Looking back at your school years, there’s no doubt that field trip days were some of the best. The opportunity to get out of the classroom is a great way to create memories, reinforce classroom learning and strengthen relationships.

Many benefits of field trips

Stepping out of the classroom for a class field trip is a fantastic way to supplement classroom lessons and help students have fun while learning. There are a number of benefits that students will experience, including:

They encourage engagement

Although teaching in a classroom is the standard method for educating children, learning is about more than just memorizing facts and information. Taking students on a field trip to a place where they can actually witness and engage with the topics they’re studying is often very beneficial. Hands on learning is a better way for information to sink in and be remembered for kids of all ages. This also helps students learn the ‘why’ behind much of what they learn, which can help information to be retained.

Experience academic improvement

A recent study has shown that students who regularly take educational field trips are more likely to have better grades, higher graduation rates and a greater income once they become an adult. Field trips reinforce classroom learning and create more confident students, which translates to increased confidence in their schoolwork.

Provide real-world learning

When students are allowed to experience their learning objectives in the real world, they are more likely to feel an attachment to the topic. Reading about how a farm operates, the details of war history or the importance of a piece of artwork can be uninteresting for many kids, however visiting farms, museums and art galleries to experience things firsthand can make them feel more relatable. Students who can relate to the topics they’re learning about are more likely to retain information about them.

Encourages social development

Interacting with fellow students, parent volunteers, and destination representatives while on a field trip can provide valuable learning opportunities for a child. Learning how to take turns asking questions, listening to adults that aren’t usually in their space, and being respectful towards the location and its’ representatives are all experiences that they probably wouldn’t get when sitting in a classroom.

Allow for a break from the classroom

It’s no secret that classroom learning can be tiring, especially when the weather is calling for kids to come out and play. Taking a field trip helps to give kids a break from the classroom and reenergizes their interest in learning, regardless of where you take them.

Allows teachers to recognize their students’ strengths

When teachers only spend time with their students in the classroom, they likely don’t have the opportunity to really get to know their strengths in the real world. Taking kids out of the more regimented school system will allow teachers the chance to see their strengths and weaknesses firsthand. This knowledge can help teachers to cultivate a stronger relationship with their students, leading to a better learning process.

Planning a field trip is easy

Once a teacher has decided where they’d like to take their students, planning a field trip isn’t a difficult process.

  • Contact the facility to choose a date and a program
  • Decide what learning objectives the field trip can compliment or achieve
  • Contact a bus company to arrange transportation
  • Line up parent helpers
  • Create some assignments surrounding the field trip objectives
  • Have fun!

Learning should involve fun

Although it’s easy to get in the mindset that kids should focus on homework and books, there’s no denying that kids learn better when they are having fun. Field trips are a great way to combine both. The fun that kids have during a school field trip is a great way to make learning relevant, fun, and engaging. Once you’ve chosen a destination that compliments the lesson plan, all you have to do is book a school bus and start planning activities!