Field trips are an essential school experience. You usually only get one or two a year, so getting it right is important! Our roundups of unique field trip ideas have something for every age, subject and interest. We even have resources like permit forms and escort tips. Get ready to leave the classroom to learn on the go!
Ideas for field trips for preschoolers
Early field trips help children learn about the world and teach them good behavior on field trips. These are our top picks for the Pre-K audience, but many of the options on our kindergarten list are perfect for this age group too.
- Library: Not every student’s parents take him to the reading session. Plan your own trip and show your kids that it’s not hard to have fun when you have a library card!
- Farm: Whether you’re learning how to grow vegetables or where milk and eggs come from, the farm is always a hit.
- Grocery Store: Get a behind-the-scenes look at the supermarket and use this trip as the basis for healthy eating lessons.
- Park: From local playgrounds to majestic national parks, it always pays to take kids to the great outdoors.
- Children’s Museum: Most children’s museums were designed for this age group! You’ll love all the hands-on fun and excitement.
- Post Office: Learn how mail is sorted and sent, and teach students about postage stamps and other postal-related items.
- Bank: Money is a new concept for these kids and they will be fascinated to enter the vault and learn other banking secrets.
- Fire station: There is just something about a fire truck that every child gets excited about.
- Nursing Home: Is there anything better than watching seniors and little ones spend time together?
- Animal Shelter: For kids who don’t have pets at home, this can be a good introduction to the world of animals. Others just enjoy spending time with dogs and cats that are waiting for their homes.
Ideas for field trips to elementary school
Source: @mjdstoronto
These are the best excursion years! Here are our favorite trips for each class.
Ideas for field trips in middle and high schools
Source: @salinasvalleybasingsa
You need to step up your game a bit for this age group. (You’ve probably been to the zoo, aquarium, and art museum.) Try some of these places that offer educational, social-emotional, and real-life learning opportunities.
- Main Event Play Academy: With locations across the country, this oversized arcade isn’t all fun and games. They also have Play Academy, an accredited STEAM curriculum that offers a range of fun and educational field trips. For example, students can apply the scientific method to bowling to conduct experiments, practice percentages and fractions through pizza and toppings, learn Newton’s first law of motion by playing air hockey, and more.
- Food Bank: Host a food drive, then organize a trip to your local soup kitchen or pantry. Volunteering makes for truly meaningful field trips.
- Recycling Facility: At a time when reducing landfill waste is more important than ever, a visit to a recycling facility can help get the message across.
- Theaters: Many theaters offer behind-the-scenes tours for schools and discount prices if you buy tickets in bulk. (Want to go virtual? Check out the Hamilton Education Program!)
- Community College: Parents sometimes take children on college visits, but a community college trip offers even more students the opportunity to gain higher education.
- TV stations: This fascinates children who are interested in communication or technology.
- Courtroom: There is no better way to understand the justice system than to see it in action.
- State or District Capital: Each government class should visit a local capital to meet with officials and see how the government works.
- Local Business: This can be a cool way to learn about running a business, working with customers, or making products.
- Wildlife Rehabilitation Facility: Introduce students to the people who help injured wildlife recover and live free again.
Virtual field trips ideas
Source: @edtech_tusd
The great thing about virtual field trips is that they eliminate so much hassle. No need to collect permit slips, organize buses or recruit escorts. Plus, they’re usually free!
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