Field trips can be amazing learning experiences. They provide students with the opportunity to actively participate in education, offering learning possibilities that aren’t readily available in the classroom. There are many benefits to incorporating field trips into your lesson plans. For example, a study by the U.S. Travel Association found that “regardless of gender, ethnicity or socioeconomic status, youth who take educational trips have better grades (59 percent), higher graduation rates from high school (95 percent) and college (63 percent), and greater income (12 percent higher annually).”
In the same study, 89 percent of respondents said, “educational trips had a positive, lasting impact on their education and career because the trips made them more engaged, intellectually curious and interested in and out of school,” the National Education Association explains. Field trips are especially important for disadvantaged students because they level the playing field, the same article notes.
Maybe the most important benefit that field trips give students is a connection between their studies and the real world. Understanding that what they learn is applicable outside the walls of the classroom gives new meaning to their studies. Here are a few more benefits of field trips, according to Explorable Places.
- Access: Field trips allow students to interact with their communities outside of the school environment. Real-world experiences can solidify learning and support academic concepts. “Our communities are rich learning laboratories,” Explorable Places says.
- Socio-emotional growth: A recent study by the University of Arkansas found that students who go on field trips have increased levels of empathy, tolerance, and critical thinking. Field trips empower students to think about the world from a new perspective.
- Academic impact: Field trips also provide hands-on learning that allows students to remember new facts and concepts. Especially for students with the kinesthetic or auditory learning style, field trip experiences lead to better learning outcomes.
Fall Field Trip Inspiration
Fall is a great time to explore field trip options. Students can experience the changing season and participate in autumn-themed activities that bring them out of the classroom and into their community. Here are just a few ideas to help you get started:
Students can learn where their food comes from by touring a local agricultural or livestock farm, Education World says. You can visit sites like LocalHarvest.org to find a farm in your area. Your students can enjoy talking with local farmers, seeing animals and crops, and more.
Taking a field trip to a farm is an ideal way to transition into learning about farmers’ markets, seasonal food, and the impact of eating local to support local farmers. You can either contact a local market to find out about tours or simply take your students to visit during market hours.
Apple Orchard or Pumpkin Patch
Fall is the perfect time to take a field trip to an orchard or pumpkin patch. Many locations offer activities like hay rides, corn mazes, and more that let students make the most of the season.
You also have a wide variety of options when it comes to museum field trips. Because there are so many different types of museums, from art to history to science, you can find tours that are relevant to what your students are learning in the classroom. This kind of hands-on, directly applicable experience is invaluable.
Virtual Field Trips
There are even field trip options for those with tight budgets or transportation challenges. Virtual field trips are ideal for expanding students’ experiences while keeping costs low. These digital “trips” are also a great option for cold winter months when outdoor activities are limited. Examples include the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History virtual tour and NOVA’s Great Pyramid Online Adventure.
Taking your students on field trips that allow them to explore and connect with their community is one of the best ways to broaden their horizons and introduce them to new ideas.
Safari za shambani zaweza kuwa mambo ya ajabu ya kujifunza. Wao kutoa wanafunzi na nafasi ya kushiriki kikamilifu katika elimu, kutoa uwezekano wa kujifunza kwamba si readily inapatikana katika darasa. Kuna faida nyingi za kuingiza safari za shambani katika mipango yako ya masomo. "Kwa mfano, utafiti uliofanywa na Chama cha Usafiri cha Marekani uligundua kwamba ""bila kujali jinsia, kabila au hali ya kijamii, vijana wanaofanya safari za elimu wana alama bora (59%) na viwango vya juu vya kuhitimu kutoka shule ya sekondari (95%) na chuo kikuu (63%) na mapato makubwa (12%) kwa mwaka.""" Safari za shambani ni muhimu hasa kwa wanafunzi walio katika hali mbaya kwa sababu zinafanya mambo yawe sawa, makala hiyohiyo inasema. Labda faida muhimu zaidi ambayo safari za shambani huwapa wanafunzi ni uhusiano kati ya masomo yao na ulimwengu halisi. Kuelewa kwamba yale wanayojifunza yanatumika nje ya kuta za darasa huwapa maana mpya masomo yao. Hapa kuna faida nyingine chache za safari za shambani, kulingana na Explorable Places. - Upatikanaji: safari za shambani huruhusu wanafunzi kuingiliana na jamii zao nje ya mazingira ya shule. Uzoefu wa ulimwengu halisi unaweza kuimarisha kujifunza na kuunga mkono dhana za kitaaluma. <unk>Jumuiya zetu ni maabara tajiri ya kujifunza,<unk> Explorable Places inasema. Utafiti wa hivi karibuni uliofanywa na Chuo Kikuu cha Arkansas uligundua kuwa wanafunzi wanaofanya safari za shambani wana viwango vya juu vya hisia-mwenzi, uvumilivu, na kufikiri kwa ukali. Safari za shambani huwawezesha wanafunzi kufikiri juu ya ulimwengu kutoka kwa mtazamo mpya. - Athari ya kitaaluma: Safari za shambani pia hutoa kujifunza kwa mikono ambayo inaruhusu wanafunzi kukumbuka ukweli mpya na dhana. Hasa kwa wanafunzi wenye kinesthetic au auditory kujifunza style, uzoefu safari ya shambani kusababisha matokeo bora ya kujifunza. Kuanguka Field Trip Inspiration Kuanguka ni wakati mzuri wa kuchunguza chaguzi za safari ya shamba. Wanafunzi wanaweza uzoefu msimu wa kubadilika na kushiriki katika shughuli za majira ya kupukutika kwa majira ya kupukutika ambayo huwapeleka nje ya darasa na katika jamii yao. "Hii ni baadhi ya njia za kujifunza kuhusu ""mchanganyiko wa chakula"" na ""mchanganyiko wa chakula"" katika shamba la kilimo au la mifugo." Unaweza kutembelea tovuti kama vile LocalHarvest.org ili kupata shamba katika eneo lako. Wanafunzi wako wanaweza kufurahia kuzungumza na wakulima wa eneo hilo, kuona wanyama na mazao, na mengi zaidi. Kutembelea shamba ni njia bora ya kujifunza kuhusu masoko ya wakulima, chakula cha msimu, na athari za kula chakula cha ndani ili kusaidia wakulima wa ndani. Unaweza kuwasiliana na soko la mahali hapo ili kujua kuhusu ziara au tu kuchukua wanafunzi wako kutembelea wakati wa saa za soko. Apple Orchard au Pumpkin Patch Fall ni wakati mzuri wa kuchukua safari ya shambani kwa bustani ya matunda au patch ya pumpkin. Maeneo mengi hutoa shughuli kama vile matembezi ya nyasi, maze ya mahindi, na mengine mengi ambayo huwawezesha wanafunzi kutumia vizuri msimu huo. Pia una chaguzi mbalimbali linapokuja safari za uwanja wa makumbusho. Kuna aina nyingi za makumbusho, kuanzia sanaa hadi historia na sayansi, unaweza kupata ziara zinazohusiana na kile wanafunzi wako wanajifunza darasani. Aina hii ya uzoefu wa mikono, unaotumika moja kwa moja ni wa thamani sana. Safari za Virtual Field Kuna hata chaguzi za safari za shambani kwa wale walio na bajeti nyembamba au changamoto za usafiri. Safari za uwanja wa virtual ni bora kwa ajili ya kupanua uzoefu wa wanafunzi wakati wa kuweka gharama chini. Hizi digital "safari" pia ni chaguo kubwa kwa ajili ya miezi baridi ya majira ya baridi wakati shughuli za nje ni mdogo. Mifano ni pamoja na Smithsonian ya Taifa Makumbusho ya Historia ya Asili virtual ziara na NOVA ya Great Pyramid Online Adventure. Kuchukua wanafunzi wako kwenye safari za shamba ambazo zinawaruhusu kuchunguza na kuungana na jamii yao ni moja ya njia bora za kupanua upeo wao na kuwajulisha mawazo mapya.