The Walking Classroom

Field trips allow you to approach learning in a unique, hands-on way.  It is a great tool for unschooling, and a super way to capture the attention of traditional homeschoolers as well.  Field trips open up the world beyond the home, where unfamiliar vocabulary comes alive, and comprehension & retention are strong because they come from actual experience.  Field trips also build family togetherness through shared fun times!  Here are some tips to help you get the most out of family field trips.

Before the field trip:

• Go to the library and look for books related to the topic at hand.  If you are going to an art museum, look for books on museums, specific artists that are displayed, the history of the time period you’ll be viewing works from, etc.  The greater variety of books and sub-topics you read from together, the more likely it is that you will pique the interest of all of your children in some way.
• Brainstorm a list of questions that the kids would like to ask on the field trip, as well as a list of particular points of interest to be sure to visit out while you’re there.  Keep this list on an index card or in a small notebook and bring it with you.  This is the single most important step that makes a difference in how educational our field trips turn out to be.
• Many official field trip destinations, such as farms, zoos, aquariums, and museums offer resources for teachers, either on their website or in a packet that they will mail to you before you visit.  Look into this, as these can be really helpful in getting more out of a field trip.  Also inquire as to what special activities may be available for kids.  For example, many times an art museum will have a special crafts room where kids can make something of their own.

During the field trip:

Use your list of questions and points of interest to guide you on the field trip.  Keep discussions going with the kids and anyone who works there that will answer the kids’ questions.  Be sure to pick up any maps and brochures they offer, and take lots of photos!  Sometimes I even have the kids bring a small notebook to take notes, write down the answers to their questions, and list topics of interest that they’d like to explore further.

After the field trip:

• You can cement comprehension and retention by having your children write about the experience and what they learned.  They can include photos taken during the field trip, or illustrations of their own.  To create more excitement and willingness to do this activity, you could have them write this to a friend or relative.
• You could also make a scrapbook of the experience together.  Use your maps, brochures, and photos.  Don’t be afraid to cut these up and use the parts you need to really make a neat scrapbook.  You could include a dictionary of related words, and a list of new facts learned.
• Practice a skill or activity that you saw on the field trip.  When we visited Dollywood as a family, we saw many tradespeople in action.  After the field trip, we tried our hands at weaving and candle-making.  The kids had a blast!
• Prompt the kids to discuss what they’d like to delve into further, or what they would like to learn about next, and go with it!  Nothing fosters true learning as much as personal interest in the material!
• Be sure to teach courtesy and letter-writing by having the kids write a thank you note to anyone who was helpful to you on the field trip.

What to do with the toddler/preschooler?

If you are taking a toddler or preschooler with you on a family field trip, there are definitely some things you can do to make the experience go more smoothly.

• Pack a backpack with small toys, picture books related to the field trip, and snacks.  Use these if your little one gets restless.
• Bring along some kind of teaching aid that will give your little one something to do.  For example, if you are visiting the zoo, bring animal cards so your little one can look for each animal in their card collection.  If nothing else, you can cut out rectangles from colored construction paper and have the little one look for each color on the field trip.  These kinds of activities keep small children engaged and excited about participating.
• Go on field trips often, so young ones (and older ones!) can make good behavior during an outing a habit.  It also helps to end the field trip with an opportunity to run around.  Go outside and have a picnic when you are done, or stop at a playground on the way home and let the kids run around!
• I take lots of photos during all of our field trips.  When we get home and get settled in, I hook up my camera to the DVD player and play a slideshow of our field trip photos on the TV.  This way, my young one gets more of an imprint of the experience in his memory, and we can talk about what we saw and did and learned while it is all fresh in his mind.

There are field trips everywhere!  Visit all of the tourist attractions near you, such as zoos, aquariums, museums, and factories.  You can also take your kids behind the scenes of community places, such as the post office, firehouse, construction site, even a restaurant.  Most cities have some historical places you can visit as well.  Follow these tips, your children’s interests, and enjoy!

What are some of your favorite field trips to take with your kids?

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