How to Plan Field Trips
Field trips are educational, fun and engaging activities for both children and teachers. Field trips must be properly organized and well-planned; a poorly executed field trip, such as one without as many chaperons as necessary, results in unnecessary problems. When planning field trips, keep in mind the subjects your class is currently studying as well as the abilities, age range and interests of the students involved.
Instructions
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Decide on a field trip destination. Consider places that reflect what the students are currently learning; if the current topic is history, consider a trip to a historical museum or a battlefield.
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Contact the location to determine if it is open to field trips. If field trips are welcome, ask about group rates, current specials, group size limits, whether packed lunches are necessary and what exactly the children have the opportunity to see and do. Confirm the date, time and details for the field trip.
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Submit the necessary forms in accordance with your school's field trip policies. Obtain school permission and any necessary insurance before arranging for transportation to and from the field trip destination.
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Send home permission slips with the students outlining the details and any required fees for the field trip. Recruit a number of parent chaperons to attend the field trip and provide them with the details of the excursion. Try to have one chaperon for every three to five children who attend the field trip. Use your discretion, such as class size, ages and behavior of the children, when choosing the number of chaperons.
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Make arrangements for any students who will not be going on the field trip. Arrange to have a substitute teacher fill in to engage the children in activities such as crafts and movies if a number of students are not attending. If a small number of children cannot go on the field trip, arrange to have them sit in on another class of the same grade level.
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Discuss the field trip with the students. Go over the destination itself and talk about what the children will be seeing and doing, as well as what is, and is not, proper behavior on a field trip. If desired, have the children do an activity to prepare for the field trip. For example, have the children research a species of animal before a trip to the zoo.
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Collect the permission slips and any money due before the deadline for the field trip paperwork. Send reminders home with the students the week before the field trip.
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Tips & Warnings
If your class includes students with disabilities, be sure to choose a field trip destination that can accommodate them.
Include small details, such as the type of clothing the child should wear, in the permission slip.
Bring emergency contact information for each child along with you on the field trip just in case.
References
- Photo Credit Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty Images
