FIELD TRIPS IN SCIENCEFIELD TRIPS IN SCIENCE

1

TABLE OF CONTENTSTABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Reasons for field trips and1. Reasons for field trips and2. Planning2. Planning

3. Choosing a destination 3. Choosing a destination 4. Safety consideration and accommodating 4. Safety consideration and accommodating

students with special needsstudents with special needs5. Getting permission from the principal 5. Getting permission from the principal 6. Booking and arranging transportation6. Booking and arranging transportation

7. Arranging and preparing volunteer7. Arranging and preparing volunteer8. Pre-trip teachings, preparing students for the 8. Pre-trip teachings, preparing students for the

field tripfield trip9. Post-trip reinforcement9. Post-trip reinforcement

10. Trouble shooting10. Trouble shooting

2

Reasons For Field Reasons For Field TripsTrips

3

1. What are some of the reasons for having a field trip?

4

Planning ChecklistPlanning ChecklistPlanning ChecklistPlanning Checklist

Source-Source- Creating Successful Creating Successful Field TripsField Trips by Barbara English, by Barbara English,

19971997

5

6

7

Which Field Trip to Which Field Trip to Choose?Choose?

Choosing a DestinationChoosing a Destination

8

Choosing a DestinationChoosing a Destination

So…. what are some So…. what are some possible field trip possible field trip locations that might locations that might support the science support the science curriculum for: curriculum for:

Senior science? Senior science? Grade nine science? Grade nine science? Grade ten science? Grade ten science? Other????Other????What are the links for these What are the links for these

possible destinations?possible destinations?

9

Safety ConsiderationsSafety ConsiderationsSafety ConsiderationsSafety Considerations

On High School Science Field On High School Science Field TripsTrips

10

Safety Facts• There are thousands of injuries

and a few deaths on field trips each year in Canada

• There are several questions parents (and teachers) should ask before embarking on a school trip

11

QuestionsSo…. What are some of the safety

considerations that should be taken care of prior to and during a field trip? Consider parents, teachers, staff and students.

12

Accommodating Accommodating Students With Special Students With Special

NeedsNeeds

Accommodating Accommodating Students With Special Students With Special

NeedsNeeds

Source-Source- Creating Successful Creating Successful Field TripsField Trips by Barbara English, by Barbara English,

19971997

13

Considerations for wheelchair bound students, visually impaired students,

and other general considerations that hosting organizations should know

about your students.

14

Approving the TripApproving the Trip

Obtaining Permission from the PrincipalObtaining Permission from the Principal

15

Obtaining Permission from Obtaining Permission from the Principalthe Principal

Within your high school science department, Within your high school science department, teachers should discuss the rationale behind teachers should discuss the rationale behind their proposed field trip with their department their proposed field trip with their department head and indicate supporting evidence that head and indicate supporting evidence that clearly links curriculum expectations with the clearly links curriculum expectations with the intended purpose of the field trip.intended purpose of the field trip.

It is important for the curriculum leader or It is important for the curriculum leader or department head to assist the teacher with department head to assist the teacher with any suggestions they may have about ways to any suggestions they may have about ways to effectively promote the linkage between the effectively promote the linkage between the intended field trip and the curriculum.intended field trip and the curriculum.

16

Obtaining Permission from Obtaining Permission from the Principalthe Principal

Once the teacher is Once the teacher is sure s/he can sure s/he can effectively link the effectively link the purpose of their purpose of their proposed field trip proposed field trip with the curriculum, with the curriculum, s/he then must s/he then must discuss it with the discuss it with the principal and obtain principal and obtain approval.approval.

Each board has it’s Each board has it’s own set of guidelines own set of guidelines and timing.and timing.

17

Obtaining Permission from Obtaining Permission from the Principalthe Principal

It is only after the teacher has received It is only after the teacher has received approval for their proposed field trip from approval for their proposed field trip from their principal that they may proceed with their principal that they may proceed with any bookings and information for the any bookings and information for the students such as sending home students such as sending home permission forms.permission forms.

Following proper school procedure is Following proper school procedure is important for all teachers before important for all teachers before proposing and booking any type of field proposing and booking any type of field trip.trip.

18

Booking Your TripBooking Your TripBooking Your TripBooking Your TripConsiderations and ChecklistConsiderations and Checklist

Source-Source- Creating Successful Field Trips Creating Successful Field Trips by by Barbara English, 1997Barbara English, 1997

19

Considerations• A checklist will help to make sure

you cover as many bases as you can for now.

• Once this is done, run it by your colleagues and CL/dept head to see if they can come up with anything you might have missed

20

Booking ChecklistBooking ChecklistBooking ChecklistBooking ChecklistSource-Source- Creating Successful Field Creating Successful Field

TripsTrips by Barbara English, 1997 BLM 1 by Barbara English, 1997 BLM 1

21

22

Permission FormsPermission FormsPermission FormsPermission Forms

Source-Source- Creating Successful Creating Successful Field TripsField Trips by Barbara English, by Barbara English,

19971997

23

Permission Forms• School boards often have standard forms that

are to be completed by teachers• Teachers complete the forms to provide

parents with the relevant trip information such as;– Dates and times– Destination– Purpose and objectives– Activities and risks involved– Transportation– Cost– What to bring (lunch, money) and what to wear

24

Permission from parents

• Parents must provide the school with (there should be space on the permission form) up to date medical information for their child including any conditions and medications

• Parents must be fully aware and informed of all activities

25

Checklist for Checklist for permission forms- permission forms-

Reproducible BLM 2Reproducible BLM 2

Checklist for Checklist for permission forms- permission forms-

Reproducible BLM 2Reproducible BLM 2

Source-Source- Creating Successful Creating Successful Field TripsField Trips by Barbara English, by Barbara English,

19971997

26

27

Creating a Schedule Creating a Schedule for the Day of Your for the Day of Your

TripTrip

Creating a Schedule Creating a Schedule for the Day of Your for the Day of Your

TripTrip

Adapted from English, Adapted from English, Barbara(1997) BLM 6 Barbara(1997) BLM 6

28

Sample Schedule1) Review plans with volunteers- include activity

sheets, maps, schedule. Review any special needs and assign student groups if necessary

2) Review expected behaviour with students, divide into groups

3) Board the bus- review times with driver, pay driver if necessary

4) Do a head count or take attendance prior to departure

5) On arrival, have volunteers supervise student groups while you register and pay

29

Schedule cont’d6) Students enter, put away coats

and lunches if necessary7) Do a head count8) Discuss where and when groups

are to meet9) For guided program, guide will

give introduction and orientation

30

Schedule cont’d10) For self guided program, give

orientation and proceed11)Ensure students are following program12)Break for lunch if necessary13)After program, regroup. Collect

worksheets if necessary14)Do head count

31

Schedule cont’d11)Visit gift shop if available12)Have students collect coats13)Board bus, do head count14)THANK YOUR VOLUNTEERS!!15)Return to school. If return is after the

end of the regular school day, ensure all students have been picked up by a parent

16)If returning to the classroom, begin follow up activities

32

Transportation: What are the considerations for method of

transportation?

33

Some resources: http://www.campsilos.org/excursions/hc/fieldtrip.htm (includes planning, pre, during and post suggestions)

ROM: http://www.rom.on.ca/schools/

OSC: http://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/teachersstudents/default.asp

Toronto Zoo: http://www.torontozoo.com/ExploreTheZoo/

34

Selecting and

Preparing Volunteers

35

Volunteers????Why might you want to have

volunteers to accompany your students on a field trip?

Considerations:-selection of volunteers,-what they need to know-other……

36

Prior to the Field TripPrior to the Field Trip

Pre-trip teaching, Preparing students, Pre-trip teaching, Preparing students, Expectations????Expectations????

37

After the Field TripAfter the Field Trip

Post-Trip Reinforcement?????Post-Trip Reinforcement?????

38

Troubleshooting- Troubleshooting- What to do when What to do when things go wrongthings go wrong

Troubleshooting- Troubleshooting- What to do when What to do when things go wrongthings go wrong

39

How to plan in the event of Murphy’s Law

• Bus does not arrive on time• Guide does not have attention of

students• Discipline Problems• Exhibit is off display• Others??????

40