One of the things that makes elementary school fun is the field trip. It could be to a pool to take swimming lessons or to a zoo to learn about animals as long as children get out of the classroom. Teachers can plan for an exciting field trip with a few tips, ensuring that the experience is both fun and educational.
Planning
In order to have a successful trip, the teacher must begin to plan a few months in advance. Find out from the school about the dates that are available to go and the requirements from the parents and students that are needed before the trip is put in place. The teacher also needs to find out what locations are allowed for a field trip as there could be some places where school children aren’t allowed to visit. Cater the trip for the age group so that there is as much learning as possible.
Prepare The Students
Talk to the students about what they will learn on the trip. Try to prepare a few lesson plans that relate to the location, or show a video so that students get a better idea of what they can see. This works best with younger students who might not venture outside of the home very often. Make a list of items that students should, and should not, bring on the trip. Talk to them about the behavior that is expected.
Chaperones
One teacher likely won’t be able to monitor all of the children at the same time. Choose a few chaperones who are able to watch a small group of children. Send home volunteer forms so that each person can be contacted before the trip. Give all chaperones a name tag and a list of the rules that are expected to be followed. Keep a few chaperones on standby in case something comes up with one of the people who are supposed to attend that day.
Overnight Trips
Older students could exhibit that they are responsible enough for an overnight trip. You need to have plenty of support while on the trip to monitor the actions of students. Find a fun venue, such as a museum, that offers overnight activities. Make sure students have all of the supplies that are needed to spend the night, and keep a list of emergency contacts in the event that something goes wrong.
On The Day Of The Trip
Arrive to school early so that you can get lunches from the cafeteria and get name tags made for the students. Gather any fees that need to be paid and any paperwork that needs to be completed before arriving at the venue. Talk to the students one final time about behavior before getting on the bus. Count each time you get on and off the bus to ensure that all students are present.