School trips not only help students to relax after a long term of studying and preparing for exams, but they also present the students with a great learning opportunity. They trigger interest in different study topics which can help students build their careers in the future.
However, if you’ve
attended a school trip before, chances are you and your students may want to go
back to doing the same activities in subsequent trips. Here are tips to help
you know how to find great ideas for your next trip.
Allow the students to take the Lead
Often, teachers
collaborate with trip organizers to plan for student trips. While this is a
great act, it lacks the participation of the students and many times you could
miss out on something interesting that the students would want to try.
Involving the students however will expose you to new field trip ideas summer
camp.
You may not believe this
but students are more exposed to matters concerning trips and
summer camps. They understand what they want and how they want it executed.
You could be surprised at what they bring to the table. Participating in the
trip planning and management process will go a long way in enhancing different
student skills which can benefit them entirely.
When the students assume
responsibility for themselves and their colleagues, they instill a sense of
ownership in the other students. This strategy promotes confidence and
engagement while forming a good working relationship with the rest of the crew.
Further, this strategy is
ideal when it comes to empowering the students and enabling them to steer their
own learning experience. Both teachers and the
field trip organizing committee can later discuss how the trip progressed and
figure out ways of doing it differently in subsequent trips.
A Change is a Great way of Finding Rest
If you choose to visit an
unfamiliar location, you will need to do your research well to understand the
location well, establish interesting places to visit, figure out exciting
things to do, know what to expect, and above all ensure that the environment is
student-friendly. This might seem like lots of work but it doesn’t have to be.
Today, the internet
offers you lots of information which you can make use of. As the popularity of
field trips for students grows, various destinations are giving out resources
for different stages and ages. You will gather sufficient knowledge on what to
and not pack for the trip, and what to do and not do to ensure the students are
happy with the trip.
Field Trip Ideas for High School Students
Field trips are ideal for
students as they present them with an opportunity to educate themselves through
observation. They expose students to diverse experiences away from their day to
day school activities.
Before the trip, teachers
and organizers take time to gather sufficient field trip ideas for highschool
students. This goes a long way in ensuring the students get what they pay for.
Field trips come with
numerous benefits to the students as seen
below.
Students get
Exposure to the Real World
Field trips are among the ultimate tools that teachers can leverage on to expose their students to real-world experiences. Whether the trip involves visiting local museums, cultural centers, theaters, waterfront parks, or even the grocery store, the students will have something to learn from a real-world perspective.
Once the students step
out of their learning centers, they can experience a connection between what
they learn in school and what happens in the world. They become certain that
everything they learn in school can be applied in real life to get tangible
solutions for various problems. Further, exposure to the outside world enables
students to realize that their studies are not in vain; rather they play a huge
role in determining how they steer their lives in the future.
Educational Impact
Field oriented learning
is essential when it comes to helping students improve their grades. Studies suggest that students from the
middle school who attended science field trips, for instance, had better scores
in their state science test. Field trips offer the best opportunities for
hands-on learning. Students can remember what they experienced during field
trips better than they would theory learning. Take an example of your days in
school. What do you remember most?
Is it the theory you
spend many days on or the things you learned during school trips? Many people
will attest to the fact that what they learned during field trips is still
vividly etched in their minds as opposed to what they learned in classrooms.
During field trips, students have the chance to look at concepts from various
perspectives.
Ideas are explained in
different methods and strategies and this makes them easier to understand, even
for the students who have difficulties understanding through conventional
methods of learning. As a teacher, you will realize that even the dullest
students become bubbly and more confident during field trips.
Due to being exposed to
various concepts comprehensively, the students will understand their lessons
more clearly. Remember, students come from different backgrounds, some of which
will never be recreated by the internet or even the books they read in class. Field
trips provide students with multiple sensory learning experiences which
actualizes lessons and triggers interest towards subjects which cannot be
replicated through in any other manner.
Interactive
Learning
Planning a visit to the farm and participating in some activities such as tilling the land, milking cows, and planting vegetables are some of the most interesting field trip ideas for high school. These activities expose students to real-life experiences that they could otherwise not have actualized by reading them from a book. Students can have a physical interaction with what they are learning while on field trips.
The experience is unique
seeing that the students can see it, feel it, and even modify it accordingly.
Unlike in the classrooms where students can only imagine what they’re learning
and are not even sure whether or not it’s true, field trips involve having a
one on one interaction with different situations. Executing tasks physically is
more exciting than the theoretical concept of the same.
Exciting Field Trip Ideas for Preschoolers
Preschoolers are
fascinated by the outdoors and attending field trips is one way of ensuring
that they learn and master different words as they develop their vocabulary.
There are various field trip ideas for preschoolers which will trigger their
interests in various fields. Teachers should choose safe and age-appropriate
activities to make the activity worthwhile and exciting for the children. Here
are some great ideas you may want to consider.
A Visit to the
Local Library
A library is an ideal place for children of different ages. Preschoolers, for instance, can be exposed to reading from an early age by visiting the local libraries. It’s worth noting that reading never stops and regardless of their age, there will always be something for the children to engage in at the library.
Preschoolers can
participate in scribbling or basic painting competitions for instance. Many
local libraries offer child-friendly books which the preschoolers can marvel at
during their visit to the library. Allowing preschoolers to explore the library
plays a huge role in the development of their brains.
Teachers and trip
organizers can even allow the students to pick their books of choice and this
helps them identify the things they love associating with. Teachers can also
engage librarians to instill in the children tips on how to search for books
according to their topics of choice. Teachers should, however, always be in
control of what the students are reading.
A Visit to the
Bakery or Local Restaurant
Almost every child loves
bread and good food. A visit to the bakery will have them exploring various
types of pastries that the bakery offers. They can even learn how to make bread
practically from a young age. What’s more, they will learn all the equipment
required to make bread and this way, they will easily identify with the same
when they go back to class.
Visiting the local
restaurant too will be instrumental in teaching the preschoolers what goes on
during the preparation of their favorite foods. Apart from learning about food,
teachers can leverage this opportunity to teach preschoolers some lifelong
safety skills in the kitchen.
A Visit to the Zoo
A visit to the zoo is an
opportunity to learn science from an actual point of view and have fun at the
same time. Many preschoolers will identify with the animals from interacting
with them in their classroom and watching them on television. What’s more,
preschoolers can understand climate change and environmental activities better.
Teachers can incorporate a visit to the park on this trip. Here, preschoolers
can have a small picnic outing while connecting with their friends.
Finally
Field trips help students
to relate what they learn in the classroom with the real world. The skills both
preschoolers and high school students learn during field trips will nurture
their skills throughout their lives. Still, field trips need lots of planning
and collaboration from administrators, teachers, and parents as well. A
successful field trip will give students a worthwhile educational
experience.
