Kids love field trips. Actually, that’s true for students of all ages. And let’s be honest, they’re often a fun change of pace for teachers; some of their fondest memories from their careers are made on field trips with students.
School is obviously crucial for kids’ education, but these less formal activities give students and teachers better opportunities to connect on a more fundamental, one-on-one level. Plus, if you choose your field trip destination carefully, you’ll also get plenty of teachable opportunities.
With that in mind, let’s look at some of the classic, all-time favorite school field trip destinations!
Art Museums
Art history doesn’t have to be uninteresting — but it’s hard to get kids interested in it when they’re only learning about the art in theory. The best way to get them engaged in the subject is to take them to an art museum and let them see various art forms in practice.
Luckily, art museums provide young students with many different mediums to experience and identify with art. For example, some students might not be interested in even the greatest watercolor paintings; they might feel indifferent even to the works of giants like Monet. However, they might be more touched by the intricacies of sculptures and the careful, meticulous design and craftsmanship that goes into each piece.
Art museums are also great at getting students more in touch with history — they often find it hard to relate to past events and historical figures. Luckily, art has a unique way of transporting us to the eras it depicts and the eras it was made in.
The Aquarium
Okay, so getting a history tour at the local art museum isn’t everyone’s idea of fun — we admit our first pick of the draft was geared towards teachers more than the students; even though museums are unparalleled when it comes to the sheer number of teachable moments they bring to the table.
However, our next choice is definitely an overcorrection in the “fun” direction. Yep, we’re talking about aquariums! Most places have an awesome aquarium within driving distance — for example, you can visit SeaQuest Stonecrest!
Why is this such a fantastic experience for students? They get an opportunity to engage with aquatic life that they probably don’t have even in coastal areas; you get to see a stunning variety of marine life up close and personal without strapping on any diving equipment!
Want to see stingrays, jellyfish, and even sharks? Your nearest aquarium is your best bet! And you can bet that your students will have tons of fun too. Just wait for the moment they first see the exciting exhibits; the looks on their faces will be utterly priceless.
Apart from obvious picks like biology, you can tie in many other teachable moments into a visit to the aquarium — and the place is always a top choice for nature-loving teachers who want to give students a chance to share their passions.
Botanical Gardens
Our next pick is equally interesting for students and teachers — botanical gardens!
While it’s become a cliched thing to say, most kids spend the majority of their time indoors, primarily occupied with online content, video games, or the social media and messaging apps on their phones. They don’t get the same level of exposure to nature that previous generations had.
However, you can also look at this positively; a trip to the nearest botanical gardens will be even more wondrous for them precisely because of that! And even if your students are from suburban and rural backgrounds and are more engaged with plant life daily, the botanical gardens still give them access to a level of biological diversity they don’t have outside their homes.
Of course, it’s also extremely easy to tie science and biology lessons into this environment without boring kids or losing out on the fun.
Theatre
Here’s another fantastic locale for a field trip. The more opportunities students have to engage with creative endeavors like theatre, the more creative and inventive they’ll grow up in their formative years.
As a teacher, you’re doing great work by allowing them to experience a play performed by true professionals. The props, the acting, the gorgeous costumes, and the sets — students will be face-to-face with all the elements that make the stage a magical place.
If you don’t have a theatre nearby, it’s not the end of the world; you can always take the kids to see a performance put on by high school students. In fact, seeing that someone closer to their age can put on a play might inspire them to try it themselves! In a few decades, you might be honored to say you’ve inspired some of the future’s greatest performers. Or, at worst, the kids will be able to say they’ve had a fun day away from school!
