When you’re take the initial steps to plan a field trip, there’s plenty of ground to cover. Teachers can easily become overwhelmed with the tasks at hand – choosing dates, sending and gathering permission slips, and figuring out the best destination and activities. All of this is usually done in addition to their normal workload, so it can be a lot to take in. But what about the students? What do they need to do in order to prepare for an educational trip?
Teachers will need to be prepared to coach their students about how to get the proper documentation (parental permission, and medical waivers, travel documentation if necessary), suggest a budget for the money to cover expenses or costs, and offer a checklist of what items to pack along. In almost every case, it’s incredibly helpful for teacher to arrange for prep lessons for students, and sometimes a meeting for parents.
It’s also a good idea for teachers to cover certain subjects before taking the trip, such as history, politics, or culture. You can recommend different books or apps (electronics can offer a great deal of resources while on the go) that directly relate and stimulate students’ interest.
Need ideas to help your students prepare? In some cases, it may be as simple as asking your students what they want to learn. Without an open line of communication, it’s impossible to know which subjects they’re most interested in.
And if you need more ideas and tips to prepare for a field trip, get in touch with us. We’re always glad to hear from you!