school trip vs field trip

• Our Mission

Yes, Field Trips Are Worth the Effort

Culturally enriching trips can boost grades and decrease absences and behavioral infractions, new research reveals. 

As a teacher, Elena Aguilar often looked for opportunities to get her students out of the classroom and into different neighborhoods or natural environments. “We did the usual museum trips and science center stuff, but I loved the trips which pushed them into unfamiliar territory,” writes Aguilar , an instructional coach and author. Nudging kids out of their comfort zones, she says, “taught them about others as well as themselves. It helped them see the expansiveness of our world and perhaps inspired them to think about what might be available to them out there.”

Aguilar’s thinking made an impact: 15 years after traveling with her third-grade class to Yosemite National Park, a student contacted Aguilar on Facebook to thank her for the life-changing excursion. “You changed our lives with that trip,” the student wrote. “It's what made me want to be a teacher, to be able to give that same gift to other kids.”

As schools grapple with pandemic-related concerns about balancing in-seat instructional time with non-essentials like trips, new research published in The Journal of Human Resources argues that field trips, and the vital educational experiences that they provide—whether it’s a visit to a local museum or a big commitment like Aguilar’s national park trip—deliver a host of positive social and academic outcomes and are worth the effort.

“The pandemic should not keep schools from providing these essential cultural experiences forever,” asserts Jay P. Greene , one of the study’s co-authors and a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, in an opinion piece for the Daily News . “If schools make culturally-enriching field trips an integral part of the education experience, all students—especially those whose parents have a harder time accessing these experiences on their own—would benefit.”

In the study, researchers assigned more than 1,000 fourth- and fifth-grade students in Atlanta to two groups. One group participated in three to six “culturally-enriching” field trips—visits to an art museum, a live theater performance, and a symphony concert—while students in the control group stayed put in class. The outcome? Kids in the field trip group “scored higher on end-of-grade exams, received higher course grades, were absent less often, and had fewer behavioral infractions,” compared to students in the control group, according to a ScienceDaily brief . Benefits lasted two to three years, Greene writes, and were “most visible when students were in middle school.”

“We are able to demonstrate that a relatively simple intervention—and we consider it pretty low-touch; three field trips in a year, maybe six field trips in two years—can actually have some substantial impacts,” says lead study author Heidi Holmes Erickson in an interview with The 74 . “They’re not just limited to social benefits. It shows that smaller interventions can actually have some significant effects on academics as well.”

Field trips aren’t a threat to in-class instruction, Erickson notes, they’re a tool to help bolster engagement and expand students’ horizons. “It's possible to expose students to a broader world and have a culturally enriching curriculum without sacrificing academic outcomes, and it may actually improve academic outcomes,” Erickson says. Far from harming test scores, the researchers found that culturally rich excursions reinforce academics and “students who participated in these field trips were doing better in class.”

Meanwhile, class trips don't need to be elaborate productions to make an impact: small excursions outside the classroom—"low-touch," as the researchers call them—can pack a punch. Here’s how three educators recommend dialing it back with low-stakes options that are both engaging and stimulating for students, but might not require days to prepare and plan:

Make Them Bite-Sized : Instead of allocating an entire day to a field trip, educational consultant Laurel Schwartz takes her classes on micro field trips , or “short outings that can be completed in a single class period.” These real-world encounters, she says, are especially beneficial for English learners and world language students. A micro field trip to a nearby park or around school grounds, for example, can be a great opportunity to “enhance a unit on nature and wildlife while reinforcing vocabulary for senses, colors, and the concepts of quantity and size,” Schwartz writes. “Afterwards, students might write descriptive stories set in the place you visited using vocabulary collected and defined together by the class.”

Try Teacher-Less Trips : To encourage exploration and learning outside of the classroom, former social studies teacher Arch Grieve removes himself from the equation with teacher-less field trips rooted in students’ local communities. Grieve only suggests options that are directly tied to a unit being discussed in class—like attending a talk at a local university or visiting a museum or cultural festival—and offers extra credit to incentivize students. “These trips allow for a greater appreciation of my subject matter than is possible in the school setting, and perhaps best of all, there's little to no planning involved.”

Explore Virtual Options : It may not be as fun as visiting in person, but the Internet makes it possible to visit museums like The National Gallery of London and The Vatican Museums without leaving the school building. Middle school English teacher Laura Bradley likes to search the Museums for Digital Learning website by topic, keyword, and grade level, to find lessons and activities that meet her unique curricular needs. The site grants access to digitized museum collections, 3D models, audio files, documents, images, and videos. 

The Enlightened Mindset

Exploring the World of Knowledge and Understanding

Welcome to the world's first fully AI generated website!

What is a Field Trip: Exploring the Benefits, Challenges, and Creative Ideas

By Happy Sharer

Introduction: What is a Field Trip?

A field trip is an educational excursion outside of the classroom environment. It is an opportunity for students to gain first-hand experience with the material they are learning in class. Field trips can take place at local attractions, museums, historic sites, nature centers, and more. They can also be conducted virtually, allowing students to explore faraway places without ever leaving the classroom.

Overview of Field Trips: Exploring the Benefits and Challenges

Field trips are an important part of any school curriculum. They provide an opportunity for students to gain real-world experience with the material they are learning in class. However, there are both benefits and challenges associated with field trips that must be considered before planning one.

Benefits of Field Trips

The most obvious benefit of field trips is that they give students the chance to experience the material they are learning in class in a real-world setting. According to a study conducted by the National Education Association, “Field trips provide students with experiences that cannot be replicated in the classroom. They offer opportunities to explore concepts from a different perspective, to observe firsthand what has been read about in textbooks, and to make connections between course content and real life.”

In addition to providing an opportunity for experiential learning, field trips can also help to engage student interest in the subject matter. A study conducted by the University of Texas found that students who went on field trips were more likely to remember the material they had learned than those who did not go on the trip. Furthermore, field trips can spark curiosity and inspire students to ask questions and seek out further knowledge.

Challenges of Field Trips

Despite their many benefits, field trips can present some challenges. One of the biggest challenges associated with field trips is the cost. Depending on where you are traveling and the size of your group, the expenses can quickly add up. Additionally, finding the time to plan and execute a successful field trip can be difficult for teachers who already have a full schedule.

Safety is another issue that must be taken into consideration when planning a field trip. It is important to ensure that all students are supervised at all times and that the destination is appropriate for the age and maturity level of the students.

Tips for Planning a Successful Field Trip

Planning a successful field trip requires careful consideration of multiple factors. Here are some tips to keep in mind when planning a field trip.

Establish Goals

Before planning a field trip, it is important to establish clear goals. Ask yourself why you are taking the students on the trip and what you hope to accomplish. This will help to ensure that the field trip is meaningful and relevant to the material being taught in class.

Choose an Appropriate Destination

Once you have established your goals, it is important to choose a destination that is appropriate for the age and maturity level of the students. When selecting a location, consider the interests and abilities of the students and make sure that the destination offers something that will be interesting and engaging for them.

Develop an Itinerary

Once you have selected a destination, it is important to develop an itinerary that outlines the activities for the day. Make sure there is enough time for each activity and that the activities are relevant to the goals you have established for the trip.

Manage Safety Issues

Safety should always be a top priority when planning a field trip. Make sure that all students are supervised at all times and that the destination is appropriate for the age and maturity level of the students. Additionally, be sure to review any safety policies or procedures with the students prior to the trip.

A Guide to Creating a Meaningful Field Trip Experience

Creating a meaningful field trip experience requires careful planning and preparation. Here are some tips to ensure that your students get the most out of their field trip.

Set Clear Expectations

Prior to the field trip, it is important to set clear expectations for the students. Explain to them the purpose of the trip and what you hope they will gain from the experience. Additionally, discuss any rules or guidelines that need to be followed during the trip.

Make Connections with Course Material

When planning the activities for the field trip, look for ways to connect the material to the course content. This will help to ensure that the students gain a deeper understanding of the material and that the trip is meaningful and relevant.

Utilize Time Wisely

Time management is key to ensuring a successful field trip. Make sure that all activities are planned in advance and that the students understand what is expected of them. Additionally, leave room for flexibility in case something unexpected arises.

How Field Trips Enhance Learning in the Classroom

Field trips can be an invaluable tool for enhancing learning in the classroom. Here are some of the ways that field trips can benefit students.

Engaging Student Interest

Field trips can help to engage student interest in the subject matter. Experiencing the material firsthand can make it easier for students to understand and relate to the material being taught in class.

Building Critical Thinking Skills

Field trips can also help to build critical thinking skills. Students are exposed to new information and must process it in order to gain a better understanding of the material. This helps to develop problem-solving abilities and encourages students to think more deeply about the material.

Developing Problem-Solving Abilities

Field trips can also help to develop problem-solving abilities. Students are exposed to new environments and must find ways to navigate them. This helps to build confidence and teaches students how to think on their feet.

The Value of Field Trips for Students

Field trips can be a valuable learning experience for students. Here are some of the ways that field trips can benefit students.

Developing Self-Confidence

Field trips can help to boost self-confidence. Being in unfamiliar surroundings can be intimidating, but it can also be a great opportunity for students to practice problem-solving skills and develop self-confidence.

Strengthening Interpersonal Relationships

Field trips can also help to strengthen interpersonal relationships among students. Working together to navigate new environments and solve problems can help to foster teamwork and collaboration.

Acquiring New Knowledge and Experiences

Finally, field trips can open students up to new knowledge and experiences. Seeing things firsthand can help to bring the material to life and make it easier for students to understand and remember.

Creative Ideas for Field Trips

There are many creative ways to incorporate field trips into the classroom. Here are some ideas for fun and engaging field trips.

Museum Visits

Museums are a great way to introduce students to a variety of topics. From art and history to science and technology, there are a variety of museums that offer educational experiences for students of all ages.

Local Attractions

Local attractions can be a great way to introduce students to the community and its culture. Consider visiting historical sites, parks, zoos, or aquariums for an interactive and fun learning experience.

Nature Walks

Nature walks are a great way to get students outdoors and exploring their natural surroundings. Not only can this be a fun activity, but it can also be a great way to introduce students to concepts such as ecology and conservation.

Virtual Field Trips: Taking Education Beyond the Classroom

Technology has opened up a world of possibilities for educators looking to take their students on field trips. Virtual field trips allow students to explore faraway places without ever leaving the classroom.

Advantages of Virtual Field Trips

Virtual field trips come with a number of advantages. They are often less expensive than traditional field trips, and they can be used to explore destinations that would otherwise be inaccessible. Additionally, virtual field trips can be tailored to fit the curriculum and the specific needs of the students.

Types of Virtual Field Trips

There are a variety of types of virtual field trips available. These include virtual tours of museums and historical sites, live video streams of events, and interactive simulations of different environments. Each type of virtual field trip offers a unique experience and can be used to enhance learning in the classroom.

Tips for Planning a Virtual Field Trip

When planning a virtual field trip, it is important to do your research. Check to see if the destination offers a virtual tour and make sure that the technology needed is available and easy to use. Additionally, make sure to set clear expectations and goals for the virtual field trip and to create an itinerary that outlines the activities for the day.

Field trips can be a valuable learning experience for students. They provide an opportunity for students to gain first-hand experience with the material they are learning in class and can help to engage student interest in the subject matter. Additionally, field trips can help to build critical thinking skills and develop problem-solving abilities. Finally, virtual field trips offer an exciting way to explore faraway places without ever leaving the classroom. With careful planning and preparation, field trips can be a fun and educational experience for everyone involved.

(Note: Is this article not meeting your expectations? Do you have knowledge or insights to share? Unlock new opportunities and expand your reach by joining our authors team. Click Registration to join us and share your expertise with our readers.)

Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. I have a passion for learning and enjoy explaining complex concepts in a simple way.

Related Post

Exploring japan: a comprehensive guide for your memorable journey, your ultimate guide to packing for a perfect trip to hawaii, the ultimate packing checklist: essentials for a week-long work trip, leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Expert Guide: Removing Gel Nail Polish at Home Safely

Trading crypto in bull and bear markets: a comprehensive examination of the differences, making croatia travel arrangements, make their day extra special: celebrate with a customized cake.

• Go School Trip - Make Better Tomorrow

• Products search
• Vietnam School Trips
• Cambodia School Trips
• Laos School Trips
• Myanmar School Trips
• Thailand School Trips
• Indonesia School Trips
• Japan School Trips
• Singapore School Trips
• China School Trips

School Trip Blog

What is field trip | definition of field trip in education.

The term “field trip” has been known for decades in many sectors and it is a common term used in worldwide schools. It seems that a field trip is a favorite part of both teachers and students who are keen on learning and discovering. So, what is a field trip in education? Scroll down to find out the field trip definition and its many types.

Educational Field Trip Definition

A field trip or excursion is a journey taken by a group of people to a place away from their usual environment. In education, field trips are defined as visits to an outside area of the normal classroom and made by a teacher and students for purposes of firsthand observation. A field trip can be expressed in many terminologies. People call educational trips or school tours in the UK and New Zealand, and school tours in the Philippines. Field trips are a popular method carried out for students to introduce to the concepts, experiences, and ideas that cannot be given in a classroom environment. School tours can be considered as short-term learning activities providing students the opportunity to observe their chosen subject outside of a classroom setting. Exploring other cultures and customs, getting to the motherland of languages, uncovering pristine nature and experiencing fascinating local life are striking demonstrations of educational school trips

Types of Field Trips

Those listed field trip ideas that help to clear field trip meaning. Efficient educational tours can spark students’ imagination, give them valuable experiences and refresh their minds after days with pencils and papers. A school tour can be themed with one type of field trip or combined by various school trip ideas.

Sightseeing Field Trip

Students are definitely eager the most to sightseeing school trips enchanting them by a myriad of appealing attractions in their wish destination. Admire well-known attractions, explore historic structures, discover World Heritage Sites, unwind on spectacular landscapes and freshen in front of scenic vista are incredible activities that gain huge interests from students and strongly inspire them.

Language and Culture Educational Field Trip

For students learning foreign languages, field trips are very important and helpful to improve the language and explore the alluring indigenous culture. Join immersive activities, stay at a local homestay, take language lessons and visit local markets enable students to practice the language, get a deeper understanding of local culture and their captivating paces of life.

Gardening and Farming Field Trip

This might be an interesting activity attracts lots of students’ attention thanks to its strangeness to their usual life. Discover specialty farms that grow the normal crop and even irregular crops will surprise curious students. Learn how vegetables are produced, explore and give a try to do traditional farming techniques of local people leaves memorable experiences for students.

Manufacturing Facility Field Trip

Students can be guided to any factory where equipment, cars, tools, packaging or any other things are made. The mechanized facilities and assembly lines are interesting for students to learn about the production process, how raw materials are utilized and how workers use them to make the final product.

Eco-adventure Field Trip

Discover the natural world is a highly important perspective in the educational sector. Students can be entertained and refreshed by trekking through untouched natural beauties to inspect local plant life and wildlife animals. This opportunity also adds to local historical factors such as early life remnants.

Business Educational Tour

Take business study trips, your students will be delighted by bustling financial and business centers. Business study trips help process business theories in the classroom into life as students explore great commercial organizations. Business field trip gives students the chance to immerse in stimulating and dynamic environments. Visit a range of famed organizations and large corporations will perfect business school trips.

Username or email address  *

Password  *

Remember me Log in

Lost your password?

• About this Book
• Introduction
• Cooperative Learning
• Culturally Responsive Teaching

Field Trips

• Flipped Classrooms
• Internships
• Math Manipulatives
• Outdoor Education
• Special Education Inclusion
• Study Abroad
• Translations

Choose a Sign-in Option

Tools and Settings

Questions and Tasks

Citation and Embed Code

A field trip is an experiential learning opportunity in which students leave the traditional classroom setting to learn within their community. During field trips, K–12 students can participate in a wide variety of experiences to expand upon their current knowledge and to apply what they learn in school. Behrendt and Franklin (2014) pointed out that field trips cannot be replicated within the confines of a classroom; rather, they are experiences that occur within a natural and relevant context. By participating in these trips, teachers enable their students to use their knowledge in real-life settings. There are many different kinds of field trips that vary based on the subject matter being taught. They range from art museums to nature reserves and include both virtual trips and in-person excursions. No matter the location, students are invited to connect with the class content in a personal way (Behrendt & Franklin, 2014). Overall, field trips are a student-centered approach in which students put their learning into action outside the classroom.

Student-Centered Approach

A student-centered approach is just as it says: it is centered around the students rather than centered on the teacher giving instruction (Pearce & Lee, 2021). Field trips embody being student-centered by giving students more autonomy in their learning. As Pattacini (2018) said, “A student-centered learning and teaching approach implies greater involvement of students… They are given many opportunities to voice their opinions and share their experience. Throughout the module, the students are adopting different roles…” (Rethinking Student Roles section). In contrast to the traditional teaching style of lecturing in the classroom, field trips provide a plethora of opportunities for students that they otherwise could not have. Pearce and Lee (2021) stated that field trips "allow students to discover different learning environments, provide enrichment opportunities, and respite from the daily school routine” (Field Trips section). By implementing this student-centered approach, field trips provide countless positive outcomes for students that go beyond just academic success.

The objective of field trips is to provide a variety of opportunities for students to grow both academically and affectively. The benefits extend beyond the traditional classroom setting and have been linked to increased engagement and motivation in school, higher test scores, enhancement of critical thinking skills, and better understanding and retention of content. Not only do field trips provide academic benefits, but they also promote affective learning, such as historical and cultural appreciation. In addition to developing cultural awareness, field trips can magnify students’ emotional well-being and foster positive attitudes towards their communities.

Academic Outcomes

Field trips have been used as an educational tool for many years to provide students with hands-on learning experiences outside of the classroom. As a result, student engagement in learning has increased. In a study by Florick et al. (2021), several groups of fourth and fifth grade students were invited to visit the Woodruff Arts Center and their art partners in Atlanta, Georgia. The purpose of this study was to examine the benefits of multiple field trips as compared to only one field trip throughout the school year. To conduct this study, some groups of students were selected to participate in several field trips while other groups of students attended only one field trip. The results of this study showed that those who participated in multiple field trips were more engaged in learning and had a better attitude towards school, as they demonstrated fewer absences and behavioral violations (Florick et al., 2021).

Furthermore, field trips can improve academic achievement, such as test scores. In the same study mentioned above by Florick et al. (2021), after attending either one or multiple field trips, both groups of students were administered their end-of-year exams, and it showed that the students who participated in multiple field trips scored higher on their exams than those who attended only one field trip (Florick et al., 2021). Whitesell (2016) also analyzed the effects of field trips on middle school students’ standardized test scores in science and found that students who went on a museum field trip scored higher on their science achievement test than those who did not attend a field trip. These studies suggest that field trips can have a positive impact on academic engagement and achievement.

In addition to increased student engagement, field trips can enhance critical thinking skills and improve retention of details. A study conducted by Greene et al. (2014) explored the outcomes of field trips by inviting groups of local K–12 students to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. After each museum tour, students were given surveys to assess their art knowledge and critical thinking. The survey results illustrated that students who participated in the art museum tours were better able to recall details about the paintings they saw. Additionally, these students also demonstrated higher levels of critical thinking skills when they were shown unfamiliar paintings and were able to analyze and discuss these new paintings. Furthermore, Das (2021) shared findings from a study that asked K–12 students to gauge whether field trips increased their knowledge following their participation in a virtual field trip. The findings showed that as students engaged in virtual field trips, they had a better understanding of the content being taught in the classroom (Das, 2021). Field trips bring the curriculum from the classroom to life and teach students how to apply it to their lives.

Affective Outcomes

The benefits of field trips are not only limited to academic achievement, but they also expand to positive affective outcomes, such as social and emotional benefits.

Field trips provide an opportunity for students to build social connections and learn in a collaborative environment. According to Greene et.al (2014), K–12 students who participated in the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art tours learned about various artworks and demonstrated higher levels of historical tolerance and cultural empathy. In other words, they learned how to understand and appreciate others’ perspectives on history and culture. Moreover, the same study found that field trips can promote a sense of belonging, particularly for students from disadvantaged backgrounds who may have limited opportunities to engage in extracurricular activities (Greene et al., 2014). By attending field trips, these students were able to connect with other students and their communities at a much deeper level.

Not only do field trips yield social benefits, but they also provide a much-needed break from the structured and sometimes stressful environment of the classroom, offering students a chance to connect with their emotions and develop positive associations with learning. In a study conducted by Heras et al. (2020), a group of 11- and 12-year-old students in Spain participated in a nature-based field trip and were asked about their perceptions of field trips and nature-based activities following the field trip. These students were chosen because they attended a school program focused on raising environmental awareness and helping their students appreciate the natural and cultural heritage of their community. Based on student responses, the researchers concluded that nature-based field trips can significantly impact students’ emotional well-being. The students reported feeling relaxed, happy, and more connected to nature after their field trip; they also recalled positive memories from their trip.

Similarly, Musselman (2020) described how elementary students found a sense of wonder and curiosity while exploring scientific topics in their community. During a field trip, students had hands-on experience learning about the effects of wind and water on landforms and how sea barriers prevent coastline erosion. As a result, students gained firsthand understanding of the relationship between humans and nature, as well as an opportunity to make a positive impact in the world. Field trips can enhance the overall learning experience and contribute to students’ holistic development.

While many recognize the importance of student-centered field trips, there are several obstacles that hinder teachers and school administrators from providing field trip opportunities including cost, logistics, and content preparation. Depending on the trip, the cost can be a key deterrent. Many schools are already on tight budgets, so adding expensive trips can be difficult. Even if the actual event is free, the price of transportation can cause educators to avoid planning trips altogether (Clarke-Vivier & Lee, 2018). These kinds of cost analysis decisions require both teacher and administrator approval. Some school districts simply may not have access to events due to these issues of cost and extra transportation. Based on the location of the school, some may not have many field trip options available to them (Behrendt & Franklin, 2014). There may not be events or venues close by that offer the desired educational content. In addition, surveyed teachers named logistical planning as another obstacle to their success for these academic excursions (Clarke-Vivier & Lee, 2018). Teachers must coordinate with the field trip facility, organize transportation, and establish student safety measures. Some described the time put into planning field trips as “lost time” because they had to organize large groups and chaperones, which took away from time teaching the course content (Behrendt & Franklin, 2014). In order to be successful in planning field trips, teachers need to find a trip that is applicable to their course content and then prepare students for the experiences that they will have. They may plan pre-trip or post-trip activities that require time away from the required curriculum for the school year. When considering the major benefits of field trip experiences, it is important to note this extra effort from the teachers to both carry out the experience and ensure the students are sufficiently prepared.

As educators continue to actively involve field trips in their teaching, students will experience a higher quality education and educators will experience better classroom results. Beyond the classroom, students also experience social and emotional benefits when they have the opportunity to participate in field trips. While teachers do not have complete control over making a field trip happen, they can submit requests and proposals to the powers that do decide. It is also important that these significant benefits are clearly communicated to the people who do make the decisions (administrators and school boards). Overall, student-centered learning through field trips has many positive outcomes for students that far outweigh any challenges they provide and can be implemented in the classroom in a variety of ways. Nature-based, arts-based, or even virtual field trips will all provide the positive outcomes that teachers are looking for as they work to provide a quality education for their students.

Behrendt, M., & Franklin, T. (2014). A review of research on school field trips and their value in education. International Journal of Environmental & Science Education, 9 (3), 235–245. https://doi.org/10.12973/ijese.2014.213a

Clarke-Vivier, S., & Lee, J. C. (2018). Because life doesn’t just happen in a classroom: Elementary and middle school teacher perspectives on the benefits of, and obstacles to, out-of-school learning. Issues in Teacher Education , 27 (3), 55–72.

Das, A. (2021, November 9-11). Virtual field trips and impact on learning [Conference presentation]. Innovate Learning Summit 2021, Online, 85–89. https://www.learntechlib.org/p/220274/

Florick, L., Greene, J. P., Levenberg, R., & Pogue, R. (2021). The benefits of multiple arts based field trips. Phi Delta Kappan, 102 (8), 26–29.

Greene, J. P., Kisida, B., & Bowen, D. H. (2014). The educational value of field trips. Education Next, 14 (1), 78–86.

Heras, R., Medir, R. M., & Salazar, O. (2020). Children’s perceptions on the benefits of school nature field trips. Education , 48 (4), 379–391.

Musselman, S. (2020). Connecting with community. Science and Children, 58 (1), 43–47.

Pattacini, L. (2018). Experiential learning: The field study trip, a student-centered curriculum. Compass: Journal of Learning and Teaching , 11 (2). https://doi.org/10.21100/compass.v11i2.815

Pearce, M. K., & Lee, T. (2021). Comparing teaching methods in an environmental education field trip program. Journal of Interdisciplinary Teacher Leadership, 5 (1). https://doi.org/10.46767/kfp.2016-0037

Whitesell, E. R. (2016). A day at the museum: The impact of field trips on middle school science achievement. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 53 (7), 1036–1054. https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.21322

This content is provided to you freely by EdTech Books.

Access it online or download it at https://edtechbooks.org/student_centered/field_trips .

• NEW! – Broadway
• Latest Guide
• Previous Editions
• NorthEast Field Trip Guide
• Southeast Field Trip Guide
• Band & Choir Trips
• Where to Go
• Site InSpections
• Field Trip Ideas
• Virtual Field Trips

Planning Advice

• Los Angeles
• New York City
• Philadelphia
• Rome, Italy
• San Francisco
• San José, Costa Rica
• Washington D.C.

Select Page

Maximizing the Educational Value of Field Trips

Here’s how to make the most of the field trip experience before, during and after the big day

By Courtney Lind

Educators, parents and students alike can agree: Field trips present invaluable opportunities for students to learn beyond the confines of the classroom. Putting the concepts of physics into practice at a science museum, viewing the events of history through reenactments at some of our country’s famous historical sites, or experiencing the works of the world’s most famous artists at incredible museums… the list goes on, and the possibilities are nearly endless when it comes to field trips.

The success of a field trip largely depends on how well it is planned and integrated into the curriculum. To ensure that field trips are not just fun outings (important as that may be) but also rich educational experiences, we’ve put together some field trip tips to help teachers prepare effectively and make the most out of the experience once students are back in the classroom.

TIPS FOR BEFORE A FIELD TRIP

A little planning can go a long way to making sure that the field trip isn’t a standalone day. We want the learning and experiences to stick with students for years to come.

Do Your Research: Before the trip, provide students with relevant background information about the destination, historical context or scientific concepts. This is your chance to get them excited about their field trip and the time they’ll spend outside the classroom. The more students know about their destination in advance, the more you can leverage that anticipation and turn it into active participation.

Set Clear Learning Objectives: Determine specific learning objectives aligned with the curriculum. What do you want students to take away from the field trip? What concepts have they covered in the classroom that they may encounter while out in the field? Are there any post-field trip activities where you may want to call back to their field trip experience? Clearly outline the knowledge and skills students will ideally gain from the experience and bring this with you on the trip to refer to as needed.

Pre-Trip Activities: Get students excited for their upcoming trip with pre-trip activities. These are designed to pique their interest and activate prior knowledge, while giving a sneak peek into what they can expect during their trip. This can include discussions, worksheets or short assignments related to the upcoming excursion. Be sure to check with your host or venue to see if they offer any pre-trip materials.

Safety and Logistics: Make time to go through important expectations and safety procedures with your students before the day of the trip and remind them again on the day of departure. Knowing critical logistics such as departure times, rules and emergency protocols will put everyone at ease. A well-informed group is more likely to remain focused and engaged throughout the trip.

FIELD TRIP TIPS WHILE TRAVELING

During the field trip itself, teachers play a crucial role in guiding students’ learning and fostering a positive experience. Whether you’re planning a self-guided trip or taking part in a more programmed experience, these tips will keep everyone on track.

Be an Engaging Facilitator: Actively participate in the trip, engaging students in discussions, asking thought-provoking questions and encouraging them to make connections with their prior knowledge. Call on your students’ strengths and guide them to understand links to what they’ve seen in the classroom.

Hands-On Learning: Encourage students to interact directly with exhibits, artifacts and the environment. You’re on a field trip, after all. This engaging style of learning promotes and reinforces key concepts that can then be taken back to the classroom. Students who fully engage their senses are more likely to retain what they’ve learned on the field trip — a win for everyone.

Take Notes and Pictures: Have students take notes or pictures during the trip. These activities can help students stay focused and will serve as useful references when discussing the experience back in the classroom. Have them bring along a favorite notebook or even incorporate a special ‘field trip journal making’ into your pre-trip activities.

Adapt to Unexpected Teachable Moments : Be flexible to seize unexpected teachable moments that may arise during the trip. It’s hard to control every variable when you’re out of the classroom in a new environment, and that’s okay. These spontaneous learning opportunities can be some of the most memorable and impactful for young minds. 

The best field trips start in the classroom with research, goal-setting and pre-trip activities. Photo courtesy Shutterstock images

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR FIELD TRIP AFTERWARDS

The learning doesn’t end when the buses pull away. After all the hard work you’ve put into planning a field trip, you want to ensure the key concepts and takeaways from the day make their way back to the classroom (along with all the fun and memories).

Group Discussions: After the trip, hold group discussions to encourage students to share their experiences, insights and observations. As we’ve noted before, many field trip venues offer free materials to teachers to help guide discussions based on what students have experienced. Be sure to check if this is available or design your own discussion question to align with your desired learning outcomes.

Assign Reflection Tasks: Reflective writing tasks or projects encourage students to articulate what they learned, how the experience impacted them and how it connects to their studies. This is a great complement to group discussions as it allows everyone to reflect on the field trip in their own way. If you had students utilize notebooks during the field trip, this could be a perfect time to pull those out and continue writing.

Connect With Classroom Learning: Repetition can be a key to success, so try to integrate the field trip experience into subsequent lessons. Draw connections between the trip and the curriculum, reinforcing the new knowledge gained during the outing. Have students recall what they learned or did during the field trip, and how they have seen this at play in the classroom, or vice versa.

Evaluate Learning Outcomes: Assess students’ understanding of the trip’s objectives and the effectiveness of the experience. What reactions did you pick up from students before, during and after the field trip? Were students engaged and able to draw connections between classroom and field trip learning? This evaluation can inform future field trips and educational strategies. Depending on the age group, you can even incorporate feedback into the reflective exercises so that students can provide their thoughts and feelings on the experience.

Field trips can be powerful educational tools when properly planned and thoughtfully integrated into the curriculum. By setting clear objectives, preparing students beforehand, actively participating during the trip and following up with appropriate post-trip activities, teachers can ensure that these experiences leave a lasting impact on their students.

TOP PHOTO: Encourage and facilitate questions during your field trip, allowing enough time for thoughtful answers and thorough discussions. Photo courtesy Shutterstock images

There are still plenty of field trip ideas to read about in Student Travel Planning Guide, along with information for faculty to help plan student travel. Be sure to Subscribe to Student Travel Planning Guide magazine for FREE to learn more.

RECENT STUDENT TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE ARTICLES

How to Have a Safe, Fun, and Successful Field Trip

When You Leave the Classroom, There's a Whole New Set of Rules

Hero Images/Getty Images 

• Classroom Organization
• Reading Strategies
• Becoming A Teacher
• Assessments & Tests
• Secondary Education
• Special Education
• Homeschooling
• B.A., Sociology, University of California Los Angeles

New teachers might naively think that field trips are easier and more fun than a typical day in the classroom. But throw in crises like a lost group of children or wasp stings, and field trips can go from fun to frantic in no time.

But if you adjust your expectations you can come up with a new, more practical way to approach field trips and minimize the chances of drama and mayhem.

Tips for a Successful Field Trip

Follow these field trip tips and you'll likely create fun learning adventures for your students:

• Explicitly discuss field trip behavior rules with your students beforehand. Teach, model, and review appropriate field trip behavior with your students for at least a week before the big event. Drill into their heads that field trips are not the time or place to mess around and that any aberrant behavior will result in non-participation in any future field trips that school year. Sound serious and back it up with consequences as needed. It's good to have your students scared of testing the boundaries on field trips. Emphasize that they are representing our school's reputation when they are off-campus and that we want to present our best behavior to the outside world. Make it a point of pride and reward them afterward for a job well done.
• Give your students a learning task ahead of time. Your students should show up for the field trip with a base of knowledge on the subject at hand, as well as questions to answer before returning to the classroom. Spend some time in the weeks before the field trip discussing the subject matter. Review a list of questions they will be looking to answer during the field trip. This will keep them informed, engaged, and focused on learning all day long.
• Choose parent chaperones wisely. Field trips require as many adult eyes and ears as you can get, but unfortunately, you can't be everywhere at once. From the first day of school, observe the parents of your students closely, looking for signs of responsibility, firmness, and maturity. A lax or careless parent can be your worst nightmare on a field trip, so choose your parental allies wisely. That way, you'll reap the benefits of having adult partners in the field trip process.
• Make sure you have all the necessary medications. Talk to the school nurse and procure any and all medications that your students usually take during the day. While on the field trip, make sure you administer the medications accordingly. If you have students will allergies, you may need to get trained on how to use an EpiPen. If so, the student involved will need to stay with you at all times.
• Arrive at school early on field trip day. The students will be excited and antsy, ready to go. You'll want to greet the chaperones and give them instructions for the day. It takes some time to organize the sack lunches and ensure that everyone has what they need for the day. And one last pep talk on appropriate behavior never hurt anybody.
• Give your chaperones the tools they need to succeed. Make nametags for all chaperones and students. Create a "cheat sheet" of the day's itinerary, special rules, your cell phone number, and the names of all kids in each chaperone's group; distribute these sheets to each adult on the field trip. Procure and label grocery bags that each chaperone can use to carry the group's sack lunches. Consider getting a little thank-you gift for each chaperone, or treat them to lunch that day.
• Be proactive with regards to challenging students. If you have a student who causes trouble regularly in the classroom , it's safe to assume he or she will cause at least five times more trouble in public. If possible, ask his or her parent to be a chaperone. That will usually limit any potential problems. Also, when you are making groups, split any problem pairs into separate groups. This is a good policy for troublemakers, chatty kids, or bickering frenemies. And it's probably best to keep the most challenging students in your own group, rather than pawning them off on an unsuspecting parent chaperone.
• Count all day. As the teacher, you will likely spend most of your day counting heads and making sure everyone is accounted for. Obviously, the worst thing that can occur on a field trip is losing a student. So count accurately and often. Enlist the help of chaperones in this task, but do it yourself too, for your own peace of mind. Keeping track of each and every student is the number one priority of field trip day.
• Do a "debriefing" when you return to the classroom. If you have a few extra minutes after the field trip and before dismissal from school, put on some soothing classical music and have the students draw about what they saw and learned that day. It gives them a chance to decompress and review what they experienced. The next day, it's a good idea to do a more active and in-depth review of the field trip material, extending the learning further and connecting it to what you're working on in the classroom.
• Write thank-you notes after the field trip. Lead a class language arts lesson the day after your field trip, formally thanking the people who hosted your group. This serves as an etiquette lesson for your students and helps form your school's good reputation at the field trip destination. In future years, this goodwill could translate into prime perks for your school.

With proper planning and a positive attitude, field trips can be unique ways to explore the outside world with your students. Stay flexible and always have a Plan B, and you should do just fine.

• Field Trips: Pros and Cons
• Field Trip Rules
• 10 Ways to Make Learning Fun for Students
• 10 Ways to Keep Your Class Interesting
• 5 Fun Field Trip Ideas for Elementary School
• Why Teaching is Fun
• Field Trip Ideas for Elementary School Students
• 10 Ways to Put the Home in Schooling
• 7 Back to School Tips for Teachers
• June Themes, Holiday Activities, and Events for Elementary Students
• 4 Tips for Effective Classroom Management
• Last Day of School Activities
• Teaching Strategies to Keep Struggling Students Working
• Creating a Positive Learning Environment
• 12 New Teacher Start-of-School Strategies
• How Teachers Can Ease Students' First Day Jitters

We sent you SMS, for complete subscription please reply.

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

Wonder of the Day #2408

Why are Field Trips Called Field Trips?

LANGUAGE ARTS — Languages

Have You Ever Wondered...

• Why are field trips called field trips?
• What are the benefits of field trips?
• Why should family members go on field trips?
• Education ,
• Field Trip ,
• Grandparent ,
• Foster Parent ,
• Classmate ,
• Ecosystem ,
• Chaperone ,

Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by Madie . Madie Wonders , “ Why do they call field trips field trips? ” Thanks for WONDERing with us, Madie !

Have you ever gone on a field trip? Field trip day is often the most exciting day of school! Family members volunteer to go along, and they--along with all the kids--pack a lunch and load up the bus for the day ahead. Field trips are both fun and educational . But have you ever WONDERed where the name came from? What puts the FIELD in field trips?

When you think of the word “field,” many things might come to mind. Do you picture farmland? An open prairie ? How about a baseball diamond or soccer field? Adults might even think of the field (area of interest) they work in. History buffs might think of famous battlefields . A scientist’s mind might go to magnetic fields .

As you can see, the word “field” has many definitions. But when people talk about field trips, they’re using a less common meaning of the word “field.” In this case, “field” describes work done outside of an office or classroom. That makes sense if you think about what a field trip is. It’s an outing that gives you the chance to learn something new outside of school!

The best field trips teach you a lot while you’re having fun. A trip to the zoo can lead kids to learn about new animals. Going to a national monument gives you the chance to experience history firsthand. Even a field trip to a local park can be educational . Kids can learn about new plants and ecosystems .

The value of field trips can’t be overstated . Any student or teacher will tell you field trips are great. And there’s plenty of research to support that, too! Studies on field trips show they have many benefits . Field trips can help students become more interested in new topics. They can also make kids feel more positive about what they learn. Unsurprisingly, studies also found that students remember field trips for a long time!

It’s no wonder that field trips are unforgettable. There’s nothing like setting out on an adventure with your teachers and classmates. Often, kids even get to bring family members along for the ride.

One of the best things about field trips is that they give families the chance to learn together. Parents , grandparents, foster parents , and other adults who chaperone field trips really add to the experience . They get the chance to know their child’s teacher and classmates better. Best of all, adult chaperones can join in the fun and learning right alongside the students!

What kind of field trip would you like to go on? Do you want to tour a local museum? How about a trip to a cave or factory ? You can learn something new from just about any location!

Common Core , Next Generation Science Standards , and National Council for the Social Studies ."> Standards : CCRA.L.3, CCRA.L.6, CCRA.W.2, CCRA.W.7, CCRA.W.8, CCRA.W.9, CCRA.R.1, CCRA.R.2, CCRA.L.1, CCRA.L.2, CCRA.R.4, CCRA.R.10, CCRA.W.1, CCRA.SL.1

Wonder What's Next?

Learn to appreciate differences with tomorrow's Wonder of the Day!

Bring an adult friend or family member along to help with any of these activities:

• Where would you like to go on your next field trip? Identify a location, then write a letter persuading your teacher to take a field trip there. Include details that will convince them. What makes this place interesting? What will you learn? How does it relate to what you’re doing in school?
• Take a virtual field trip! With the help of a friend or family member, identify a topic you want to learn more about. Then, learn more about it on Wonderopolis or Kiddle . Search for related pictures on Safe Search ! Write a paragraph to share what you learned.
• You don’t have to wait for school to take a field trip! Ask an adult friend or family member to take you on an educational trip. Watch birds in your local park. Visit the zoo. Go to the post office or a nearby art museum. Ask questions and talk with your friend or family member about what you learned!

Wonder Sources

• https://naaee.org/eepro/research/library/student-self-reported-learning-outcomes (accessed 24 July 2014)
• https://www.informalscience.org/news-views/field-trips-are-valuable-learning-experiences (accessed 24 July 2014)
• https://www.parentscanada.com/school/the-advantages-school-field-trips-can-offer-kids-and-parents (accessed 24 July 2014)
• https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/field (accessed 24 July 2014)

Did you get it?

Wonder contributors.

We’d like to thank:

Zackery , Nathan , donna and Ms.Wahlin's for contributing questions about today’s Wonder topic!

Keep WONDERing with us!

Wonder Words

• educational

Thanks, cncolover!

We're glad you liked this Wonder, Adelaide! Keep WONDERing with us!

That's a great question for a Wonder Journey, Daniel! Let us know what you find out. 

That's WONDERful, jack! 

We hope you enjoyed that play, chase! What other field trips have you gone on?

Thanks for stopping by, mason!

Have you ever gone on a field trip wonderopolis peeps???????

We've gone on many field trips! They're the best. 

We are undergoing some spring clearing site maintenance and need to temporarily disable the commenting feature. Thanks for your patience.

Related Wonders for You to Explore

Who Was Elie Wiesel?

Who Was Paul Laurence Dunbar?

When Do You Use a Thesaurus?

Does “I” Always Come Before “E”?

What Is a Doppelgänger?

Drag a word to its definition

Select a Wonder Word:

Match its definition:

Congratulations!

You’ve matched all of the definitions correctly.

Share results

Question 1 of 3

Which of these is NOT a benefit of field trips?

• a Higher interest in a new topic Not Quite!
• b More positive feelings toward learning Not Quite!
• c Family members can come along and learn together Not Quite!
• d Students get to go wherever they want Correct!

Question 2 of 3

When someone talks about field trips, the word “field” means...

• a work done outside of an office or classroom. Correct!
• b an open prairie. Not Quite!
• c an area of interest. Not Quite!
• d a place to play sports. Not Quite!

Question 3 of 3

This Wonder was mostly about...

• a where in the US you can take the best field trips. Not Quite!
• b why schools often choose not to take field trips. Not Quite!
• c why field trips are called field trips and how they can benefit learning. Correct!
• d how to persuade a family member to go on your next field trip. Not Quite!

Quiz Results

Share Results

Spread the joy of wonder, get your wonder daily.

Subscribe to Wonderopolis and receive the Wonder of the Day® via email or SMS

Join the Buzz

Don’t miss our special deals, gifts and promotions. Be the first to know!

Share with the World

Tell everybody about Wonderopolis and its wonders.

Share Wonderopolis

Wonderopolis widget.

Interested in sharing Wonderopolis® every day? Want to add a little wonder to your website? Help spread the wonder of families learning together.

You Got It!

http://www.wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-are-field-trips-called-field-trips

© National Center for Families Learning (NCFL)

Is There a Difference Between a Field Trip and an Educational Tour?

There is nothing more exhilarating for most students than hearing the news of an upcoming school trip. It gives students a reason to get out of the classroom, and educators a way to teach and connect with their students on another level. But what kind of trip should you take your students on – a field trip or an educational tour – and is there a difference?

While it might just be an issue of semantics for some people, there is an important difference between field trips and educational tours, particularly those organized by Junior Tours .

Field trips are the typical school trips that most schools plan for their students, lasting anywhere from a few hours to 1-2 days while visiting certain learning sites.

Educational tours are professionally planned tours that have been finely crafted based on the needs of the entire group.

Essentially, an educational tour is an enhanced and upgraded version of the traditional field trip.

While the difference between a field trip and an educational tour may seem unimportant, there are many ways that a professional tour organizer such as Junior Tours can enhance the learning and overall experience of any trip, making it well worth the time and money of every student involved.

Educational Tour VS Field Trip: What’s the Difference?

We’ve all been on field trips, whether as students or educators, and we know the typical expectations that come with school trips. Typical school field trips include:

• The local museum for sciences or arts
• A visiting play or musical performance
• A local university or research center, with an expert or professional

While children always enjoy getting out of the classroom and experiencing something new, it can be difficult to truly engage with the entire group at all times. In many cases, school field trips end up with most students goofing around, not listening to the tour guide, or getting in trouble in unique ways.

And it isn’t always fair to educators to expect them to plan and execute the perfect field trip, as these skills aren’t in their everyday job description. Teaching a classroom of students and implementing a successful field trip are worlds apart.

An educational tour is like a field trip, but handled professionally and every aspect made perfect. With an educational tour planned by professional organizers, schools and teachers can focus on their roles – teaching – while the organizers focus on everything else that children want from a school trip – exciting destinations, interesting guides, awesome activities, effective planning for every step of the trip, and so much more.

Many schools do not realize how much value a professional educational tour organizer can add to a school trip, turning it from just another trip to something that will act as a key part of every school year.

Here are just a few of the places you might visit during an educational tour with Junior Tours:

• Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal
• The Plains of Abraham in Quebec City
• Concerts, performances, and music festivals in North America and Europe
• Rockefeller Center in New York City
• Niagara Falls
• Improv Chicago
• Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta
• Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London

And so many more. Whether for the sciences, business, culture, or the arts, no two educational tours are exactly alike, as each trip is planned with your group’s needs and expectations in mind.

What Can You Expect from an Educational Tour?

How exactly does a Junior Tours educational tour differentiate from a typical school field trip and what can you expect from it? A tour planned by our veteran tour organizers shares the same objectives as typical field trips, but then we do so much more:

Educational tours offer the full experience for students and educators who are looking for something more than just the average community school trip. With our tour, groups can pick their journey based on their subject interest, with popular choices of:

• Music & Band
• Foreign Language
• African American

You can see that the difference between a field trip and an educational tour can be found at the most foundational level: the purpose for the trip, and the direction you build from there. With typical field trips, most schools will pick a local area of interest and try to explain a reason for how students can benefit from visiting it.

With professionally organized educational tours, the organizer and the school will discuss and pinpoint the desired learning experience, and then curate a trip around it to maximize what the students can learn. This means that we focus on enriching a student community with education-focused events, rather than building it the other way around.

How Students and Educators Benefit from Educational Tours Over Field Trips

Students – As a student or parent who might be interested in attending one of our educational tours, you might be looking to see how you or your child will most benefit from this journey. Here’s what you can expect as a student:

Out-of-Classroom Learning: Students will see how to truly learn in context, taking their learning out of the classroom and into the real world. They will see the purpose of what they are learning, and its impact on and how it works in the world.

Social Education Habits: Students will develop social education habits that they can carry with them beyond the classroom and their high school or university lives.

Maximum Engagement: Students will enjoy a trip that is curated to maximize their engagement, excitement, and learning, teaching that learning can be fun 24/7.

Educators and Schools: As an educator or school administrator, you might be interested in the tour but don’t know if our terms are worth the additional planning over a traditional field trip. Here are ways our planning and expertise can help you:

Your Choice of Involvement: A fully planned and organized trip. It is up to the school or educator to decide how much involvement they want with the planning and organizing of the trip; if they would like Junior Tours to handle every part of the itinerary, or if they want to be involved in crafting the perfect tour. We report to you and work on your terms.

As Easy as Possible: We make it as easy as possible to help get all your students and parents on board with the tour – we offer free promotional materials such as posters, flyers, and registration forms; professionally trained tour escorts to help hype up the tour 24 hours a day; complete planning of transportation, food, and first-rate hotel stays; and optional direct billing for your parents to pay directly online. And of course, no hidden costs are involved, with free scratch card fundraiser and scholarship suggestions if necessary.

Absolute Flexibility: We offer absolute flexibility with virtually every aspect of the trip. We only require a minimum group size of 20, while larger groups are gifted cheaper pricing. Trips don’t have to be approved by school boards or affiliated with any school, and travel dates can be picked at any time of the year. Whether this is your first time or tenth time organizing a trip for students, don’t sweat it: we can help you with everything.

The Educational Tour Experience with Junior Tours

Ready to start planning an educational tour to share to your group of students? You can start today – just fill in your information on our request form and we will send you over a free itemized price quote and itinerary within 72 hours. Our required information for now includes:

• Potential destinations
• Type of group
• Mode of transportation
• Number of days
• Approximate travel date
• Estimated group size
• Goals for your trip
• School or group name and address

Based in New Jersey, Junior Tours has been helping schools and student groups tour around the country and the wider world since 1967, and we pride ourselves on our history and tradition as a family-run business with an impeccable reputation. Students and teachers who travel with us are guaranteed to have an amazing time – just read our reviews.

Have a question, need some tips? Contact us through our site or call us at 1-800-631-2241 (for group leaders) or 1-800-237-4797 (for students and parents) and let us know how Junior Tours can help your school or community today!

Company Information

• Request a Tour Quote

Tour Packages

• Montreal & Quebec City
• New Orleans
• New York City
• Philadelphia
• Toronto / Niagara Falls
• Washington D.C.
• Williamsburg

Comments are closed.

FOR GROUP LEADERS

For students / parents.

Call (800) 237-4797 Email Us (click) My Account Journal

MAILING ADDRESS

© 2024 JUNIOR TOURS. PRIVACY POLICY

• Professional Affiliations
• The Junior Tours Promise
• Request Quote
• Tour Inclusions
• All Destinations
• Booking FAQ
• Toronto & Niagara Falls
• Online Billing
• Letter of Recommendation
• Fundraising / Scholarships
• Rules & Regulations
• Room List Form
• TSA Travel Tips
• About Junior Tours
• Packing List
• Register for a Tour
• Log In to My Account
• REQUEST QUOTE

REQUEST A STUDENT TOUR QUOTE

Please call 1-800-631-2241 and we can provide you all the information to plan an amazing trip for your students. Or spend two minutes completing this form and we’ll email you an itemized price quote and itinerary within 72 hours.

Tour Information

• Colonial Williamsburg
• Montreal / Quebec City
• Type of Group Please select one from drop down Art Band/Choir/Orchestra Business Drama Family Consumer Science FBLA or Deca Group Foreign Language History Honor Society / Beta Club Senior Class Other
• Please describe your group
• Mode of Transportation Please select one from drop down Motorcoach Air Train
• Number of Days Please select one from drop down 2 3 4 5 8 (London only)
• Approximate Travel Date (the week of...) MM slash DD slash YYYY
• Estimated Group Size Note: Lowest tour fares are based on groups of 40+ Please select one from drop down Less than 20 20-29 30-39 40-55 55+
• Briefly describe your goals for the trip

School / Group Information

• School / Group Name *
• Mailing Address * Street Address City Alabama Alaska American Samoa Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Northern Mariana Islands Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah U.S. Virgin Islands Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Europe Armed Forces Pacific State ZIP Code
• Home Address
• School Address

Personal Information

• Name * First Last
• Title Please select one from drop down H.S. Teacher M.S. Teacher E.S. Teacher Principal/VP/Admin Parent Student Other
• How are you associated with the tour?
• Mobile Phone *
• Primary Email *
• Secondary Email (optional)

Referral Information

• How did your hear about us? Please select one from drop down Google Received a postcard or mailer Referred by a friend or colleague Met at a convention DECA Postcard FBLA handbook Traveled with Junior Tours before. Received an Email from Junior Tours Other
• For your FREE Gift Please specify the Mail Code on back of catalog mailed to you
• Friend or Colleague's Name First Last
• What did you search for?
• What convention?
• Nice! Where did you hear about us?
• Email This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Want students to do better in class? Send them on culturally enriching field trips

School field trips have been part of the educational experience for children across the nation for decades. While many school administrators believe there's intrinsic value in letting students develop socially with out-of-classroom experiences, quantifying the impact and the value of field trips is difficult. And justifying out-of-class time can be burdensome for teachers tasked with providing a good education amid the pandemic.

As such, many art venues, science museums and zoos have reported declines in field trip attendance. Teachers and students have also reported decreasing amounts of school-sponsored trips, particularly for minority students in academically low-performing schools.

But thanks to new research from BYU, Johns Hopkins University and the Heritage Foundation, the value of field trips is finally being understood and measured. The study, published in The Journal of Human Resources , found that students who participate in multiple field trips during the school year have higher test scores, perform better in class and have increased cultural conscientiousness over time.

"Contrary to practice where schools, facing accountability pressures, trade extracurriculars for increased seat time, we found that there's no harm to academics by taking time out of the classroom," said Heidi Holmes Erickson, assistant professor of educational leadership at BYU and lead author of the study. "It's possible to expose students to a broader world and have culturally enriching curriculum without sacrificing academic outcomes, and it may actually improve academic outcomes."

The study used an experimental design and randomly assigned fourth- and fifth-grade students from fifteen elementary schools in the Atlanta, Georgia, area to participate in three culturally enriching field trips during a school year. The field trips included a trip to an art museum, a live theater performance and a symphony concert.

Students who attended three different field trips in fourth or fifth grade scored higher on end-of-grade exams, received higher course grades, were absent less often and had fewer behavioral infractions. These benefits were strongest when students entered middle school.

"We anticipated that field trips wouldn't harm test scores. However, we started seeing academic improvements and realized that students who participated in these field trips were doing better in class," said Erickson. "One potential reason for this is that field trips expand students' world concept and expose them to new ideas. Similarly, students might be more engaged in school thanks to field trips. Students find school more exciting and want to try harder in class."

In addition to the academic improvements, students who participated in multiple field trips were 12% of a standard deviation more likely to express a desire to consume arts in the future and nearly 14% of a standard deviation more likely to agree with the statement, "I believe people can have different opinions about the same thing."

Researchers say this is more evidence that field trips are beneficial not only for academic success but for individual character development as well.

"Parents are very interested in the academic quality of their child's school, but they're also interested in the social skills and social engagement habits they develop. Cultural field trips are easy ways to help facilitate both."

Erickson says she's hopeful this study will be a resource for policymakers and school principals who are interested in improving children's growth during the children's school experience. When considered in the context of the pandemic, she says this research should be a caution to administrators who are considering eliminating out-of-class opportunities.

"Field trips have been non-existent for the last two years, and many cultural institutions like museums and science centers were closed. Schools want to make up learning loss from the pandemic and might feel pressure to sacrifice a well-rounded education for increased seat-time," says Erickson. "Field trips might be the first thing to go. Addressing student learning loss is crucial, but schools should be thoughtful in their approach."

• K-12 Education
• Educational Psychology
• Learning Disorders
• Educational Policy
• STEM Education
• Poverty and Learning
• Education and Employment
• Special education
• Intellectual giftedness
• Autistic spectrum
• Sleep disorder
• Cognitive neuroscience
• Auditory system
• Evolutionary psychology

Story Source:

Materials provided by Brigham Young University . Original written by Tyler Stahle. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference :

• Heidi H. Erickson, Angela R. Watson, Jay P. Greene. An Experimental Evaluation of Culturally Enriching Field Trips . Journal of Human Resources , 2022; 1020-11242R1 DOI: 10.3368/jhr.1020-11242R1

Cite This Page :

Explore More

• Advance in Heart Regenerative Therapy
• Bioluminescence in Animals 540 Million Years Ago
• Profound Link Between Diet and Brain Health
• Loneliness Runs Deep Among Parents
• Food in Sight? The Liver Is Ready!
• Acid Reflux Drugs and Risk of Migraine
• Do Cells Have a Hidden Communication System?
• Mice Given Mouse-Rat Brains Can Smell Again
• How Do Birds Flock? New Aerodynamics
• Cancer: Epigenetic Origin Without DNA Mutation

Trending Topics

Strange & offbeat.

• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of field trip in English

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

• break-journey
• circumnavigation

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

field trip | Intermediate English

Examples of field trip, translations of field trip.

Get a quick, free translation!

Word of the Day

doggie day care

a place where owners can leave their dogs when they are at work or away from home in the daytime, or the care the dogs receive when they are there

Dead ringers and peas in pods (Talking about similarities, Part 2)

Learn more with +Plus

• Recent and Recommended {{#preferredDictionaries}} {{name}} {{/preferredDictionaries}}
• Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English English Learner’s Dictionary Essential British English Essential American English
• Grammar and thesaurus Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English Grammar Thesaurus
• Pronunciation British and American pronunciations with audio English Pronunciation
• English–Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Simplified)–English
• English–Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Traditional)–English
• English–Dutch Dutch–English
• English–French French–English
• English–German German–English
• English–Indonesian Indonesian–English
• English–Italian Italian–English
• English–Japanese Japanese–English
• English–Norwegian Norwegian–English
• English–Polish Polish–English
• English–Portuguese Portuguese–English
• English–Spanish Spanish–English
• English–Swedish Swedish–English
• Dictionary +Plus Word Lists
• English    Noun
• Intermediate    Noun
• Translations
• All translations

Add field trip to one of your lists below, or create a new one.

{{message}}

Something went wrong.

There was a problem sending your report.

• Skip to global NPS navigation
• Skip to the main content
• Skip to the footer section

Exiting nps.gov

Ten tips for a successful field trip.

Planning a field trip to a national park near you? Here a 10 quick tips to help you and your students get the most out of your trip:

• Plan everything well in advance. Call to schedule the field trip or request an educational fee waiver, get a confirmation, and make necessary arrangements for school and parental permission and transportation. Plan the educational experiences and activities for the field trip. Know how to get to the field trip site, how long it will take, and where you will have lunch. Bring along any supplies and materials needed for activities that you have planned. Share this with all the teachers and chaperones involved.
• Use pre-visit activities to help prepare the students for the field trip. Make field trip planning a part of in-class learning.
• Develop clear learning objectives and share them! Make sure that the students and other teachers know these objectives.
• Chaperoning is not a spectator sport. Chaperones can be a big help if they understand their role.
• Give everyone nametags. Make sure that even the teachers and chaperones are wearing readable nametags. It also helps to divide large groups into smaller sub-groups before the trip and color code their name tags.
• Keep the students engaged. Encourage the students to participate in the activities but remember you are responsible for their behavior.
• Keep students accountable for learning. A field trip is not a day off from school! Did you accomplish the planned learning objectives?
• Encourage independent observation time. Constructive free time can help make the trip more memorable.
• Bring the experience back home. Use post-visit activities back in the classroom to make the field trip relevant and reinforce concepts.
• Use evaluations and sharing. Improvements can only be made through honest feedback and evaluation.

You Might Also Like

• shenandoah national park
• field trip preparation
• field trips

Shenandoah National Park

Last updated: August 30, 2023

You searched for:

An ethnographic comparison of real and virtual reality field trips to trillium trail: the salamander find as a salient event, real field trips provide better overall learning environments than virtual field trips.

Learning today often involves the use of technology. The purpose of this study was to investigate children’s learning when comparing a simulation of a field trip to an actual physical trip to the same location.

In this study, Harrington compared 12 nine- to eleven-year-old students’ experiences on a real and virtual field trip. Two groups of students (6 each) from a Pittsburgh public elementary school went on a real and virtual field trip to a local wildflower reserve. Data were gathered from knowledge tests, video and audiotape recordings, photographs, interviews, surveys, and observations.

In analyzing the data, Harrington found that while more students preferred the virtual field trip, students felt that they learned more from the real field trip. In examining the field trips with regard to curriculum learning impact, however, she found no differences between the two trips in terms of children’s performance on a specific knowledge post-test. In terms of participants’ views, Harrington found that students’ reported that the real field trip was better than the virtual field trip with regard to learning, inquiry, and presence. Regarding the other dimensions examined, which included exploration, desire to create, sense of excitement, level of curiosity, desire to re-experience, sense of calm, desire to share, awe and wonder, assessment of beauty, level of frustration, and disinterest, she found no statistical difference in student ratings between the real and virtual field trips. Many students reported that they liked spotting plants or being in the context of the environment on the real field trip, while students reported that they liked the ability to fly or use their imagination on the virtual field trip. Overall, Harrington found that the real field trip provided a chance for students to use all their senses and for spontaneous events to occur and instigate investigation and learning (e.g., finding a salamander), while the virtual field trip provided students with new views of the environment and enabled individual exploration.

As a result of this study, Harrington concluded that a virtual field trip can be used successfully as part of a curriculum, but that a real trip provides a superior learning environment that goes beyond specific curriculum-based learning. This study provides important insight into the complementary value of real and virtual-based learning opportunities, as well as ideas on how to improve both types of experiences for students.

Harrington, M. C. R., (2009). An ethnographic comparison of real and virtual reality field trips to Trillium Trail: The salamander find as a salient event. Children, Youth and Environments, 19(1), 74-101.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR RESEARCH DIGEST

Our monthly Research Digest will alert you to timely research from the field. Feel free to also sign up for our other publications like Finding Nature News, if you're not already subscribed.

Explore our Research Digest Archive

MADE POSSIBLE WITH SUPPORT FROM:

MADE POSSIBLE WITH ONGOING SUPPORT FROM:

A collaborative research library of:

Connect to more resources through our eeResearch collaboration with the North American Association for Environmental Education, combining articles, syntheses and research summaries for the field of environmental education and the children and nature movement.

SUPPORT OUR WORK

Help us make sure that all children live, learn and grow with nature in their daily lives.

• More from M-W
• To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In

Definition of field trip

Examples of field trip in a sentence.

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'field trip.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

1926, in the meaning defined above

Dictionary Entries Near field trip

field trial

Cite this Entry

“Field trip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/field%20trip. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of field trip, more from merriam-webster on field trip.

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for field trip

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the day.

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

More commonly misspelled words, commonly misspelled words, how to use em dashes (—), en dashes (–) , and hyphens (-), absent letters that are heard anyway, how to use accents and diacritical marks, popular in wordplay, the words of the week - apr. 26, 9 superb owl words, 'gaslighting,' 'woke,' 'democracy,' and other top lookups, 10 words for lesser-known games and sports, your favorite band is in the dictionary, games & quizzes.

• Grades 6-12
• School Leaders

Learn How to Support Stressed and Anxious Students.

Field Trip Reflection Sheet (Free Printable)

Make your time outside the classroom meaningful.

Field trips are amazing! They give kids the chance to explore a new place, learn more about specific topics, talk to experts, and see demonstrations and examples you just can’t do at school. Whether you’re taking a field trip to a local library or zoo or you’re participating in a virtual field trip to a space center or aquarium, you’ll want the field trip to be a pivotal learning experience. That’s where our Field Trip Reflection Sheet comes in.

The impact field trips have on students often has to do with how they engage with the information they learn. Incorporating a field trip reflection worksheet helps students focus on what’s important to them and what it means for their learning and life. Get the free Field Trip Reflection Worksheet by simply filling out the form on this page .

What kind of reflection sheets are in the bundle?

You’ll find two field trip reflection sheets, one for elementary schoolers and one for middle and high schoolers. Each reflection sheet works for either in-person or virtual field trips.

Elementary School Field Trip Reflection Sheet

Elementary schoolers can identify where they are going and what they are going to learn about before they head out of the building or log in to the field trip. Then, during the field trip, students record observations and information they learn. After the trip, students choose one response as a reflection to help consolidate their learning.

Middle and High School Field Trip Reflection Sheet

Before the trip, older students activate background knowledge so they’re primed to connect new information with what they already know. Once on the trip, they record observations and information. After the trip, students can choose a question or answer a teacher-directed question to consolidate what they learned.

What are some field trip reflection questions?

Here are ideas for field trip reflection questions that you can incorporate into the Field Trip Reflection Sheet:

• What was the most important thing you learned on today’s field trip?
• What should someone else know about this topic?
• What was your favorite part of this field trip?
• Who else would enjoy this field trip and why?
• How does the information you learned on today’s field trip connect with what you already knew?
• What is one way that the information you learned today confirms what you already knew? What is one way that it challenged what you already knew?
• In five years, what will you remember from this field trip?

Use the Field Trip Reflection Worksheet as a way to keep students focused. You can also use it as an exit ticket or assessment after the trip. This is especially helpful for field trips that require parent chaperones as you can see what students were doing during the trip and provide some accountability for students’ learning.

Get your free Field Trip Reflection Sheet printable!

To get your free printable bundle, just fill out the simple form on this page for instant access.

Need field trip ideas? Check out these 260+ field trip ideas (in-person and virtual).

You might also like.

Poetry Analysis Worksheet and Bookmarks (Free Printables)

Make thinking deeply about poems easy with these fun, thought-provoking questions. Continue Reading

Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. 5335 Gate Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32256

• Dictionaries home
• American English
• Collocations
• German-English
• Grammar home
• Practical English Usage
• Learn & Practise Grammar (Beta)
• Word Lists home
• My Word Lists
• Recent additions
• Resources home
• Text Checker

Definition of field trip noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• We went on a geology field trip.
• Delegates at the conference were taken on field trips to see the devastation.

Want to learn more?

Find out which words work together and produce more natural-sounding English with the Oxford Collocations Dictionary app. Try it for free as part of the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.

"It is with deep regret that we inform you about a recent loss to our school community," superintendent Ben Kirby said in a statement sent out to the student body on Friday, obtained by USA TODAY.

"Today, Friday, April 19, one of our current high school students suddenly passed away. Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to their family and friends," the statement continued.

Officials have not identified the student.

Student was attending Robotics World Championship

The school's principal, Dan Hass, informed parents that the student was attending the Robotics World Championship, according to reporting by the Oakland County Times .

“Our hearts are very heavy as we mourn this loss," Hass said, per the outlet. "We will be ready to meet the needs of our students and staff Monday morning.”

Kirby noted in the statement that Lake Orion High School and Lake Orion Community Schools have crisis teams that will be ready to "help with the needs of students and school personnel."

"We are saddened by the loss to our school community and will make every effort to support our high school students through this tragedy," Kirby shared.

Authorities in Houston told USA TODAY a 16-year-old boy from Michigan died as a result of an apparent suicide Friday evening. 

The teen's official cause of death is pending an autopsy by the Harris County Coroner Coroner's Office.

Lake Orion High School Robotics team responds to tragedy

"This has been an incredibly challenging time for our team and community, and we are grateful for the overwhelming support we’ve received," Lake Orion Robotics FIRST Team 302 shared in an Instagram post .

"We’re prioritizing the privacy of the family right now and will share more when it’s appropriate. Thank you all for your understanding and support."

Lake Orion High's robotics team was attending the FIRSTS robotics world championships in Houston, Texas that ran April 17 through April 20, according to the competition's website.

Support has poured in from other robotics teams across the country.

"Everyone on f(x) robotics sends their love and support to all @firstteam302 team members, their families, and the entire Lake Orion community as they get through this incredibly difficult time. #wearealldragons ," a North Carolina team wrote.

"4362 would like to extend our deepest condolences to all of the families, students, mentors, and coaches on @firstteam302 we our all here for you. #morethanrobots #wearealldragons ," wrote a Michigan team.

A West Virgina team said it is "grieved by the fact FIRST has lost a member of its community."

"This is a tragic time for everyone associated with team 302 and the FIRST community," an Idaho team shared.

School Field Trip

• Thumbnail (130 x 130) 39.9K
• Medium (650 x 433) 563.4K
• Large (1200 x 800) 1.7M
• Extra Large (1200 x 800) 1.7M
• Original (1200 x 800) 1.6M

You are exiting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website

You are being directed to

We do not guarantee that the websites we link to comply with Section 508 (Accessibility Requirements) of the Rehabilitation Act. Links also do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

This Teacher Reminds Parents To Stop Bringing Extended Family On School Field Trips

"Please understand ... it is not a family reunion."

Chaperoning a kid’s field trip is a right of passage for parents. You pack snacks, bandaids, and sunscreen and do your best to be the “cool parent” for your kid amongst the teachers and other admins who are on the trip. I remember always wanting to be with the “cool mom” chaperone on field trips because she would buy her group ice cream and was pretty lax on rules yet did an amazing job of keeping everyone in line. I want to be that mom!

And while that’s all well and good, one teacher has a gripe to pick with parents who are willing to help out with a class field trip — stop bringing your extended family!

“I have a little friendly PSA for all the parents out there who have elementary-age students from a teacher. Parents, when you sign up to chaperone for a field trip , please understand that it is a field trip and it is not a family reunion,” TikTok teacher @mrs.sum said.

“Please stop showing up to field trips with your extended family. We do not need you to bring grandma and your aunts and cousins along with you. We need you, who signed up, to chaperone.”

She goes on to explain that the single person who signed up was the only adult who was processed and put through a background check.

“When you are bringing other people who are not in our background check, it gets a little dicey for us. Our number one job is to protect students and that job becomes tricky when there are people that we do not know and we did not expect on the field trip,” she explained.

View on TikTok

“Especially because all of those people are now around other students who are not your own child. We have other students in this class that we also have to protect. Also, some field trips are limited by the number of people attending, and if you are bringing extra people, it throws off the count. Field trips are not family reunions.”

For those who may say that this kind of thing doesn’t actually happen, there were hundreds of teachers in the OP’s comment section commiserating with her sentiment, sharing their own chaperone horror stories.

“What bugs me is when they pull their other kids out of different grades and bring them with us. Like no,” one noted.

Another said, “Once a mom who was NO CONTACT and the child was in Fostercare showed up!! The most stressed ive been!!!”

The OP replied, “Yes! Great point! This is also something that teachers have to deal with. Definitely a safety concern!”

“We stated adults only no siblings and people still bring the 3 younger kids. Then don’t come or find someone to watch the kids,” another said.

In a follow-up video, she proposes a question to parents: What would you do with your kid if you found out adults who had not received background checks were attending the same field trip as your kid and could be in charge of them?

Again, it might be hard to believe, but this does happen! The OP explained that, with her district, chaperones do not ride the bus with the kids. Instead, they drive themselves and meet the school group at the field trip destination. This is how a field trip “family reunion” ends up happening.

“I’m a teacher and took the day off to chaperone my daughter’s trip to the zoo. I was in the group with my daughter and another parent but she didn’t have her fingerprint card so she had to be with me,” one user noted.

“Later, I realized her husband and other kids all came too. I was responsible for all these people at that point.”

Another suggested, “Teacher perspective: just like there will likely be strangers at your field trip destination, they can meet you there and hang with the group but never be alone with any of the children.”

This does sound like a school issue, doesn’t it? If the school is going to be the ones putting on the field trip, organizing the chaperones, kid groups, and destination, they should also be aware of what adults are interacting with the kids. Any field trip that occurs in a public space is going to have other adults there, of course, but that doesn’t mean those kids should be mingling with students.

Texas school bus returning from field trip crashes, killing at least 2

A t least two people are dead following a Texas school bus crash with an 18-wheeler truck on Friday upon returning from a field trip to a zoo, officials said. 

A Hays Consolidated Independent School District (CISD) bus rolled over around 2:15 p.m. near Texas State Highway 21 and Caldwell Road in Bastrop County, FOX Austin reported. 

There were 44 students and 11 adults on the bus, the school district said.

The bus was carrying Tom Green Elementary pre-K students as they were returning from a field trip to the Bastrop Zoo.

"Parents of students on the bus have been notified directly from the campus. The district is in the process of conducting reunification. Hays CISD transportation staff, counselors, safety and security personnel, and other administrators have all joined first responders either at the accident scene or at the reunification location," Hays CISD said in a statement.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the school district, Texas Department of Public Safety and local authorities. 

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Original article source: Texas school bus returning from field trip crashes, killing at least 2

Springfield School Committee again boycotts meeting over superintendent search: Student field trip almost canceled

• Updated: Apr. 26, 2024, 12:33 a.m. |
• Published: Apr. 25, 2024, 9:29 p.m.
• Jeanette DeForge | [email protected]

SPRINGFIELD — Frustrated a discussion about the superintendent search was not included on the agenda, four School Committee members walked out of the meeting, leaving the group without a quorum before they could take a crucial vote.

This is the second time the four members, Vice Chairman Joesiah Gonzalez, Barbara Gresham, LaTonia Monroe Naylor and Denise Hurst have left the School Committee without a quorum over the increasingly contentious search for a new head of the about 23,700-student district.

But when the four walked out and the remaining three, Chairman Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Christopher Collins and Peter Murphy, were ready to adjourn, Central High School Principal Thaddeus Tokarz stepped forward and urged them to do something so his students could leave on Friday to attend a competition in New Jersey.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.