The sad thing was, I was really looking forward to the field trip! The students were going to an orchard to pick apples and look at pumpkins! Luckily, I already went on this field trip once this year with the kindergarten class at the private school I use to work at! Still, I was looking forward to seeing how my CE planned and managed this kind of event.
The first field trip that you go on can be a little scary. You basically are taking a large group of kids into a public place, are responsible for all them, have to keep them safe, keep them calm, all while not losing anyone. Luckily, this has become a pretty second nature thing for me, because I have gone on A LOT of field trips. At the summer day camp that I worked at the past two years, we go on 2-3 field trips a week. It's always nerve wracking going on a trip for the first time with a new group of kids, but it gets easier.
It's important that you PLAN, PLAN, PLAN when you go on a field trip. What is the schedule going to be like? How much is everything go to cost? How is transportation going to work? How will students sit on the bus? Where do you go when you arrive? Will there be a guide? There is really A LOT to think about. More than you actually realize. It is important to think about all the small details before you start planning!
I found a really great website that talks about planning a successful (and EDUCATIONAL) field trip. Its important that your field trip that you're planning supports the curriculum. Have learning outcomes, align with NCSCS, have essential concepts, and have key vocabulary.
You then want to prepare your students. Introduce the trip as a part of a lesson, stimulate students' interest for the trip, discuss your expectations for learning and behavior, prepare students with a twenty-four hour "staging period, develop a schedule of activities, and create a packing checklist.
Preparing others is also a big step in this process. Obtain parental permissions, complete medical permission forms, prepare chaperones, and hold a meeting with the bus driver.
Finally, prepare yourself! Conduct a pre-visit to scout the site, develop a participant checklist, check the weather in advance, and reconfirm travel and accommodations.
The website provides a lot of explanation and more great tips for planning. Other things to take into consideration is a list of things to bring or not to bring. Also consider not fundraising. Don't make the process more complicated than it needs to be!
This really connects to so many of the North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards. Teachers must show leadership by taking initiative to plan the trip and also be a leader to students while on the trip itself. Teachers also need to provide a safe environment and respectful environment to all students while on a field trip. It also connects to standard 3 by teachers connecting the field trip to curriculum and NCSCS. Teachers should also make the instruction and trip relevant to students. Teachers should also facilitate learning. By planning a field trip, teachers are using a variety of instructional methods and planning appropriate instruction. All of this included standards 1, 2, 3, and 4.
I encourage to read the entire article to get a more in depth understanding for things to think about and things to plan for!
Sorry to hear about your strep throat! I hope you feel better soon. I actually found out that I have laryngitis today. I also went on our field trip today (before I officially lost my voice and knew about my laryngitis), and I had an awesome time. I wrote about nearly the same thing that you did. Although field trips are fun and exciting, they require so much thinking and planning. While on the field trip, the teacher has to make sure that each student is accounted for the entire time. Overall, I had a wonderful time, but it truly made me aware of what all the teacher does before, during, and after a field trip.
ReplyDeleteLauren,
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry you have been sick this week (but so glad that it is not mono!). I know you hated to miss that field trip, but I really appreciate your sharing what you have learned on the many field trips you have taken in the past! Our school does primarily in-school "field trips," which can be very educational, but (in my opinion) does not give our kiddos the opportunity to step outside their every day world and experience something really new. Thank you for sharing the article, awesome tips, and for connecting it all to the standards!! Love you, friend!
-Meredith
Lauren, I hate you were sick and missed the field trip but at least you took the opportunity to do some outside research! There is SO much preparation to be done before a field trip and I love how you talked about prepping students for the trip. That is so often overlooked. I think they need to know exactly what to expect and exactly what is expected of them. Also, connecting the field trips to the NCSCOS is SO important! It is such a good opportunity for some really meaningful connections to take place! Maybe you will get to go on the next field trip and I hope you are feeling much better!
ReplyDeleteGood tips here for field trips. I agree with the importance of planning for field trips. This is a crucial element of any successful field trip!
ReplyDelete