If you are in the teaching profession, you will already understand the need for regular field trips, as learning outside the classroom has been incorporated into the National Curriculum, and when planning such events, one needs to be sure that the venue is suitable. It would work to take your class to the zoo, for example, if you were teaching them about wildlife, or perhaps a museum, a place that is steeped in history, and by creating activities that can be completed at the venue, you are providing an essential component of project based learning. If you are about to plan next years curriculum and have no specific plans for your field trips, here are some ideas to help you make the right choices.
- Madam Tussauds – This world famous wax museum is a treasure trove of information, with look-alike models of just about every person who played a major role in human development. You could split your students into groups and each team must choose 3 famous people that they would like to learn more about. Wherever your school happens to be located in the UK, there will be a local coach rental company, and if they are established, they might be able to obtain group discounts on the admission fee.
- Sea Life – This London aquarium pretty much covers marine life, and there are so many subjects you can integrate into a trip to this amazing venue. The aquarium caters for school trips of all ages, and there are student packs available, which are graded for the teacher’s convenience. They hold talks at certain times during the day, and if you know the feeding times, you can really see how marine species eat. One theme for this venue could be eco-friendly approaches, and the knowledge your students gain will make them more aware of the need to preserve our fragile environment.
- The Natural History Museum – This world famous institution is a wonderful place for a school field trip, and many students who visit, come away with a renewed interest in history, thanks to the wide range of exhibits on display. Their website has free downloadable worksheets and print-outs for teachers, and this resource makes the field trip lesson planning a breeze. They list suitable activities for all age groups, allowing the teacher to prepare activities that are age appropriate, and with so much to see and do, you might want to assign your students the task of doing some online research prior to the visit. That way, they can spend more time looking at things that interest them.
Of course, you will need to source reliable coach hire, unless your school has their own fleet of buses, and once you have made the online booking for the class admission, you can focus on lesson planning. Should you have any difficulties locating a reliable coach provider, an online search will point you in the right direction.
