Field Trips

On this day one decade ago, Mikey went on a field trip with his fourth grade class. They went to the Eli Whitney Museum. A man who spent his later years in Connecticut, Eli Whitney is well-known for inventing the cotton gin and more broadly for his impact on manufacturing in the United States.

My Background

Before I had kids, I was an elementary school teacher.  One year, I worked as a long-term substitute at the Bank Street School, a school for kids that makes use of the rich resources of New York City to give students access to myriad experiential learning opportunities. In other words, we took a lot of field trips (and did many hands-on lessons in the classroom).

Field Trips

Before each field trip with my students, I would give them a preview of the trip.  Their homework that night would be a continuation of that preview.  This let the kids, and their parents, know the purpose of the trip.

The day of the trip, each kid got a guide (made by me or one of my colleagues) on a clipboard and a pencil.  Think of this almost like a treasure hunt for information. It focused their attention on the relevant information for our studies in an environment that might otherwise be somewhat overwhelming.

Then, the next day, we worked together to synthesize the information the kids learned.  This structure helped to preview, focus the experience and then review.

This journal entry was my version of a preview for Michael.  It showed him what to expect and what to notice.  Another option might be a social story to preview a field trip and prepare your child for a change in routine.

As usual, it also makes sense to check in with your child’s teacher to make sure any safety concerns specific to your child are addressed ahead of time.