Field Trip Tips

1) Prior Teacher Visit– Research the trip – Visit the site in person before the

trip– Look for things that you think will

wow the students – Take notes that will aid in creating

a student worksheet– Create GeoCaching sites

BEFORETHETRIP

Field Trip TipsWhat is GeoCaching?BEFORE

THETRIP

Field Trip Tips

1) Prior Teacher Visit– Personally meet with people that

will be student contacts – Discuss your students

• Class type• Grade level• Appropriate behavior

– Discuss your needs• Plan or create curriculum

BEFORETHETRIP

Field Trip Tips

2) Plan the trip with all stakeholders

– Ask for students input – Discuss ways to make the trip

FUN!• Plan scavenger hunts• Have prizes for good work

– Create grading and citizenship rubrics

BEFORETHETRIP

Field Trip Tips

2) Plan the trip with all stakeholders

– Discuss what will happen if there is trouble• Student behavior problems• Emergencies

– Have phone numbers needed

BEFORETHETRIP

Field Trip Tips

3) Create Prior Knowledge– Speak enthusiastically about your

own visit (Rev ‘em up!)– Explain WHY we are going on the

field trip– Make sure students understand

needed vocabulary and subject matter• Jeopardy Example

BEFORETHETRIP

Field Trip Tips

3) Create Prior Knowledge– Display or have students create

maps of where they are going• Create a connection between the

student’s place and the new site.• Allow students to orient themselves to

a new place.• Increase spatial perception ability

BEFORETHETRIP

Field Trip Tips

3) Create Prior Knowledge– Give students time for rehearsal

runs of any work that will be done• Run sample labs• Run sample observational skill

exercises• Make sure you have enough

equipment to make the trip enjoyable

BEFORETHETRIP

Field Trip Tips

4) Trip Logistics– Inform other teachers of who and

when the event will take place– Inform other teachers of why you

are going.• Ask them to “talk it up”• Create an atmosphere of interest

BEFORETHETRIP

Field Trip Tips

1) Logistics– Make students write down on their

worksheets meeting times– Make sure students know what to

do in an emergency– Use maps and kiosks to orient

students to the site– Have a manned “Safe Place”

DURINGTHETRIP

Field Trip Tips

2) Have fun– Make the student worksheet

interesting• Use some questions that are

“shocking”• Use scavenger hunts

– Helps eliminate copying– Have prizes

• GeoCaching• Have a mixture of question difficulty

levels.

DURINGTHETRIP

Field Trip Tips

2) Have fun– Make the student worksheet

interesting• Allow student to pick and choose from

a wide variety of questions.– True/False, Short Answer, Essay– Ask students to draw maps– Ask student to make labeled diagrams– Ask students to create photo essays– Open ended questions

DURINGTHETRIP

Field Trip Tips

3) Have Reflection Time– Journal Entry

• Superlatives– What was the coolest?– What was the strangest?

• Allows time for students to “detox” before getting back on the bus

DURINGTHETRIP

Field Trip Tips

1) Create Multimedia Presentations

– All group members present– Offer prizes (student voted)

• Most creative• Most informational

AFTERTHETRIP

Field Trip Tips

2) Data Analysis– Lab reports– Sharing of data

• Compare and contrast• Ask why about differences• Look for patterns and trends

AFTERTHETRIP

Field Trip Tips

3) Open ended Reflections

– Why did we visit the site?

AFTERTHETRIP