7 Reasons Field Trips with Students are Fantastic
1. Get Paid to Travel
Let’s face it, sometimes traveling is challenging for a multitude of reasons from financial struggles to lack of time off. This problem is totally solved when you travel while you would otherwise be at work! It’s a win-win. You get to go on adventures and not use any leave time. Why wouldn’t you go?
If you work at a middle school like mine, you may even have the opportunity to do longer trips for multiple days. Usually Schools will pay you extra for this because you have to be there overnight. You literally get paid while you sleep. It’s a good gig if you ask me.
2. Bring Education Out of the Classroom
Study after study proves that hands on learning is the best learning. Field trips provide this opportunity. If you are a Science teacher like me, or even if you teach Language Arts, all field trips from the Zoo to a hike provide the ultimate classroom. Yes, you need to lesson plan ahead of time. I love the “Home Sweet Classroom” lesson planner that includes fun stickers. You can buy one on Amazon by clicking HERE. You also need to pack appropriately (yes, I’ll write about that also later) but other than that, the resources and beauty of the world is there just waiting to be experienced by your students.
3. Connect with Students Better
There have been times as an educator that I feel like the only time I’ve talked with a student is when they are in trouble. This is never my intention, it just happens sometimes. The amazing thing about field trips is that you connect with kids on a different level. You eat lunch with them, walk with them, and observe the world around you with them. This leads to conversations that you would not have time or opportunity for in the classroom.
On my last field trip, I talked with a student for about thirty minutes about why she loves llamas so much. I know this meant a lot to her because since then, she has really come out of her shell and participates more in class. It is like that with many students.
4. The Stinkers Become your All Stars
Many many students struggle at school. Some, like my son, are really hyper and impulsive while others shut down. An absolutely magical thing can happen with these teens the minute you step off campus. They thrive. They get to be active and show off what they know. They smile more and are happy to be leaders of the group. They even volunteer to be your assistant sometimes. This means you see who they truly are. You see them in a new light. You see that they aren’t so frustrating after all.
5. Show Them What you are Teaching About
It is one thing to teach about geology. It is a whole other thing to take students to a volcano! I get to take students to Mount St. Helens every year. This gorgeous caldera in Washington is well known due to its enormous eruption in 1980. I love watching students jaw drop when they see it for the first time. It’s almost like they look at me as if they finally believe what I am teaching. This feeling can’t be missed. It gives you the satisfaction and pride you got into this career for.
To learn all about amazing hikes around Mount St. Helens, I highly recommend the book, “Day Hiking Mount St. Helens.” Buy your copy from Amazon by clicking HERE.
6. Bond with your Coworkers
You know how they say that plane crash survivors have a connection that some people can’t form from life long friendships? Well, when you spend a week on an island with 30 eighth graders and six teachers, you kinda feel like that, in a good way of course.
On a smaller scale, even a day trip to a museum can seem like a grand adventure. I sat on the school bus with a new coworker for a couple hours. Our working relationship and friendship flourished just because we were stuck together with nothing else to do but get to know one another (and tell students to quiet down from time to time.)
7. You go Because it’s Fun!
This should go without saying but honestly, field trips are fun. Sometimes I really let my guard down and revert back to my teenage self. I laugh with students, joke around with students, and occasionally share snacks with students. I love playing games like Exploding Kittens with students which is much less dramatic than it sounds. Check it out HERE. Why? Because it’s fun and when I feel like a truly great educator.
Now that you know the benefits of field trips, I encourage you to plan one for your school or ask to attend one that is already planned. Trips really are one of the big perks of being a teacher and offer wonderful opportunities not only for students but for you as well! Let me know how your trips go in the comments! For more field trip and teacher tips, please subscribe to my newsletter.
