GET ON THE BUS! Using Field Trips to Build Prior Knowledge

Toni Enloe
Apr 19, 2010

Field trips. Are they opportunities that enhance student understanding or disconnected experiences that waste valuable instructional time? You have probably experienced both. So how do you make sure that the field trip experience achieves the intended goal?

As students are constantly bombarded with new information, it becomes necessary for them to find ways to construct meaning and to assimilate the new information into their existing knowledge base. A lack of sufficient background knowledge can become a roadblock to their learning.

When do you usually take field trips? Many of us use them as culminating activities after a unit of instruction. Consider this. What would happen if your students had the field trip experience prior to the unit of instruction? Field trips as launch activities can be an ideal opportunity to preview new vocabulary, build prior knowledge on new topics and provide a real-life context for new learning. When thoughtfully planned and effectively executed, they can be both engaging and motivating for students.

Things to consider1. How will this experience help support the learning of new material?
2. How can I make this trip both engaging and educational for my students?
3. How will I ensure that all students will be able to participate in the field experience?
4. What preparation will I need to do with my students before we go?
5. What will I have my students do with the information?

Planning and executing a successful field trip

  • Be sure to visit the site ahead of time (preferably with a colleague), in order to plan activities for your students that will address your instructional goals. Take lots of notes. Many sites have preplanned activities for students and are willing to send you an overview of each of their programs. Examine the plans with a discriminating eye since many are generic and may not meet your needs. The more you know about a destination, the better equipped you will be to handle any unexpected challenges.
  • Ensure that the field trip will compliment the curriculum and meet your need to create background knowledge. When planning your field trip, consider locations that will help students make the strongest connections.
  • Make sure that students have the necessary preparation before the trip. Are there vocabulary words that need to be taught prior to their visit? Ex. aerodynamics (Kennedy Space Center), anti-Semitism, ghettos (Holocaust Museum) Teaching some of the vocabulary that they will hear helps students make sense of the new learning.
  • Plan in route activities that will motivate students, enhance their learning experiences and provide much needed breaks.
  • Make sure that all district field trip guidelines are followed with regard to board policies, student/chaperone ratios (10:1 for middle and high school is a good rule of thumb, smaller for elementary), transportation procedures and fund raising policies.
  • Meet with parents prior to the trip to communicate your goals and expectations for their children.
  • Meet with all chaperones to make sure they understand the goals and expectations and their roles and responsibilities.

Things students can do

  • Scavenger hunts for information at a location- Create a scavenger hunt that will help students locate some key facts about a location.
  • Map it out - Give students a map of the location. Have them trace the route and calculate the distance using the map scale.
  • Reflection journals - Have students reflect on the experiences of the day and then discuss those with the students during evening activities.
  • Hands on activities - These are great for science and social studies field trips. Students can calculate the carrying capacity of a stream.
  • Graphic organizers - Create and have students complete a graphic organizer to manage the new information. These can be used later as a reference.

Note to teachers: Take plenty of pictures. These can be used throughout the unit to help activate your lessons.

Where to go:

Local trips:

  • School yard
  • Museums
  • Aquariums
  • Historical sites
  • Old cemeteries
  • Natural landmarks
  • Local businesses
  • Farms
  • Zoos

Out of town trips (to name only a few):

  • Charleston,SC (Fort Sumter, Fort Moultrie, Plantations, Downtown, Charles Town Landing)
  • Penn Center on St. Helena Island in SC
  • Discovery Place in Charlotte, NC
  • Baltimore Aquarium, MD
  • Fort McHenry, MD
  • Hermitage, TN
  • Holocaust Museums (Washington DC, Tampa, FL, Houston, TX)
  • St. Augustine, FL
  • Kennedy Space Center, FL
  • Gettysburg, PA
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • Mt. Vernon, VA
  • Atlanta, GA
  • Cumberland Island National Seashore, GA
  • Washington, DC sites (Smithsonian museums, Capitol, White House) NOTE: Make sure that you have information about the tour as many require tickets.

Are we missing some really good field trip locations? Write us and let us know and we will post the additional locations in an upcoming newsletter!

Can't afford to go anywhere?

Virtual field trips:

http://sitesalive.com/ (expeditions around the world)

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History - Each floor and exhibit is a virtual tour.

SEA WORLD - This site allows you to visit Seaworld photo's, videos, virtual tours of every species at Seaworld.

Monet - This guides you through a biography of his life.

Metropolitan Museum of Art - You can take a virtual tour of the museum, you choose what you what to view.

The White House - Take a tour of the White House. Art, Architecture, Furnishings, See rooms like the Oval Office.

Carnegie Hall - This is great for music class

The Civil War - A Virtual Field Trip for your Social Studies class

Countries of the World - A lesson for Social Studies.

Early American Colonies - A trip back to early America

The United States National Symbols - The pieces that make up America

Native American Dwellings - Information about the types of housing used in different regions and climates.

The Great Depression and WWII - A living history of our grandparents

Colonial Life - How did early Americans live?

While field trips require a lot of energy to plan and execute, the benefits for students can last a lifetime. Providing experiences that allow students to become actively engaged, make connections, and build background knowledge will contribute to the deeper learning of skills and concepts.