Field Trips

Jennifer Jilks

www.jilks.com

Field Trips:

When included in the school curricula introductory activities developmental or culminating activities consolidate learning provide opportunities for hands-on

learning experiences exposed students to concrete

vs.abstract added social benefits provide a greater appreciation of the

environment they have investigate integrate learning

Choosing A Site

•suitability of different sites with respect to curriculum needs and/or outcomes

•different types of ecosystems and/or the level of biodiversity

•presence of examples of different types of land use (resource management issues)

•time efficiency of travel to and from the site

•whether the amount of time spent traveling is worth the benefits gained

• younger students, who are not as capable long trips as older students

•Costs vs. benefits

Safety & Security

•time of year poses a number of different problems

•Including:rain and temperature extremes that can be expected

•the appropriateness of clothing and other equipment

•sun safety is also important for excursions

•existence of local experts at the site

•whether to utilize the resources of education or visitor centers

•use existing resources: field trip booklets, maps and/or aerial

photos, and flora and fauna

•value of the site as an educational resource: the foremost factor

•presence of facilities such as bus parking, toilets and lunch areas.

Safety

•Special safety equipment •First Aid kits, epipens

•Safety issues:water, etc.•Take copies: field trip permission forms with contact info•Brief students on the food they will require (drinking water/ lunch)•Suitable clothing

What about?

The kid(s) left behind? No field trip permission forms?

• Setting a precedent: cost of trip, last minute, lessons need to be learned!

Not enough adult supervisors?• Retired teachers, relatives• Cancellation?

Prior to the Excursion

Teachers need to Fill in the forms. (You won’t believe them!) Familiarize themselves with the field trip site Suitability of the site Awareness of safety procedures Essential to have an in-depth knowledge of

the site Perform the necessary risk assessments.

Prerequisites

Notify parents and/or guardians with permission forms

Organize the payment of any costs Make sure transportation is arranged

(Buses can be difficult to book.) Check buses prior to departure date Prepare the excursion booklet Collect field booklets each time they

are used.

In-class Preparations

• Students must understand purpose of the trip

• Familiar with the equipment to be used• Understand tasks they will perform • Prepare: pens, pencils, clip

boards,questions for reflection • Need to minimize environmental

impacts: • Garbage• minimize ecological footprints• hands off flora & fauna!

Code of Conduct

• While on the excursion develop a contingency plan for bad weather.

• Prepare for any adverse factors which could affect the field trip or even require cancellation.

• Have parents accompany at-risk students.

• Prepare a checklist, which can be completed before every field trip.

On the Day

Determine buddies Prepare names/lists for volunteer parents

with rules Remind students of rules in front of parent

supervisors! Send bus manifest to office Take a cell phone? Make sure that all the necessary equipment

has been gathered All students are aboard the bus and

accounted for. “Same seats”

After the Trip

1. Prepare tasks which can be done back in the classroom or at home

2. Provide experiences: both quantitative and qualitative analysis

3. Provide opportunities for students to analyze and/or summarize

4. Students who do not attend can still write a report!

5. Report on the information collected in the field or use this information in other aspects of their classroom work.

www.uen.org/utahlink/tours/fieldtrips2.htm

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