What do you remember from school? What caused you to be who you are today? Chances are, a group project, a special speaker, or a field trip helped you decide. It may have even been something you did on your own, outside of school after learning about a given topic. There was something in your life that sparked your passion or curiosity. It pushed you to take your learning into your own hands and learn more.
Every student comes to the classroom with a different world experience. We know that students who have been exposed to many different things do better in school. In order to be successful readers, students need to relate what they read to what they’ve experienced. To think broadly students, need to have a variety of experiences.
Importance Of Field Trips For Teachers And Students
Field trips benefit students academically, but there’s more to them than simply complementing a textbook unit on marine life or a history unit on the Civil Rights era. A field trip allows students and teachers to get out of the formal context of the classroom and cultivate shared experiences. Shared experiences lead to a better rapport between teachers and students, as well as a deeper bond among classmates.
When students feel a shared bond with classmates, they are more comfortable exchanging information and helping each other learn as the school year progresses. They can also form deep and lasting friendships that exceed one specific classroom or school year.
Although field trips may be stressful for some teachers — moving a group of excited, eager children from Point A to Point B is never easy — it’s also an important opportunity for teachers to interact with and observe their students in a more relaxed setting. Teachers can learn more about how a child thinks about the world around them and how they learn, providing valuable information that can benefit their classroom instruction later on.
1. Real-World Learning
As teachers, a field trip is one of the best tools that we can use to provide every student with real-world experiences. Whether that’s a trip to the local grocery store, waterfront park, a library, a museum, a theatre, a community garden or a restaurant, each experience that a student participates in contributes to their understanding of the world.
When students leave the classroom, they see the connections between what is happening at school and in the ‘real world’. They begin to see that what they learn within the walls of the classroom can help them solve the problems they see in the world around them and can have a direct impact on who they become as people.
2. Access
Students are able to access tools and environments that are not available at school. Our communities are rich learning laboratories. Field trips make it possible to take students to see an underwater ecosystem at an aquarium, participate in citizen science in a river, use high powered microscopes, see and touch historical artifacts in person and present on a public stage among hundreds of other things. Each experience solidifies learning and supports important academic concepts.
3. Socio-emotional Growth
Students who go on field trips become more empathetic and tolerant. A study conducted by the University of Arkansas found that students that participate in a field trip to an art museum show increased empathy, tolerance and critical thinking skills. Studying art gives students a chance to think about a topic or theme from a different perspective.
4. Academic Impact
Field-based learning increases test scores. A recent study showed that middle school students who participate in a science field trip through the Urban Advantage program score better on the state science test. Field trips and hands-on learning make concepts more memorable. Just think back to what you learned in school, the field trips you took, and what you learned on them are still some of the clearest concepts.
Field Trip Ideas
Field trips aren’t restricted to teachers and students — although we certainly encourage them! Field trips are also excursions parents can take with their children. The reasons why students should go on field trips go far beyond classroom education. Here are some of our favourite ideas for your next educational adventure.
1. Botanical Gardens
The educational applications of a day spent in nature are endless, especially for city kids! Kids can see first-hand what biodiversity looks like and develop a familiarity with the plants in their area of the world. Most botanical gardens offer educational tours and programs guided by trained professionals, which can be developed to go along with various science topics and curriculums. Another great thing about botanical gardens is that they change with the seasons, providing a fresh new destination every few months.
2. The Great Outdoors
If you want to avoid crowds in some of the more popular destinations, check your area for nature preserves or parks with trails. Even a local reservoir can provide students with a first-hand look at the topic of water conservation, as well as an up-close look at the local wildlife. If you live near the coast, consider a trip to the beach or bay to discuss conservation and natural resources on a larger scale.
3. Museums
Museums and planetariums let children view science, artifacts and art in an up-close and personal way. Art museums encourage critical thinking skills, as well as inspire creativity. Science- and history-based museums complement several topics of study. Many museums offer tours and special features online so you can explore their collections from home.
4. Virtual Field Trips
Looking for ways to supplement at-home learning? Consider a virtual trip to some of the larger zoos across the country, such as the Cincinnati Zoo or the San Diego Zoo. Without even having to put on their shoes, children can get to know many animals, such as giraffes, rhinos and panda bears. Virtual zoo field trips often provide a closer look than you’d ever get standing outside an animal enclosure in person at the zoo.
To Conclude
The importance of taking the students out of the classroom to absorb, interact and be immersed in history, and educational tours, has several learning benefits for students to obtain practical information within the brain. The saying “I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand,” provides the backbone to the theory of retaining more information when visually experiencing activities in the chosen environment. Below are four key educational benefits and reasons why getting your students out of the classroom is good for them!
