That special field trip you’ve painstakingly planned for months is fast approaching. You’ve double- and triple-checked nearly everything on your list to make sure the out-of-school excursion will be a success. But even though you’ve done nearly everything imaginable logistically — from receiving administrative approval to collecting money from parents to developing a schedule — how will your students behave during the trip? Don’t leave your students’ behavior to chance. Prepare them to behave as though they’re eating a holiday dinner with their grandparents.
1) Discuss how to ask appropriate questions
2) Assign each student a partner
3) Keep students engaged throughout the entire trip by assigning them specialized roles or tasks
4) Talk about good behavior and reward students who interact positively with those around them during the trip
5) Explore the area on the Internet before leaving
6) Allow breaks during the trip for students to share what they think and how they feel about what they’ve seen
Keep in mind the importance of mental preparation with your students. Review schedules and activities before the field trip. Consider that several of your students may have different expectations about how to behave away from school among their peers. Don’t be afraid to warn students about the consequences of poor behavior during the trip.