing their learning outcomes.

Field trips have been proven to increase student engagement, motivation, and retention of knowledge. They provide a hands-on approach to learning and allow students to make connections between what they learn in the classroom and the real world. By immersing themselves in new environments and experiences, students develop critical thinking skills, observational skills, and gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

However, organizing a field trip can be a complex task. It requires careful planning, coordination, and attention to detail. This article aims to simplify the process and provide practical tips and guidelines to ensure a successful and enriching field trip experience for both teachers and students. Let’s dive in and discover how to plan a field trip lesson plan that will leave a lasting impact on your students.

Purpose of the Field Trip

The purpose of a field trip goes beyond simply providing students with a break from the classroom. It serves as a way to broaden their horizons, deepen their understanding of a subject, and foster connections between theoretical concepts and real-world applications. A well-defined purpose ensures that the field trip aligns with the curriculum and learning objectives, making it a valuable and meaningful experience for the students.

One of the main purposes of a field trip is to provide students with a hands-on learning experience. By immersing themselves in a real-world setting, students can engage all their senses and interact with the subject matter in a tangible way. This active participation not only enhances their understanding but also encourages curiosity and critical thinking skills.

Field trips also aim to expose students to new environments, cultures, and perspectives. They broaden students’ horizons by allowing them to step outside their comfort zones and experience different contexts. This exposure fosters empathy, cultural awareness, and an appreciation for diversity.

Another purpose of a field trip is to connect classroom knowledge to real-life applications. Students often struggle to see the relevance of what they are learning in school to their everyday lives. By visiting relevant sites and engaging with professionals in the field, students can witness firsthand how the concepts they learn in class are applied in the real world. This connection can be a powerful motivator, sparking deeper interest and enthusiasm for the subject.

Furthermore, field trips provide an opportunity for students to develop essential life skills. They learn to navigate new environments, work in teams, and communicate effectively with peers, teachers, and professionals they encounter during the trip. These skills are invaluable for their personal and professional growth.

Overall, the purpose of a field trip is to enrich the learning experience by providing students with an immersive, interactive, and multi-dimensional learning opportunity. It encourages curiosity, critical thinking, cultural awareness, and the development of essential life skills. With a clear understanding of the purpose, educators can plan and execute a field trip that meets the specific needs and objectives of their students.

Choosing a Field Trip Location

Choosing the right field trip location is crucial to ensure that the experience is not only educational but also engaging and relevant to the curriculum. When selecting a location, consider the following factors:

Curriculum Relevance: Look for field trip locations that align with the topics or subjects being taught in the classroom. For example, if studying history, a visit to a local historical site or museum would be appropriate. If studying biology, a trip to a nature reserve or zoo would be more suitable. The goal is to reinforce and complement what students are learning in class.

Variety and Diversity: Aim for a diverse range of locations throughout the academic year to expose students to different environments and perspectives. This can include museums, cultural centers, nature reserves, factories, and local businesses. The variety will keep the field trips fresh and exciting, and students will have the opportunity to explore a wide range of subjects and interests.

Accessibility: Consider the proximity and logistical aspects of the location. Choose a location that is easily accessible for both students and teachers. Consider transportation options, travel time, and any potential barriers that may hinder the trip. If necessary, explore partnerships with local transportation services or arrange for parent volunteers to assist with transportation.

Safety and Security: Prioritize the safety and security of the students when selecting a field trip location. Ensure that the location has appropriate safety measures in place and is suitable for children of the targeted age group. Research the location’s track record for safety and read reviews from other educators who have visited before.

Interactive and Engaging Experiences: Look for field trip locations that offer interactive and hands-on experiences. These experiences allow students to actively participate and engage with the subject matter. For example, a science museum might have interactive exhibits and workshops, while a local farm might offer opportunities for students to feed animals or plant seeds.

Budget-Friendly Options: Consider the financial constraints of the school or organization while selecting a field trip location. Some locations offer discounted rates for educational groups or have grants available for schools. Additionally, look for local options to minimize transportation costs. Seek out partnerships with community organizations or local businesses that may be willing to sponsor or support the field trip financially.

By considering these factors, educators can choose field trip locations that enhance learning, engage students, and provide them with unique and memorable experiences outside of the classroom. The selected locations should align with curriculum goals, offer variety, prioritize safety, promote interactivity, and remain budget-friendly. Finding the right balance of educational and engaging experiences will ensure a successful and impactful field trip.

Getting Permission and Funding

Once the field trip location has been selected, the next step is to obtain permission from the necessary authorities and secure funding for the trip. Here are some important steps to consider:

Seeking Administrative Approval: Start by presenting the field trip proposal to the school administration or relevant decision-making body. Clearly outline the educational goals, learning outcomes, and logistical details of the trip. Emphasize the value and relevance of the experience to the students’ academic and personal growth. Address any concerns or questions that administrators may have, and be prepared to provide supporting documentation or evidence of the educational benefits.

Communicating with Parents and Guardians: Once approval is granted, it is crucial to inform parents or guardians about the field trip. Create a comprehensive permission form that outlines the details of the trip, including the date, location, itinerary, anticipated costs, and any additional information such as transportation arrangements, lunch arrangements, and safety precautions. Provide ample time for parents to review and sign the permission forms, and be available to address any questions or concerns they may have.

Securing Funding: Field trips can often incur expenses, including admission fees, transportation costs, and meals. It is essential to explore funding options to make the trip feasible for all students. Start by investigating if the school or organization has a budget set aside for field trips or if there are grants available specifically for educational outings. Additionally, consider partnering with local community organizations, businesses, or parent-teacher associations to secure sponsorships or donations. Fundraising activities, such as bake sales or car washes, can also help generate funds for the trip.

Requesting Scholarships or Financial Assistance: Recognize that not all students may be able to afford the cost of the field trip. It is essential to provide equal opportunities for participation by offering scholarships or financial assistance. Communicate with the appropriate school staff, such as the guidance counselor or principal, to identify students who may require financial support. Research local organizations or foundations that provide scholarships for educational experiences and submit applications on behalf of the students in need.

Establishing a Payment Deadline: To ensure timely collection of funds and finalize the logistics of the trip, establish a deadline for receiving permission slips and payments. Clearly communicate the deadline to parents, and provide reminders leading up to it. Consider offering payment options to accommodate families who may need more flexibility, such as installment plans or electronic payment methods.

By following these steps, educators can navigate the process of obtaining permission and securing funding for the field trip. Open and transparent communication with school administrators, parents, and guardians is vital. Exploring funding options and addressing financial barriers will help ensure that all students can participate in this enriching educational experience.

Preparing the Students

Before embarking on a field trip, it is crucial to properly prepare the students for the experience. By doing so, educators can maximize the learning opportunities and ensure that students make the most of their time at the chosen location. Here are some key steps to consider when preparing the students:

Introduce the Field Trip Objectives: Start by clearly communicating the objectives of the field trip to the students. Explain why the chosen location was selected and how it aligns with their current studies. Discuss the anticipated learning outcomes and emphasize the importance of active engagement during the trip.

Background Knowledge: Provide students with the necessary background knowledge to fully grasp the context of the field trip. Conduct pre-field trip lessons or activities that introduce the concepts, themes, or historical significance associated with the location. This foundational knowledge will enhance their understanding and enable them to make connections during the visit.

Site-Specific Information: Familiarize students with the selected location. Share information about its history, significance, key features, and any specific rules or guidelines that need to be followed. Consider showing relevant videos, images, or virtual tours to give students a visual overview of what to expect.

Engage in Pre-Trip Discussions and Activities: Encourage students to research and discuss the field trip destination in class. Assign pre-trip activities, such as reading articles, watching documentaries, or engaging in group discussions, to deepen their understanding and generate excitement for the upcoming visit.

Set Expectations and Behavior Guidelines: Clearly outline the expectations and behavior guidelines that students should adhere to during the field trip. Discuss appropriate conduct, respect for the location and its staff, and the importance of safety precautions. Establish consequences for non-compliance and reinforce the idea that the field trip is a privilege that requires responsible behavior.

Address Safety Concerns: Identify and address any potential safety concerns with the students. Discuss emergency procedures, buddy systems, and the importance of staying with the group and following instructions. Remind students of any specific health or allergy considerations and ensure that necessary medications are readily available.

Prepare Necessary Materials: Depending on the field trip objectives, students may need to bring certain materials such as notebooks, cameras, or clipboards. Provide a list of required items beforehand so that students can come prepared. Additionally, create worksheets or assignments that require students to actively observe and document their experiences during the trip.

Engage in Pre-Trip Reflections: Encourage students to reflect on what they hope to learn or experience during the field trip. Allocate time for students to share their expectations and insights with their peers. This reflection helps set intentions and primes students to actively engage with the trip’s objectives.

By adequately preparing the students for the field trip, educators lay the foundation for a successful and meaningful learning experience. Through background knowledge, discussions, setting expectations, and addressing safety concerns, students can approach the field trip with enthusiasm, curiosity, and a readiness to actively engage in their learning journey.

Creating a Lesson Plan

A well-designed lesson plan is essential to ensure that the field trip serves as a valuable educational experience. It helps guide teacher-led discussions, activities, and assessments before, during, and after the trip. Here are key steps to consider when creating a lesson plan for a field trip:

Establish Learning Objectives: Clearly define the learning objectives you want to achieve through the field trip. What specific knowledge or skills do you want students to acquire or demonstrate? Align the objectives with curriculum standards and make them measurable, allowing for assessment of student progress.

Pre-Trip Activities: Develop pre-trip activities that introduce the concepts, themes, or historical background of the field trip location. These activities can include readings, videos, discussions, or hands-on projects. Such activities provide a foundation for students to build upon during the field trip.

During-Trip Engagement: Outline specific activities or discussions that will take place on-site during the field trip. Incorporate opportunities for active exploration and observation to deepen students’ understanding. Consider organizing guided tours, interactive workshops, or scavenger hunts to keep students engaged and focused on the objectives.

Post-Trip Reflections and Assessment: Plan post-trip activities that allow students to reflect on their experiences and consolidate their learning. Provide opportunities for students to share their observations, insights, and questions. Assess their comprehension and critical thinking skills through assignments, discussions, or presentations that connect the trip to the broader curriculum.

Curriculum Integration: Ensure that the lesson plan integrates the field trip seamlessly into the broader curriculum. Find ways to connect the learning experiences from the trip to classroom instruction, projects, or assessments. Highlight the relevance of the field trip to the subject matter and facilitate the transfer of knowledge between the classroom and real-world contexts.

Differentiated Instruction: Consider the diverse needs and learning styles of your students. Incorporate strategies to differentiate instruction during the field trip, such as providing different types of activities or assessments to accommodate varying abilities or interests. Adapt the lesson plan to address the specific needs of individual students or groups.

Collaboration and Reflection: Foster collaboration among students during the field trip by encouraging group work, discussions, and sharing of observations. Additionally, allocate time for post-trip reflection sessions to allow students to process and articulate their learning experiences. This promotes metacognition and the development of critical thinking skills.

Resources and Materials: Identify the resources and materials needed to implement the lesson plan effectively. This may include worksheets, visuals, technology tools, or reference materials. Ensure that all necessary resources are readily available and make any required arrangements prior to the field trip.

By following these steps and considering the unique circumstances of your students, you can design a comprehensive lesson plan that optimizes the educational value of the field trip. Remember, a well-designed lesson plan not only enhances the learning experience but also helps students make meaningful connections between their experiences on the trip and the broader curriculum.

Organizing Transportation

Organizing transportation for a field trip is a key logistical aspect that requires careful planning and coordination. Here are some important steps to consider when arranging transportation for your field trip:

Evaluate Transportation Options: Assess the transportation options available to you, keeping in mind the number of students, distance to the field trip location, and any specific needs or restrictions. Common options include school buses, public transportation, chartered buses, or arranging for parent volunteers to carpool. Consider the costs, safety, and convenience of each option.

School Bus Transportation: If using school buses, contact your school’s transportation department to inquire about availability, requirements, and any specific guidelines you need to follow. Provide them with the date, destination, and estimated number of students. Be sure to confirm and reconfirm the bus reservation closer to the field trip date.

Private Transportation Companies: If opting for chartered buses or private transportation companies, research and compare different companies to find the best fit for your needs. Consider their reputation, reviews, safety records, and pricing. Book the transportation well in advance to secure availability.

Permission Slips and Liability: Include transportation-related information in the permission slips or forms that parents or guardians need to sign. Clearly communicate the mode of transportation, departure time and location, and any important information related to transportation logistics. Ensure that liability waivers are included to protect both the school and transportation provider.

Seat Assignments and Grouping: Depending on the size of the group and the transportation arrangement, consider assigning seats or grouping students. Distribute seat assignments or groupings in advance to avoid chaos during departure and to ensure that students are seated with appropriate supervision.

Supervision and Chaperones: Plan for an adequate number of adult chaperones to accompany the students during the field trip. Assign responsibilities and clearly communicate expectations to chaperones regarding student supervision, behavior management, and emergency protocols. Provide chaperones with detailed itineraries and contact information for easy communication.

Communication and Logistics: Coordinate with the transportation provider to confirm pickup and drop-off times and locations. Communicate these details with the teachers, students, and chaperones. Establish a designated meeting point for students before departure, and ensure that there is clear communication between the transportation provider, teachers, and chaperones throughout the trip.

Contingency Plans: Prepare contingency plans in case of unforeseen circumstances such as traffic, delays, or changes in the itinerary. Have alternative transportation arrangements in mind and ensure that contact information for backup transportation providers is readily available.

Review Safety Regulations: Familiarize yourself with the safety regulations and guidelines set by the transportation provider. Remind students of the importance of following these rules during the journey and enforce them throughout the trip. Conduct safety briefings and reminders before departure to ensure that students are aware of the procedures and expectations.

By carefully organizing transportation and addressing relevant logistics, educators can ensure a smooth and safe journey to the field trip location. Thorough planning, communication with transportation providers, and adherence to safety regulations will contribute to a successful and enjoyable outing for both students and educators.

Field Trip Logistics

Field trip logistics encompass the necessary arrangements and considerations to ensure the smooth execution of a successful outing. Paying attention to these logistics can help minimize disruptions and maximize the learning experience for students. Here are some key factors to consider when managing field trip logistics:

Timelines and Scheduling: Develop a detailed itinerary that outlines the timeline for the field trip, including departure, arrival, activities, and return. Allocate sufficient time for each activity, keeping in mind factors such as travel time, breaks, meals, and potential delays. Communicate the itinerary to students, chaperones, and any other relevant parties.

Visitor Information: Contact the field trip location in advance to gather important visitor information. Obtain details such as entry requirements, arrival procedures, parking facilities, and any specific guidelines that need to be followed. Share this information with students, chaperones, and staff involved in the field trip to ensure a smooth entry and transition into the location.

Accommodation and Facilities: If the field trip involves an overnight stay or requires the use of onsite facilities, make necessary arrangements well in advance. Confirm reservations, ensure accessibility for all students, and address any accommodation preferences or special needs. Check the facilities available, including washrooms, dining areas, and storage spaces for personal belongings or equipment.

Meals and Nutrition: If meals are included as part of the field trip, coordinate with the venue or catering service to ensure dietary requirements and allergies are accommodated. Communicate meal schedules, options, and any necessary precautions to students and chaperones. If students are bringing their own meals, provide guidelines for safe food storage and consumption.

Special Needs and Accessibility: Consider the needs of students with disabilities or special requirements. Check if the field trip location is accessible and make necessary arrangements to accommodate wheelchair users, individuals with sensory impairments, or those with specific learning needs. Communicate with relevant personnel, such as accessibility officers or special education coordinators, to address any specific accommodations or support.

Communication and Emergency Protocols: Establish clear communication channels between teachers, chaperones, and pertinent school staff during the field trip. Share contact information, including mobile numbers or radios if available, to ensure immediate communication in case of emergencies or unexpected situations. Familiarize students with emergency procedures, including evacuation plans, first aid stations, and who to contact in case of an emergency.

Appropriate Attire and Supplies: Advise students on appropriate attire for the field trip, considering comfort, weather conditions, and any specific requirements of the location. Inform students of any supplies they need to bring, such as writing materials, cameras, or protective gear. Consider providing students with a checklist to ensure they have all the necessary items.

Consent and Medical Forms: Ensure that all necessary consent forms and medical information forms are collected well in advance of the field trip. Keep these forms safely on hand and communicate any pertinent medical information to chaperones and relevant staff. Provide a summary of medical needs and emergency contact information for each student attending the trip.

By attending to these field trip logistics, educators can ensure that the outing runs smoothly and that the students have an enjoyable and enriching experience. Clear communication, precise planning, and attention to detail are key to facilitating successful logistics for field trips.

Safety Precautions

Ensuring the safety of students is of paramount importance on any field trip. By implementing thorough safety precautions, educators can create a secure and conducive learning environment. Here are key safety considerations to address:

Advance Risk Assessment: Conduct a comprehensive risk assessment prior to the field trip. Identify potential hazards, evaluate their severity and likelihood, and develop strategies to mitigate risks. Consider factors such as the location’s layout, transportation safety, external threats, and the specific needs of the students involved.

Chaperone Training: Brief the chaperones on their roles and responsibilities regarding student safety. Provide them with guidelines on supervision, emergency procedures, behavior management, and any specific safety considerations related to the field trip destination. Encourage open communication between chaperones, teachers, and students throughout the trip.

Emergency Procedures: Develop and communicate detailed emergency procedures to teachers, chaperones, and students. Include protocols for natural disasters, medical emergencies, or situations that may require immediate evacuation. Assign specific roles to staff members, clarify chain of command, and provide clear instructions on who to contact and how to handle various emergency scenarios.

First Aid and Medical Considerations: Carry a well-stocked first aid kit and ensure that at least one staff member or chaperone is trained in basic first aid. Collect and carry medical information and contact details for all students attending the trip. Address any specific medical needs or allergies and ensure that necessary medication or emergency supplies are readily available.

Student Buddy System: Implement a student buddy system to encourage mutual support and accountability. Pair younger or less independent students with older or more responsible students. Reinforce the buddy system by providing guidelines on staying together, checking in with buddies, and reporting concerns to a designated adult or chaperone.

Safety Briefings: Conduct safety briefings before and during the field trip to familiarize students with safety protocols and expectations. Review guidelines for appropriate behavior, adherence to rules, and awareness of the surroundings. Emphasize the importance of staying with the group, following instructions, and seeking assistance when needed.

Supervision and Headcounts: Maintain a ratio of appropriate adult chaperones to students to ensure effective supervision. Assign specific chaperones to smaller groups of students to monitor their whereabouts and safety. Conduct frequent headcounts to verify that all students are accounted for during the trip, especially at transition points, such as entering or exiting a venue.

Safe Transportation: Ensure that transportation arrangements are conducted safely. Choose reliable and licensed transportation providers, follow seatbelt laws and regulations, and enforce safe behavior while aboard the vehicle. Communicate safety guidelines to students regarding boarding and exiting the transportation, and stress the importance of remaining seated and following any instructions from the driver.

Secure Environment: Assess the security measures at the field trip location and communicate any relevant information to staff, chaperones, and parents, if necessary. Be vigilant about personal and property safety, discourage students from sharing personal information with strangers, and emphasize the importance of reporting any suspicious activity to a trusted adult or chaperone.

Parent Communication: Regularly communicate with parents or guardians before, during, and after the field trip. Provide them with detailed itineraries, emergency procedures, contact information, and any relevant safety information. Encourage parents to share any specific concerns or considerations about their child’s safety.

By prioritizing safety precautions, educators can ensure a secure and enjoyable field trip experience for all participants. Proactive planning, clear communication, appropriate supervision, and adherence to safety guidelines are essential in providing a safe and nurturing environment for students to explore, learn, and grow.

Engaging Activities and Worksheets

To truly enhance the educational impact of a field trip, it is essential to incorporate engaging activities and worksheets that promote active exploration and reflection. Here are some ideas to consider when designing interactive experiences for students:

Post-Field Trip Reflections

Post-field trip reflections are a crucial component of the learning process as they allow students to consolidate their experiences, deepen their understanding, and make connections to their prior knowledge. By providing opportunities for reflection, educators can maximize the educational benefits of the field trip. Here are some strategies to encourage meaningful post-field trip reflections:

Open Discussions: Allocate time for class discussions to allow students to share their thoughts, observations, and insights. Encourage students to reflect on what they learned, their favorite moments, and any surprises or challenges they encountered. Use open-ended questions to promote deeper thinking and encourage active participation from all students.

Journaling or Reflection Prompts: Provide students with journals or reflection prompts that guide them in expressing their thoughts and feelings about the field trip. Ask them to write about what they found most interesting or meaningful, how the trip connected to their prior knowledge, or any new perspectives they gained. Encourage students to be descriptive and reflective in their writing.

Showcase Student Work: Display and celebrate student work related to the field trip. This could include artwork, photographs, writing samples, or group projects. Showcase their creations in the classroom, school hallway, or on a dedicated class website. This not only acknowledges their efforts but also provides a visual reminder of their experiences and stimulates further reflection.

Group Presentations: Assign small groups of students to create presentations summarizing their field trip experience. Encourage them to share what they learned, how it connects to their classroom studies, and any insights they gained. This promotes public speaking skills, collaboration, and enhances the collective understanding of the entire class.

Peer Discussions and Collaboration: Facilitate small group discussions where students discuss their experiences and learn from each other. Assign specific topics or questions for them to explore and encourage active listening and respectful sharing of different perspectives. This fosters a collaborative learning environment and allows students to learn from their peers’ varied experiences.

Assessment and Evaluation: Incorporate assessment tasks that evaluate students’ understanding and reflections on the field trip. This can include short quizzes, written reflections, or project-based assessments. Assessing their reflections provides valuable feedback for both the students and the educators, allowing for targeted instruction and future improvements.

Real-World Connections: Encourage students to make connections between the field trip and their everyday lives. Ask them to identify ways in which the knowledge and experiences gained on the trip can be applied in real-world situations. Discuss the potential impact of the field trip on their future choices, career aspirations, or community engagement.

Feedback Collection: Seek feedback from both the students and chaperones to gain insight into their experience and to improve future field trips. Provide opportunities for them to share what they enjoyed, what could be enhanced, and any suggestions they may have. Analyze the feedback collected and use it to refine future field trip planning and implementation.

Post-field trip reflections provide students with an opportunity to solidify their learning, reflect on their experiences, and make connections with their prior knowledge and the broader curriculum. By implementing these strategies, educators can foster critical thinking, self-awareness, and a deeper understanding of the subject matter while promoting active student engagement and meaningful learning outcomes.

Assessing Student Learning

Assessing student learning is a vital step in evaluating the success of a field trip and measuring the educational outcomes achieved. By implementing effective assessment strategies, educators can gauge the impact of the field trip on student learning and make informed decisions about future instructional practices. Here are some approaches to assess student learning after a field trip:

Reflection-Based Assignments: Assign written reflections or journals that prompt students to critically analyze their field trip experiences. Evaluate their ability to make connections between the trip and their prior knowledge, articulate their observations, and reflect on the significance of what they learned. Assess the depth of their reflections, the clarity of their writing, and the coherence of their thoughts.

Project-Based Assessments: Assign projects that require students to demonstrate their understanding of the field trip content through creative means. This could include creating presentations, multimedia projects, artworks, or written reports. Evaluate their ability to effectively communicate their knowledge, organize information, and apply critical thinking skills. Assess their creativity, presentation skills, and overall quality of the project.

Group Discussions and Debates: Conduct group discussions or debates that allow students to engage in thoughtful discourse about the field trip topic. Evaluate their ability to articulate their viewpoints, provide evidence to support their arguments, and respectfully engage with their peers. Assess their critical thinking, communication skills, and ability to draw connections between the field trip experiences and broader concepts.

Quizzes or Assessments: Administer quizzes or written assessments that test students’ knowledge and understanding of the content covered during the field trip. Ask questions that assess both factual recall and higher-order thinking skills. Evaluate their comprehension of key concepts, their ability to apply knowledge in different contexts, and their analytical thinking.

Performance Assessments: Design performance-based assessments that require students to demonstrate their skills or apply their knowledge acquired during the field trip. For example, have them present a dramatic interpretation, conduct experiments, solve problems, or complete hands-on activities. Assess their ability to apply knowledge, follow procedures, and produce accurate or creative results.

Peer and Self-Assessments: Incorporate peer and self-assessment opportunities to encourage students to reflect on their own learning and provide feedback to their peers. This assessment method can help develop their metacognitive skills, self-awareness, and analytical abilities. Provide clear assessment criteria and guidelines for them to evaluate their work and the work of their peers.

Checklists or Rubrics: Develop checklists or rubrics that outline specific criteria for performance, participation, or reflection. Use these tools to assess student learning based on predetermined standards and expectations. Evaluate their ability to meet specific criteria, such as content knowledge, critical thinking, communication skills, or teamwork.

Teacher Observations: Observe student behavior, engagement, and interactions during the field trip. Take note of their level of participation, the quality of their questions or contributions, and their overall attitude and demeanor. Use your observations to assess their level of interest, understanding, and active involvement in the learning experience.

Field trips offer invaluable opportunities for students to enhance their learning and connect classroom concepts to real-world experiences. By following the steps outlined in this guide, educators can plan and execute a successful field trip lesson plan that maximizes educational outcomes and engages students in meaningful ways.

Beginning with a clear understanding of the purpose of the field trip, educators can ensure that the chosen location aligns with curriculum goals and offers a rich and relevant learning experience. Obtaining the necessary permissions and securing funding is essential to ensure that all students have the opportunity to participate, regardless of financial constraints.

Preparing students for the field trip by providing background knowledge, discussing safety measures, and setting clear expectations helps to establish a solid foundation for an engaging and safe experience. Creating a well-rounded lesson plan that incorporates activities, reflection exercises, and assessments both during and after the trip ensures that students maximize their learning and reinforce their understanding.

The logistics of the field trip, including transportation arrangements, safety precautions, and communication protocols, play a critical role in ensuring a smooth and organized outing. By paying attention to these logistical details, educators can create a safe and positive environment for students to learn and explore.

Engaging activities and worksheets provide students with opportunities to actively participate in their learning and reflect on their experiences. By incorporating interactive elements, educators can foster curiosity, critical thinking, and a deeper connection to the subject matter.

Post-field trip reflections and assessments allow students to consolidate their learning, make connections, and incorporate their experiences into their broader understanding of the curriculum. It is through thoughtful reflections that the full educational impact of the field trip can be realized.

In conclusion, well-planned and executed field trips have the potential to significantly enhance students’ educational journey. By following the steps and strategies outlined in this guide, educators can create memorable and impactful field trip experiences that foster engagement, critical thinking, and a deeper connection to the world beyond the classroom.

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Creating Effective Field Trip Safety Policies

Field trips have long been an exciting part of the educational experience, offering students a break from the classroom routine and a chance to explore the world beyond their textbooks. These educational outings are also linked to improvements in students’ academic performance , social-emotional development, and long-term career prospects. Regardless of gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, students who take part in school trips are gaining meaningful benefits.

With that being said, there are many field trip safety concerns and potential risks associated. This emphasizes the importance of well-structured policies and procedures to ensure that students and accompanying adults can enjoy their outings with peace of mind.

In this blog post, we will discuss the steps to create effective safety policies for field trips including examples of safety rules and safety checklists.

Conduct a Thorough Risk Assessment

Before you can create effective safety policies, it’s crucial to first identify potential risks and hazards associated with trips off school grounds. This process involves the examination of factors such as transportation, location, activities, potential emergencies, student abilities, and more. By pinpointing potential dangers in advance, strategies can be developed to reduce these risks.

When conducting a risk assessment, consider the following key areas:

• Transportation: Assess the safety of the various modes of transportation including buses, walking, or other means.
• Location: Evaluate the climate, terrain, accessibility, and availability of healthcare facilities in the chosen destinations. Keep in mind unexpected weather changes.
• Activities: Examine the equipment used during activities and assess the physical challenges involved. For example, consider the potential risks associated with contact with animals.
• Potential Emergencies: Identify potential emergencies such as slips, trips, falls, bus accidents, dangerous environments, or insufficient security measures.
• Student Ability: Consider the physical capabilities, medical conditions, experience, and age of the students participating in field trips.

Assess the level of risk based on the likelihood or probability of the risk occurring and the possible consequences. This will help guide and prioritize risk management efforts.

While complete elimination of risk is often impossible, school field trip safety policies should provide assurance that all reasonable care and sensible preparatory arrangements have been made to manage potential hazards.

Adapt Field Trip Safety Policy and Procedures Based on Risk Assessment

Once the risks are identified through the risk assessment, safety policies should be adapted accordingly. This means addressing each potential risk with specific measures. Some examples of risk management strategies include the following:

• Having emergency contact information readily available.
• Ensuring appropriate insurance coverage.
• Designating trip leaders and chaperones.
• Setting aside emergency funds.
• Establishing adult-to-student ratios (with lower ratios being preferable, such as one adult per 4-6 children).
• Outlining emergency procedures.
• Setting age requirements for participation.
• Maintaining first aid kits.
• Specifying dress codes.
• Keeping families informed about trip details.

Schools are obligated to carry out suitable and sufficient precautions in terms of supervision, protection, and training before, during, and after the trip.

The following sections include a more in-depth explanation of effective safety policies in the top areas related to school field trips.

Train Staff on their Responsibilities

One crucial detail in effective field trip safety policies is the training and responsibilities of staff. Teachers and staff involved in field trips should always review school policies and procedures well in advance of the excursion. Being familiar with these guidelines ensures that everyone is on the same page regarding safety protocols and expectations.

Staff training can include the following:

• CPR and First Aid certification.
• Crisis management training.
• Familiarity with emergency protocols.
• How to identify potential hazards related to the trip’s destination and activities.
• Responding appropriately in emergency situations.

It is advisable to request that volunteers obtain CPR and First Aid certification. This extra layer of preparedness can be invaluable in ensuring the safety of all participants.

Another important responsibility of school staff is effective communication:

• Administrators should communicate with staff beforehand on safety policies and protocols.
• Teachers and staff should maintain communication before, during, and after the field trip with students, families, and school administrators. Open channels of communication should be created to ensure everyone is informed and prepared.
• Teachers and chaperones should establish and communicate clear behavioral expectations and guidelines for students to follow during the trip.

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Generate Field Trip Emergency Preparedness and Response Plans

One of the cornerstones of effective safety policies for school field trips is a comprehensive emergency preparedness and response plan. This plan should be an integral part of staff training and responsibilities. Teachers and chaperones must be skilled in emergency procedures, and everyone should know their roles and responsibilities. The following includes examples of what should be included in emergency preparedness and response plans:

• Teachers and staff should carry a well-stocked first aid kit along with essential items such as bottled water, sunscreen, a working cell phone, any emergency medications students may need, a list of emergency phone numbers, and parent/guardian contact information.
• Following any medical assistance, if needed, teachers should contact the student’s parents/guardians as soon as possible to keep them informed. Documenting the incident through an accident report is also essential for maintaining records and assessing the effectiveness of the response.
• Teachers and chaperones should be made aware of the prevention of lost or missing students. Matching t-shirts or bracelets can help identify students quickly. Clear instructions should be given to students regarding where and when to meet up, emphasizing the importance of always staying with their assigned buddies. Teachers and chaperones should maintain a roster and check students against it multiple times throughout the day to ensure that no one is left behind.

Emergency preparedness, clear procedures, and prevention measures all contribute to a safer and more enjoyable trip for everyone involved.

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Automate the reporting, tracking and management of accidents, including documenting if first aid was administered, investigations, witness statements, and communicating with all key personnel.

Medical Considerations and Consent Forms for Field Trips

Before embarking on any field trip, it’s essential to collect medical information and signed consent forms from parents/guardians. This step is not just a formality; it’s a vital component of ensuring the safety of every student. Medical information helps educators and chaperones be prepared for any unexpected situations that may arise during the trip. Including this as a safety policy will guarantee its completion.

Consent forms serve as a legal agreement between the school and parents/guardians, outlining the details of the trip and giving them peace of mind about their child’s participation. The forms should provide a comprehensive overview of the trip, including its cost, specific clothing requirements (such as sunscreen, raincoats, or closed-toe shoes), lunch details, and transportation arrangements.

For students with allergies, especially severe ones, it’s crucial to make all participants aware of these allergies so they can respond quickly in case of an emergency. Additionally, any necessary medications should be properly labeled with the student’s name, medication name, dosage, and the time it should be administered.

No child should be excluded from field trips due to their medical condition. Accommodations should be considered and made in advance.

School Field Trips Transportation Safety Measures

Transportation is often a significant aspect of school field trips, and addressing safety considerations related to it is vital. School buses are often the chosen mode of transportation for field trips due to their safety record. However, it’s crucial for everyone involved, from drivers to parents and students, to understand school bus safety.

The qualifications of the drivers operating the vehicles are critical. It should be ensured that buses or cars used for transportation are driven by trusted adults who are responsible and qualified drivers. Drivers should not only be licensed and experienced but also familiar with the specific route and the needs of the students on board. Including regular background checks and training in your safety policies can help maintain the quality and reliability of the drivers.

There should be contingency plans for transportation-related emergencies such as vehicle breakdowns or accidents. These plans should outline:

• Steps to take during a vehicle breakdown or accident.
• Communication protocols.
• Evacuation procedures.
• How to contact emergency services if necessary.
• Having a backup plan in case a vehicle breaks down.
• Plan for students with disabilities or special needs .

Furthermore, schools must ensure that an adult is present in the vehicle whenever children are on board. No child should ever be left unattended. Regular inspections of the vehicle should also be conducted after each trip to ensure no child has been inadvertently left behind.

By having these plans in place beforehand, schools can help ensure that all students reach their destination safely and securely.

Gather Post-Trip Evaluations and Feedback

Accidents can occur even with the most comprehensive safety protocols in place, and when they do, it’s essential not to assign blame but instead focus on improving the system. Post-trip evaluations provide a platform for schools and organizations to review the incident objectively, dissect the events leading up to it, and understand the root causes. By doing so, schools can avoid making the same mistakes in the future and continually refine their safety protocols. The goal is not to point fingers but to create an environment where learning from accidents leads to safer field trip experiences.

One of the most valuable aspects of post-trip evaluations is the input from those directly involved: teachers, students, and parents/guardians. Each of these stakeholders brings a unique perspective to the table.

• Teachers, who are responsible for organizing and supervising the field trip, can provide insights into logistical challenges, communication gaps, or unexpected issues that may have arisen during the trip.
• Students can share their observations about their own behavior and the behavior of their peers, helping educators and organizers understand potential risks or lapses in safety awareness.
• Parents, being concerned guardians, can offer valuable feedback from an outsider’s perspective, pinpointing areas where safety could be improved.

The importance of conducting a post-trip evaluation cannot be overstated. It’s not just about reacting to accidents; it’s about proactively seeking opportunities to enhance safety policies and procedures for future field trips. By involving all participants in this process, schools foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement, ensuring that each field trip is safer and more enriching for all involved.

As we’ve explored in this blog post, ensuring the safety of students, and accompanying adults during field trips must remain a top priority.

To recap the key points covered:

• We’ve highlighted the need to establish thorough safety policies and procedures for field trips. These policies should encompass all aspects of the excursion, from transportation and supervision to emergency response plans.
• We’ve stressed the significance of continuous improvement in safety protocols. The ever-evolving nature of risks and challenges means that safety policies should never remain static. Regularly reviewing and updating these protocols ensures that schools stay ahead of potential hazards and can adapt to new circumstances.

Comprehensive safety policies, diligent supervision, and adaptability are the cornerstones of a successful and secure field trip experience. By prioritizing student safety and continually refining safety protocols, educational institutions can provide students with the best of both worlds: valuable educational experiences and peace of mind for parents and educators alike.

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How Beyond Xbox: Field Trips is Teaching Valuable Life Skills via Game Pass Favorites

Xbox has teamed up with Ukie’s Digital Schoolhouse to launch Beyond Xbox: Field Trips, a series of interactive learning experiences, available on Spotify , to help young people learn through play.

These experiences are set to be delivered as a series of podcasts, featuring seven Xbox Game Pass titles. Each audio journey will focus on a specific game, and the skills that are encouraged and honed while playing. The Field Trips aim to help young people sharpen thought processes, learn collaborative skills, and experience a sense of accomplishment in an immersive environment.

Xbox Wire had the opportunity to sit down with Ollie Bray, co-author of the European Games in Schools Handbook, who helped shape this project. With Bray, we found out how this the podcasts came to be, and what makes Xbox’s catalogue the perfect selection for skills-based learning.

Bray has a background in teaching, and, like many academics, found himself frustrated by more traditional methods to get young people involved with classroom activities. The original thought process of how games can assist with this hurdle came from Sim City , which encourages its players to think about urban planning in an interesting way.

“The traditional ways that we do things are often really dull, but games and simulations offer personalised learning experiences,” Bray says. “When we’re thinking about ‘soft skills’, these game environments are a really good example of how to develop those.”

Beyond Xbox: Field Trips has a couple of main goals in mind, according to Bray. One is to showcase video games as tools that can generate powerful learning opportunities.

The other is to demonstrate how games do not have to have been made specifically for educational purposes to have educational benefits.

We had the chance to listen to the Sea of Thieves episode of Beyond Xbox: Field Trips ahead of its release, which focuses on encouraging teamwork and delegation – something that is already integral to Sea of Thieves ’ gameplay.

“There are aspects of the game where young people are picking up maps, which links to geography, how we learn about latitude and longitude, compass directions, map orientation, all sorts of skills,” Bray says.

“It’s the kind of hard learning you’d expect to get in a geography classroom, which is often reinforced by a textbook or video, but in this case, we’re reinforcing it through interactive gameplay, which gives young people motivation.”

On the campaign, Shahneila Saeed, Director of Digital Schoolhouse and Head of Education at Ukie added, “we’re very excited to be supporting such an original and unique program, using games to develop the skills of young people. I can’t wait to see how these audio learning journeys are implemented in our Digital Schoolhouse network over the coming months, and the impact that they will have.”

Each audio learning journey is available on Spotify , and prompts players to take part in a number of in-game tasks in order to develop important soft skills. All seven games are available via Xbox Game Pass , and can be seen below alongside the skills they encourage:

• Grounded – Problem Solving & Analytical Thinking
• Sea of Thieves – Teamwork and Delegation
• Minecraft – Creativity and Innovation
• Microsoft Flight Simulator – Focus and Diligence
• PowerWash Simulator – Motivation and Prioritisation
• Age of Empires IV – Strategy and Decision making
• Cities: Skylines – Planning and Adaptability

Choosing Game Pass titles was another important element of Beyond Xbox: Field Trips. Bray shares that all of these games can be accessed with just one Game Pass membership.

“We wanted to include a number of different genres of game to be able to cater for different interests,” Bray explains. “You’ll find your classic sandbox game in there, Minecraft ; survival elements from Grounded ; and more surprising titles such as Powerwash Simulator , which is a difficult game to explain, but is hugely therapeutic to play.”

A final note that Bray touches on is how play is highly encouraged during early development, and again later in adult life, but there’s a middle point where leaning on resources like video games is underutilized. Bray adds, “this makes me wonder if we can rethink the approach to the middle part a little – games are a highly engaging learning environment.”

Beyond Xbox: Field Trips are now available via Spotify for players in the UK and Mexico. They can also be accessed as in more accessible formats as visual guides on Xbox.com to cater to different learning styles.

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Escalated teacher job action puts strain on families, but classroom complexity is big issue, says parent

Stf says collective agreement needs to work for teachers, the province, taxpayers, students.

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All Saskatchewan teachers are now working to rule, which means they are not participating in field trips, extracurricular activities and noon-hour supervision. The withdrawal is leaving some parents scrambling to get their kids in and out of school.

The Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation (STF) says the work to rule action is to get the province to agree to binding arbitration, mainly around class size and complexity. 

Regina parent Dmitry Ciocea has a nine-year-old daughter with autism. Ciocea says their child was denied access to a regular classroom at a community school because schools did not have enough educational assistants. So Ciocea's daughter is enrolled in the Functional Integrated Alternative Program (FIAP), which she accesses at W. H. Ford Elementary School.

Because their daughter isn't in a community school, Ciocea said they cannot team up with other parents to ensure the nine-year-old has somewhere to go during the unsupervised noon hour. That has put a strain on Ciocea, who is also a student at the University of Regina.

But it's also not easy on their daughter. 

"It leaves us in a difficult position because I'm trying to figure out what I can do to get her the care that she needs at lunchtime. And beyond that, it's really difficult for her because of the disruption in routine. So I talked to her and I explained what's happening. But she also has an expectation of what her day is gonna look like," Ciocea said. 

Meanwhile, Ciocea is completing an education degree, which has allowed them to see first-hand how classroom complexity is affecting both Saskatchewan teachers and their students. 

"I've spent the last three weeks in classrooms where things like classroom complexity are very apparently a problem. We have more ESL students in the system than ever," said Ciocea.

• Sask. teachers intensify job action Monday with provincewide work-to-rule

"I spent more time than anyone should have to sitting on Google Translate with students who do not speak English, just trying to help them know what's going on. I'm having to learn as a professional how I can essentially work in an impossible situation," they said.

This, Ciocea said, has allowed them to see the collective bargaining dispute from two angles.

"I'm seeing it as a parent who's being impacted and I'm seeing it as somebody who's going to be impacted professionally in very short order."

The parent said they believe the children are suffering the most through the bargaining ordeal, especially those in large "under-supported" classrooms.

Multi-year funding agreement negotiations

Before the work to rule plan was announced, the STF asked for one line in the collective agreement to ensure a multi-year funding agreement with the Saskatchewan School Boards Association. That line would ensure that funding couldn't be revoked. 

But the province declined and job action escalated.

Jeremy Cockrill, Saskatchewan's education minister, said he is very disappointed in the STF's decision to work to rule indefinitely.

He said the STF is not a signatory in the collective agreement.

"My concern is really having the multi-year funding agreement signed in the provincial collective bargaining agreement. That's a problem for government," Cockrill told reporters on Monday. 

Sask. teachers start work-to-rule job action

Samantha Becotte, STF president, told CBC that whatever is agreed upon within the collective bargaining process needs to be a solution that doesn't just work for teachers.

"It needs to work for government, and it needs to work for school boards and needs to work for the taxpayers of Saskatchewan. But most importantly, it needs to work for our students," Becotte said.

Cockrill said he is considering introducing legislation and adding accountability framework for how school divisions spend funds to address class size and complexity into the Education Act.  

"What we would envision for the legislation is having the requirement and then, you know, obviously reviewing what school divisions put forward in the future and making sure that it lives up to that," Cockrill said.

The STF has welcomed an accountability framework, but insists that funding to address the problems of class size and complexity are guaranteed, and are not a budgetary decision. 

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Meanwhile, a Saskatoon mom is leading a call-in campaign in support of teachers. Nicole Berg, founder of the grassroots effort "Parents for STF" is encouraging people to sign up for 15-minute slots up until April 12 to call the offices of the premier and education minister.

"We're definitely trying to use our voices and hopefully get them to engage in conversation and see things a little differently," Berg said.

Under work to rule, teachers begin their shifts 15 minutes before the bell rings. Their day ends 15 minutes after. 

"None of us are experts. We are families," said Berg.

"We have our day jobs and from our perspective, we trust teachers every day with our children, who are the most precious thing to us. And so if we trust them to educate our children and to care for them every day, why would we not trust them in this? So they have our full support all the way."

There is no word on if the STF and provincial bargaining teams will be meeting again anytime soon.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Journalist & Radio Columnist

Laura is a journalist for CBC Saskatchewan. She is also the community reporter for CBC's virtual road trip series Land of Living Stories and host of the arts and culture radio column Queen City Scene Setter, which airs on CBC's The Morning Edition. Laura previously worked for CBC Vancouver. Some of her former work has appeared in the Globe and Mail, NYLON Magazine, VICE Canada and The Tyee. Laura specializes in human interest, arts and health care coverage. She holds a master of journalism degree from the University of British Columbia. Send Laura news tips at [email protected]

With files from Colleen Silverthorn

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