Field trips
Field trips have the potential to provide all students, particularly those from low socioeconomic backgrounds, with mind-stretching experiences. Those experiences expose students to a world and community beyond where they live. Field trips may also be the impetus for continued learning and can bring book learning to life. Novel and multisensory experiences stay with students for a long time. They may lead to future career choices. Field trips are expensive, require excellent supervision, and a great deal of advance planning (learning goals, related activities, permissions, lodging, food, and transportation). However, they have the potential to provide an invaluable learning experience for students.
In the Spotlight
Gaspar De Portola Middle School, San Diego Unified School District, a 2006 Schools to Watch™-Taking Center Stage Model School
All sixth graders participate in a standards-based, outdoor education program for one week at Camp Palomar, where students mingle with those from other schools and participate in science, social studies, and race/human relations activities.
Field trips are not out of the question even when budgets are tight. Funding from parent teacher clubs, student fund-raisers, and community organizations can make field trips accessible to all students. Additionally, students may benefit from virtual field trips. According to the results of a scientifically based research study, there are free collections of virtual (online) field trips and other Web-based learning materials that have demonstrated results in boosting reading levels and helping to improve test scores among middle-school students.
Assemblies offer another alternative to field trips. For example, some museums, theater groups, zoos, and wildlife sanctuaries provide on-site experiences for the entire student body. In some cases, Gifted and Talented Education funds can be used to provide these types of experiences for all students. Schools can contact mobile science labs or groups such as Civil War re-enactors or others who bring history to life in a multimedia, live-action presentation.
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