OK, so you’ve made the decision to take your class on a field trip. After surviving the school year thus far with carefully crafted lesson plans delivered on a white board and the occasional iPad to spice things up, you’ve realized it’s time to break down the classroom walls and take your students out into the great unknown so they can experience learning like it should be sometimes: hands on.
If step one is committing to the field trip, step two might seem daunting. Where in the world should you take your group of students to discover new knowledge? The possibilities are almost endless, which is why Yahoo! put together an A to Z guide to help you kick off your brainstorming session right. So put on your thinking cap and start weighing which trip is right for you and your students. Here are highlights from A to G.
A is for apple farm. A trip to your local apple farm can be a great chance to explain agriculture to your students. Want to make it a little less local? Head to Washington state to check out some of the largest farms around Seattle, or to New Hampshire, which boasts the largest and oldest apple orchard in the U.S. in Hampton Falls.
B is for Boston, Massachusetts. The Paul Revere House. The Boston Tea Party. The place where that book Make Way For Ducklings took place. This east coast town is the perfect destination to combine history and fun.
C is for Chicago, Illinois. This Midwestern city offers a wealth of must-see sightseeing options for school groups, including the Field Museum of Natural History, the Shedd Aquarium, Navy Pier, and the Art Institute of Chicago. Charter a double-decker trolley bus for your students, and check out President Obama’s neighborhood while you’re in town.
D is for Denver. Colorado’s largest city could be a physical education teacher’s dream field trip. After all, what better place could there be to teach your students to ski? Outside of the many ski areas near Denver are some other fine educational tools such as the Molly Brown House Museum (yes, the lady from the sinking Titanic), the Denver Art Museum, the Denver Zoo and a U.S. Mint to tour.
E is for Erie, Pennsylvania. So this might not seem like an obvious choice for a school field trip, but you’d be surprised what Erie, Pa. can offer to your lesson plan. Naturalists and environmentalists can find unlimited material to explore at Presque Isle State Park. The Erie Maritime Museum offers troves of information about the Great Lakes, including the famed Battle of Lake Erie.
F is for Fairbanks, Alaska. Ever wondered how Eskimos live? Why not head north with your students to discover a taste of Alaska. The area includes some of the most spectacular natural wonders around. If you hit the city at the right time of year, you can take in the Iditarod dog sled race, which captivates this state every year.
G is for Galveston, Texas. Moody Gardens is a highlight of this oasis by the sea, giving teachers a chance to teach their students about nature and horticulture. After a day of learning, nearby theme parks (and of course, the beach) could round-out the perfect field trip.
Check out the full A to Z list.