How to Plan a Homeschool Field Trip

Homeschooling doesn't always mean staying at home. Education takes place everywhere and it's important to remember to plan field trips to supplement the homeschool curriculum you are using. Plan homeschool field trips as a part of your regular course of study and your kids will be enriched by these learning experiences.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Check the schedule of the desired attraction before planning your day. There may be a special exhibit that is only offered during certain hours or on certain days.
2. Pack a lunch and plenty of water. Most museums and other places you would choose for a field trip will have a picnic area outside or an eating area inside.
3. Decide how many homeschooling friends you want to invite to go along. Take a large enough group to qualify for a group rate, but keep your group small enough to tour easily and efficiently.
4. Determine how much of your day you want to spend at a particular attraction. Most school field trips begin at around 9:00 AM and end by 2:00 PM. Spending too much time at any one venue can make everyone tired and grumpy.
5. Take your time! Rushing through field trip experiences isn't good for anybody. Allow your children time to study things, ask questions and take breaks as needed. This will make the entire day more enjoyable for everyone.
6. Have an adult take notes on the experience and pick up supplemental materials. Allow the kids the opportunity to enjoy the experience without having to do any writing.
7. Follow up on your trip the next day. Field trips are learning experiences for the most part and should be quickly and easily connected to regular learning.

Tips & Warnings

• Check with your homeschooling group to see if any group field trips are already planned for the year and decide if they will fit into your curriculum.
• Plan trips that meet the needs of all your kids at one time.