Field Trips--Not sure what to do

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Field Trips--Not sure what to do

by Victoria

Aug 16, 2009

Would anyone like to share their favorite field trips?

Quick background: I teach 2nd through 8th grade gifted at a rural, low socio-economic, mainly minority school. I have 44 students in our program this year. This is my second year teaching gifted...last year I started off teaching 4th grade but switched in September. My program is 1 hour pullout for the most part (one class meets a bit longer on some days and not at all on Wednesdays).

I am looking for ideas on where to take them. And it's not just trying to find a place to go--there are other choices to be made.

Year before last, the students went to Atlanta with the previous teacher. It was an overnight trip where they stayed in hotel rooms. They were able to see the Coke museum, the MLK museum, the aquarium, and Six Flags.

Last year, beign my first year, I took them to the Memphis Zoo for a day trip. I originally looked into an overnight at the Atlanta Zoo but the middle school students (and ...See MoreWould anyone like to share their favorite field trips?

Quick background: I teach 2nd through 8th grade gifted at a rural, low socio-economic, mainly minority school. I have 44 students in our program this year. This is my second year teaching gifted...last year I started off teaching 4th grade but switched in September. My program is 1 hour pullout for the most part (one class meets a bit longer on some days and not at all on Wednesdays).

I am looking for ideas on where to take them. And it's not just trying to find a place to go--there are other choices to be made.

Year before last, the students went to Atlanta with the previous teacher. It was an overnight trip where they stayed in hotel rooms. They were able to see the Coke museum, the MLK museum, the aquarium, and Six Flags.

Last year, beign my first year, I took them to the Memphis Zoo for a day trip. I originally looked into an overnight at the Atlanta Zoo but the middle school students (and parents *sigh*) balked when they realized there were no shower facilities.

Anyway, this year I want to do something that will be very memorable to them. I decided to poll the parents to see what ideas they came up with and I'm even more confused now as to how to do this.

One question asked if they would prefer an overnight trip or a day trip. The majority of the parents of older children said an overnight or either. The majority of parents of the younger children chose the day trip.

The second question asked them if they would be willing to fundraise and that wasn't an issue at all--they all responded with yes.

The third question asked for suggestions. Only a few parents actually answered that but the of the ones who did, three of them mentioned amusement parks. I guess they don't realize that I can't do an amusement park with the kids just because. That it has to be educational. The previous teacher got away with it because they had a physics type activity on rollercoasters. One parent mentioned Disney World. Another parent suggested Florida.

Before I sent this home, I was thinking about a trip to the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL. It's fairly close to our location (3 hours) and they have some amazing overnight programs to choose from. I'm pretty sure showers are available so that shouldn't be an issue LOL

However, now I'm not sure. I am also not sure what to do about how many of the younger kids' parents don't want an overnight trip. I'm afraid if I divide the group into two separate field trips, though, the cost will go up much higher due to the charter bus price being split among fewer children. I have 17 students in grades 2-4 and 27 students in 5-8.

Any advice? Oh and it doesn't help that I was told I was thinking far enough "out of the box" for field trips by another teacher who used to teach gifted. She thought field trips overnight in caves and such would be more impactful on the students. I was thinking the space center was right up the gifted children's alley because it is problem-solving but also adventurous. Hmmm.

Ok, the year is just beginning--so no panicking yet, right? I would love any help you guys can give! Thanks!

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kevin On 8/16/09, Victoria wrote: > Would anyone like to share their favorite field trips?

I was initially going to discuss some off-the-wall field trips that might be interesting, but then I realized that there was no way that such a wide range of grades could all have a real intellectual stimulation that would justify doing a field trip. ...See More

Aug 18, 2009

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lbp I agree with the last poster. This seems more like a reward than something that is tied directly to the curriculum that you are studying at the time. Budget cuts at our school have completely eliminated the GT program. The fact that many people treated it like a "reward" for the kids who got good grades, definitely hurt when the decisions on what t...See More

Aug 20, 2009

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instructours On 8/20/09, lbp wrote: > I agree with the last poster. This seems more like a reward > than something that is tied directly to the curriculum that you > are studying at the time. Budget cuts at our school have > completely eliminated the GT program. The fact that many people > treated it like a "reward" for the kids who got good grad...See More

Aug 25, 2009

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instructours On 8/25/09, instructours wrote: > On 8/20/09, lbp wrote: >> I agree with the last poster. This seems more like a reward >> than something that is tied directly to the curriculum that you >> are studying at the time. Budget cuts at our school have >> completely eliminated the GT program. The fact that many people >> ...See MoreOn 8/25/09, instructours wrote: > On 8/20/09, lbp wrote: >> I agree with the last poster. This seems more like a reward >> than something that is tied directly to the curriculum that you >> are studying at the time. Budget cuts at our school have >> completely eliminated the GT program. The fact that many people >> treated it like a "reward" for the kids who got good grades, >> definitely hurt when the decisions on what to cut were made. >> >> At my school you would have to justify every single one of your >> stops with not only how it connected with the curriculum, it >> impact, and why you absolutely needed to go there. We have also >> cut field trips to the bone here as well. >> >> >> If there are any budget cuts at all happening at your school, I >> can see angry staff and parents.

Firstly, I am NOT a tour operator.

I have been a professional educational tour guide, based on the east coast, for several national and international student tour operators. I am simply 'fed up' with how little education is attached to these programs.

There is no reason that a student travel program cannot be educationally-centered and aligned with standards and curricula!

Unfortunately, most of the companies out there offer only generic packages which merely herd the students. Their literature indicates they are standards-based or accredited, but the reality: It is usually not reflected in the field!

I suggest you find a company that will work with your standards, curricula, teaching plans, objectives, and budget. If they are unable to provide a rationale for each stop in accordance with your district or school board's requirements, seek another company (there are a few out there).

A few smaller companies provide hands-on discoveries, reenactments, and other activities with a higher standard of service at the same cost as these so-called budget companies. They are usually run by former teachers and have low overhead and profit expectations. (I often work with a company owned by a curriculum developer.)

Some of the trips I design are for Title I schools and private schools with low enrollment and modest tuition. It can be done, even in this economy!

The effect travel has on these students is extraordinary; some have made positive life-changing decisions as a result of their experience. I have 25 years of wonderful stories!

Let's look at the annual student tour as a curriculum tool and recruit parents to start a booster club to raise funds, so all can travel.

Aug 25, 2009

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instructours On 8/16/09, Victoria wrote: > Would anyone like to share their favorite field trips? > > Quick background: I teach 2nd through 8th grade gifted at a > rural, low socio-economic, mainly minority school. I have > 44 students in our program this year. This is my second > year teaching gifted...last year I started off teaching 4th >...See MoreOn 8/16/09, Victoria wrote: > Would anyone like to share their favorite field trips? > > Quick background: I teach 2nd through 8th grade gifted at a > rural, low socio-economic, mainly minority school. I have > 44 students in our program this year. This is my second > year teaching gifted...last year I started off teaching 4th > grade but switched in September. My program is 1 hour > pullout for the most part (one class meets a bit longer on > some days and not at all on Wednesdays). > > I am looking for ideas on where to take them. And it's not > just trying to find a place to go--there are other choices > to be made. > > Year before last, the students went to Atlanta with the > previous teacher. It was an overnight trip where they > stayed in hotel rooms. They were able to see the Coke > museum, the MLK museum, the aquarium, and Six Flags. > > Last year, beign my first year, I took them to the Memphis > Zoo for a day trip. I originally looked into an overnight > at the Atlanta Zoo but the middle school students (and > parents *sigh*) balked when they realized there were no > shower facilities. > > Anyway, this year I want to do something that will be very > memorable to them. I decided to poll the parents to see > what ideas they came up with and I'm even more confused now > as to how to do this. > > One question asked if they would prefer an overnight trip > or a day trip. The majority of the parents of older > children said an overnight or either. The majority of > parents of the younger children chose the day trip. > > The second question asked them if they would be willing to > fundraise and that wasn't an issue at all--they all > responded with yes. > > The third question asked for suggestions. Only a few > parents actually answered that but the of the ones who did, > three of them mentioned amusement parks. I guess they > don't realize that I can't do an amusement park with the > kids just because. That it has to be educational. The > previous teacher got away with it because they had a > physics type activity on rollercoasters. One parent > mentioned Disney World. Another parent suggested Florida. > > Before I sent this home, I was thinking about a trip to the > Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL. It's fairly > close to our location (3 hours) and they have some amazing > overnight programs to choose from. I'm pretty sure showers > are available so that shouldn't be an issue LOL > > However, now I'm not sure. I am also not sure what to do > about how many of the younger kids' parents don't want an > overnight trip. I'm afraid if I divide the group into two > separate field trips, though, the cost will go up much > higher due to the charter bus price being split among fewer > children. I have 17 students in grades 2-4 and 27 students > in 5-8. > > Any advice? Oh and it doesn't help that I was told I was > thinking far enough "out of the box" for field trips by > another teacher who used to teach gifted. She thought > field trips overnight in caves and such would be more > impactful on the students. I was thinking the space center > was right up the gifted children's alley because it is > problem-solving but also adventurous. Hmmm. > > Ok, the year is just beginning--so no panicking yet, > right? I would love any help you guys can give! Thanks! >

Aug 25, 2009

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