Seattle's Child

Your guide to a kid-friendly city

Tips and Tricks from Field Trip Pros

Anticipation heightens. Decibels increase. Freedom from the classroom is within reach.

There isn’t much that will dampen kids’ spirits when a field trip is on the agenda. Children anxiously await the chance to get out of school and have some fun. Educators bank on the fact that, along with fun and games, their field trips will be highly educational. Real-world experiences can inspire a special type of discovery. Beyond the walls of the classroom, kids may be especially motivated to learn.

“Children need context for their studies,” says Chelle Downey-Magee, a teacher at Arbor Montessori Schools in Sammamish. “There’s nothing like a trip to The Wing Luke Asian Museum and International District to prepare them for the study of Asia. They get to smell, see, touch, hear and taste things that are foreign to their typical experience.”

The Seattle area is rich with wonderful field-trip spots where kids can experience science, nature and the arts. Here are some tips and tricks, from both veteran field-trippers and those who manage school groups, to help make your trip smooth sailing.

  1. Plan Your Trip Well in Advance … and Check School Bus Availability
    Give yourself plenty of time to book your reservation and prepare your students for their learning experience. Arrange for the school bus before you make reservations, so you don’t have to cancel and incur fees.
  2. Enlist Conscientious Chaperones
    Recruit enough responsible adults to easily keep track of the kids. If you can, keep yourself free from a group so you can deal with any problems that arise. Some teachers prefer splitting the students into groups themselves, to avoid friends from congregating and getting sidetracked.
  3. Make Your Expectations Clear to Both Students and Chaperones
    Teachers and hosts agree it is essential to discuss proper etiquette. Remind students that they will still be in school and rules continue to apply ā€“ they should be quiet, respectful and follow instructions. Heed the guidelines of the location as well. Help the children understand appropriate ways, such as clapping or not shouting, to participate in the activities. Your chaperones should be prepped with an agenda and details about their role for the day. Let them know your expectations of the children and what to do with those who misbehave. Discuss safety and emergency protocol.
  4. Provide Students and Chaperones with a Packing List
    It’s helpful to provide packing lists for both the students and adults with any particulars about what they should bring and wear. Some teachers request that students wear their school shirts, or T-shirts of a particular color, so it is easier to spot them in a crowd. Make sure they know if they need to pack a lunch and suggest they bring a backpack to carry their loose belongings. Encourage chaperones to bring their technology, but to only use it in case of an emergency.
  5. Leave Ample Time to Get to Your Destination
    Allow plenty of time to get to and from your event, as traffic, parking and other unexpected happenings can pose a challenge. Punctuality is particularly important for timed activities; hosts have a schedule to stick to and latecomers can be distracting.
  6. Prepare Your Students and Encourage Their Participation
    Field trips may be the first time your students are exposed to a particular environment. Preparing kids for what they are going to experience can help propel them to discover. Think about what you want your students to learn or accomplish on the field trip and incorporate that into your pre-trip lessons. Many organizations offer materials designed for this purpose, such as activities to complete in conjunction with the trip, such as scavenger hunts, field notebooks or worksheets, encourage them to use their observational skills and to refer back to what they have learned in class.
  7. Get Your Ducks in a Row
    Having your attendance numbers, tickets and payment organized and ready to submit at the event’s entrance will help expedite things so your students have more time for the event.
  8. Don’t Book It without Checking It out First
    School budgets are tight, as are family budgets. If you haven’t been to the venue or event, check it out ahead of time. Or, talk with other teachers who have attended and ask the staff on site to address your questions and concerns.
  9. Leave Electronics and Prized Possessions Behind
    It’s easy to misplace valuables during the general hubbub of a field trip, so ask your students to leave them behind at school (or at the very least put them away at your destination). The absence of cell phones, headphones and the like will lower the potential for distractions and help them pay better attention to the event.
  10. Discuss Your Experience Afterward
    Field trips have great potential to get children inspired about learning and to allow them a deeper understanding of concepts taught in class. They offer a common experience and an entry into topics that may not come up in normal conversations, which teachers can use to their advantage. Spend time discussing your day and what the students enjoyed most about their experience. Work on activities that encourage them to draw upon their encounters. Some teachers include a writing or illustration exercise after each field trip, when the kids are motivated and their imaginations piqued. It can also be fun to create something for parents about what the students have learned.

About the Author

Taryn Zier