What a trip!
One of the course readings for our Science Curriculum class praises the “field trip” or “a trip into the field”, as a unique pedagogical practice that provides students with long-lasting learning experiences by giving life to the lessons from their science classrooms. The article also explains how the “field trip” should be a discovery oriented and inquiry-based expedition that allows students the opportunity to create the open-ended questions that will guide their own exploration. If everything goes as planned, the children should remember their “field trip” as the highpoint of the school year.
In the article it also states that close to 100% of individuals interviewed remember something they learned from one of their elementary school field trips, I however do not. The only field trip I do remember clearly took place when I was teaching Environmental Education in Guatemala. We had been covering the importance of plants and the negative affect that deforestation has on the Environment. At the completion of the unit, all the students took a field trip to a near by forest where they all had the opportunity to take part of a reforestation project. Hopefully every time those students think about the trees they planted or even go to see them grow, they will remember the lessons they learned about the importance of plants to all living things.
Although I don’t have any long lasting memories from my elementary school experience, I still believe field trips are a valuable teaching tool that could be used in all the different subject areas. I would like to know if there was a field trip that you took in elementary school or any other time in your life, which sticks out in your mind? If so, what was it like and what where some of the things you remembered learning?
In the article it also states that close to 100% of individuals interviewed remember something they learned from one of their elementary school field trips, I however do not. The only field trip I do remember clearly took place when I was teaching Environmental Education in Guatemala. We had been covering the importance of plants and the negative affect that deforestation has on the Environment. At the completion of the unit, all the students took a field trip to a near by forest where they all had the opportunity to take part of a reforestation project. Hopefully every time those students think about the trees they planted or even go to see them grow, they will remember the lessons they learned about the importance of plants to all living things.
Although I don’t have any long lasting memories from my elementary school experience, I still believe field trips are a valuable teaching tool that could be used in all the different subject areas. I would like to know if there was a field trip that you took in elementary school or any other time in your life, which sticks out in your mind? If so, what was it like and what where some of the things you remembered learning?
posted by jason m. cardwell at 10:44 PM
17 Comments:
I love to go on field trips and I also love to take children on trips. One of the most memorable trips I took was during high school when we went to see Les Mis. It was my first broadway show. Our class has been selling candies for months and we really looked forward to go on this trip. The teacher informed us about how famous the show was and general plot of the show.
My high school was located on long island and we rarely get opportunities to come to the city. Therefore it was very exciting for us to ride on the subway and see the hustle and bustle of the city life. The show was unlike anything I have imagined. I was mesmerized by it. I clapped so hard and we took a lot of pictures in the theater. I was in awe with the singing and acting of the actors. I was also amazed with the change of the settings and the costumes. I learned about the story and the background information of Victor Hugo. I also learned that great theatrical work could be really powerful. It could stimulate your mind and make you wonder about things you didn’t think of.
My most memorable field trip was during our science study of tidal pools. We went to the ocean where there was a rocky shore full of tiny tidal pools. We had time to explore and play around, and then we went to work trying to find all the creatures we had previously identified as characteristic of tidal pools. When I went to the natural history museum, I had fun looking at all the models of animals and plants, especially those in the ocean, but it was nothing compared to my exploration of tidal pools on my own. I can't remember exactly when I went; maybe 6th or 7th grade, but for a long time afterwards I decided to be a marine biologist specializing in sea cucumbers (I have no idea why - I thought they were awesome!) My trip to the ocean really brought to life the study of marine life in a way that no classroom experience ever could have. The hands on approach - literally getting our feet wet - allowed me to engage in the material in a unique way that showed me the joys of being a field scientist.
My most memmorable field trip had absolutely nothing to do with education. We went to Texas Stadium, where the Dallas Cowboys play and got to tour the stadium and locker rooms. Some of the players even came out on the field and tossed the football around with us. It was a lot of fun and the first thing that comes to mind when I think field trip. However, I do not feel that it was an educational experience.
When i taught in Ecuador, we took our students to el centro de Quito (downtown Quito). The children got to tour El Panecillo (a monument that overlooks the city), many of the churches, and a museum. The students enjoyed the experience and were able to learn about the history of some of the famous churches. We had a number of parents who tagged along for the adventure. It was a great opportunity for the students to see many of the sights they had not already visited. The museum taught them about the history of their country. The tours were conducted in Spanish, which they particularly appreciated because although classes were conducted in English, Spanish was their first language.
This comment has been removed by the author.
I agree with the importance of field trips, as memorable, and tagible learning experiences.
However, in order for a filed trip to become this, I believe it has to be tied in with the curriculum, and that there has to be a clear purpose to the trip.
In that way, it can truly become a memorable experience for the students as well as for the teachers.
I'm lucky to work in NY, where we have a whole bunch of different places in our reach for field trips. My school does a lot of local field trips (with local, I mean walking-distance)around the area, providing the kids with very different experiences. For example, the second graders go to the farmer's market with the school's chef, and he teaches them about different types of food, ways to prepare them, etc. They buy groceries together and the chef uses them for the school's lunch. The school also uses our neighborhood to teach the children about blocks, streets, mapping, etc., allowing the kids to learn from their own experiences.
I think these are two examples of field trips that allow a specific and memorable learning experience for our students.
I remember a field trip I took in elementary school. The teacher took us to observe chrysanthemum in a park. However, the trip was mainly for fun rather than learning. There was no instruction before and after the field trip. The only assignment about the trip was to write a composition about the trip. We could choose anything we’d like to talk about the trip and the teacher’s grading on the assignment was mainly based on the language students used and the ideas students came up with. Students enjoyed any trip very much, because we could go out of the classroom and enjoy the beauty of nature. Our course schedule was too tight to have many field trips. However, I believe field trips are a valuable teaching tool if it is conducted effectively. First of all, purposes of a field trip should be clarified before the trip. Students should receive instruction about the topic of the trip. At least, the teacher should give students some questions to think about through the trip. Students can also have a discussion about what they want to discover or prove in the trip. The second, students should be given an opportunity to make a comparison between what they learn from classes and what they find in field trips. In this way, students can review and make adjustment to what they have learned.
My most memorable field trip was when we were studying archeology and how artifacts are discovered throughout time. Our school was located near a beach so our teachers planned an entire day for us to be archeologists for the day. The teachers buried various artifacts, and used ropes and sticks to section out areas of the beach in a grid-like format. When we arrived, we worked in teams to see what we could “discover”. Our job was to record the location of the artifact and record all of our observations of each artifact uncovered. This was definitely my most memorable field trip as it allowed me to engage in science in a really fun way, and most importantly, my classmates and I definitely learned something enduring! Not only did I become fascinated with the field of archeology, but the experience also allowed me to appreciate archeologists and other science-related jobs. And, like I said, I realized that science could actually be fun.
As for a memorable fieldtrip as a teacher, when I was working at Hong Kong International School, I worked in a Pre-K classroom in which project work was the focus of our curriculum. For one of our thematic projects, our class studied pasta. For our celebration (or culminating experience), we were invited to an Italian restaurant during non-business hours in which the children participated in the actual making of pasta. The chef put on a demonstration and taught the kids all about the history, how to make it, etc. This was definitely memorable for both the teachers and the students, and they continued to refer back to this experience throughout the school year.
Having said this, it’s important to understand that fieldtrips have to clearly tie in with the entire curriculum and obviously address the enduring understandings of a unit. I think too often fieldtrips are taken just for the sake of getting out of the classroom or as a “fill-in”. Like all other activities, there needs to be a purpose to a fieldtrip and it needs to be well-planned!
One field trip that sticks out in my mind is the one that I took when I was in third grade. We drove a while away from the city to the countryside and enjoyed the nature; I remember being so excited to touch the cows, pick and eat strawberries, splash water in the pond, and run around the field with friends. This was not only a fun experience but a great learning opportunity as we were able to use all five of our senses to observe and explore what we have been reading in books. Learning takes place in a much more effective way when we learn through direct experience; some things that I did not quite get in class made sense on that day. I think real-life experience of what is learned through books/lectures is essential in developing enduring understanding; carefully-planned field trips are wonderful in making the learning experience insightful as well as enjoyable!
I remember going to see the Tree People in the first grade. I lived in Southern California and the Tree People, a nature conservation group, had an establishment in the woods near the LA area. I remember listening to the group leaders talk about saving the environment, why we needed trees, recycling, and ways in which we could contribute-- despite our young ages. This was where I heard about someone who had made a house out of cans and tires and I thought that was the coolest thing I had ever heard. For a fleeting moment, I wanted to have a tree house there and hang out in the woods. I really enjoyed learning about the trees and how to help nature, but the house out of cans and tires was a definite highlight.
I remember my trips to forest areas the most from my childhood, probably because they were so familiar to me. One example is my sixth grade trip to Stokes outdoor center. I remember using a microscope to look at the different organisms in the water. This was quite new to me and made me think twice before going into the water. I also learned about compassing in the forest. Using maps and a compass has become a lost art I feel. Last but not least, students used their new compass skills to find themselves from point A (somewhere in the middle of the forest) to the road to back to camp. This group activity was interesting as people became leaders and followers according to knowledge and interest. Due to these fieldtrips I became even more interested in environmental education at a young age.
Experiential learning makes a big impact on many students as it did on me. It brings students and teachers together as well as allows them to use all of their senses, not just the ears and eyes.
I believe that field trips are definitely an important component of learning. Fieldtrips provide a learning experience that helps student implement and develop what they have been taught. Fieldtrips should serve as fun activities that culminate what the students have been digesting, dissecting throughout the duration of a unit, lesson, or an entire curriculum (for end of the year fieldtrips). I agree with Trini that in order for field trips to be memorable and tangible learning experiences, they should be directly tied to the curriculum. If it is embedded throughout, student will be able to make “connections to the real world” based on what they have been studying. However, to make this activity successful it will have to be planned and very well organized and each lesson of an entire unit should compile enduring understandings. If it is not, chances are it will not provide the expected “experience.” I remember in elementary school in my 6th grade class taking my very first trip to a California bay area aquarium. I remember being very excited because it was our opportunity to demonstrate what we had learned about sea life (it was also an end of the year fieldtrip). Our class was divided into groups and given an activity to complete during our exploration. Many of the questions asked were things we had learned about in our lessons prior to our fieldtrip. The part that I remember as being memorable was being able to appreciate the “REAL” aspect of sea life. Seeing things in texts books was one thing, but being able to take what you have studied with your own eyes and apply it to real life is what I find essential. It was the first time I was exposed to sea life and on top of that it was also an enjoyable experience.
I learned a great deal on two camping trips organized by my public elementary school in Tucson, AZ. These were end-of-the-year rewards to an educational camp. We took hikes and learned about the desert around us: names of the surrounding mountain ranges and plants and animal life (especially the cacti that got stuck to our socks). We also dissected owl pellets (which the owls throw up) to see what they had eaten. We ground corn and started campfires with Native American tools. I tried venison and we made smores, which I had never had before. To this day, I still remember the names of many plants and animals in the Sonoran Desert!
I remember one field trip to a planetarium when I was in elementary school. We watched a film concerning planets and universe which interested most of the students very much. Later, we also visited several "branch" planetarium and were given a lot of information. I believe the whole process of these instructions were carefully designed and arranged by the staff there. However, I think the thing is they gave too much information to those elementary school students who had limited knowledge about universe before coming there.
But I do love that field trip because anyway everybody at least took something home even though not everything. Besides, it really triggered my initial interests upon astronomy.
My most memorable trip was in the first grade when we went to a farm and watched a cow give birth. Sadly, the calf came out dead and blue. I remember the whole class cried. Then Bradford Browning threw up in the back of the stationwagon on the way home from the field-trip.
I went to grade schools in China. We had field trip twice a year. I remember some of them. But the most memorable one was the one time that we went to the beach. That was for our Chinese literature class. We learned a poem about the ocean and it described the color of the ocean and how the ocean changes according to the time of the day. We memorized the poem and we had a checklist that the teacher gave us. According to the checklist we observed the ocean and took pictures. Later, we wrote about the ocean. I think that was a great filed trip because we applied what we had learned into the real life. By observing the ocean, we understood how the author felt about the ocean. I think from that time, I really understood how the writing connects to the real life and appreciated more about good writing.
I also do not quite remember specific field trips in elementary school. What I do remember is that field trips where really just a day off of school. Now as an adult when I go as a volunteer to field trips with students I do see the value of field trips for developing a different level of learning. Although, as always there is this concern that field trips are just a day off of school. I think in order for field trips to be effective there needs to be a structure implemented prior, so that students see that the field trip has a purpose. Also having students work on something specific, like having a scavenger hunt, so that they are looking for something and hopefully staying focused and not just wondering around.
I think I agree with Jason. I remember field trips, but not for the right reason. They were just always fun times to get out of the school and hang out with people you don't usually see in class. I don't remember ever really learning anything, unless you count some local history and fun things to do around my city. I think it's best to give the students something to be responsible for while they're on the field trip. Maybe something a little more substantial than just a worksheet where the class is listing basic facts. Maybe the field trip will relate to a project the class is already working on, or maybe the class should start doing research on a topic before they actually go on a field trip related to the topic. But yeah, it's hard to get the students to learn anything without giving them a sharply focused task because just the idea of traveling away from the school and doing something out of the ordinary is completely distracting.
Post a Comment
<< Home