Field Trips

This is how all field trips should be! I took a small group of interested in students into the field to conduct a river health analysis. It was open to all students with the stipulation that there would be extra work and part of that work would be a small public speaking segment. The trip was free and the Patterson School was kind enough to provide some shelter for eating lunch. Mr. Lail also took a group of social studies minded students to Fort Defiance. Neither of us had any issues whatsoever. The students were engaged the whole time and were able to get the attention and assistance they needed. How many times do we go on a field trip and just herd cats the whole time. Not much learning is done, students are upset because they paid for a trip they didn't want to go on, and teachers are annoyed because of the extra running around. It's a lose-lose situation. Instead, offer multiple, customized field trips that the teacher and some students are interested in. Offer it to the students. If they don't go on this one, maybe they will go on a math or english trip later in the year. Maybe they will do a different science or ss trip. This style of trip allows unparalleled opportunities. Because you are taking smaller groups you have a more flexible schedule and can get places you can't go with 100+ kids. Here were the (informal) steps I took to make this happen. A) Have an idea "It would be cool if ____  B) Informally ask students in class and hallways if they would be interested in this. C) outline a plan, including assessments and commitments from stakeholders D) offer it to the students. E) take the trip. This opportunity was granted with a supportive admin and a ridiculously awesome group of students.