In class last week we were talking about the importance of interactive learning. Kids seem to pay more attention and get more out of lessons when it is relevant to them or things they are interested in. Keeping their brains and their bodies active seems to me like the best way to teach and learn. This got me thinking, not necessarily of the younger students, but the students in 7th and 8th grade and certainly the high school students...why do they get passed on field trip opportunities?
I can remember learning about pumpkins and Halloween and then going to a pumpkin patch and seeing first hand the whole growing process that went into our fun Halloween traditions. Or learning about fishing and the spawning of salmon and then going to a fish hatchery and seeing all the live fish swimming up the ladders to get home and spawn. Or reading a novel and then going to see a play after to get a different perspective on the same piece of literature. All of these things contributed to my learning of all subjects in a fun and engaging way, then one day it all stopped.
So, my question is why do we stop going on field trips? Is it an issue of money, or do we think that field trips are only beneficial to the younger students? If we are thinking the latter, why?
These are great questions to bring up about opportunities for interactive learning outside of the classroom. I agree that field trips give students a great chance to connect their learning to the outside world. I'm sure money does have a lot to do with the limited number of field trips available in middle and high school classrooms. If this is the case, there are still many great free activities you could do outside the classroom walls. A biology unit could easily be enhanced by going on a nature walk and collecting leaves, twigs, insects, etc. to explore under microscopes. A social studies or civics class could benefit from again walking outside the school and exploring the neighborhood. Depending on where the school is located, there may be many different, valuable places for students to visit within walking distance. Another example could be taking geometry students outside to observe natural geometric patterns. The teacher could assist the students in finding naturally occurring parallel lines in blades of grass or different types of angles in the branches of trees. This would require creativity on the parts of both the teacher and the students, but could have huge impact on learning. I would love to hear about all of the different things students observe in situations like this.
ReplyDeleteIf money is the issue and there is a perfect field trip destination in mind further than walking distance from the school, I don't see why teachers couldn't lead a fundraising activity to pay for the trip. This has the potential of not only providing the students a great opportunity for the field trip but many great lessons associated with overcoming obstacles, being resourceful and working together on a common goal. Students could learn about math and graphing while collecting money, they could incorporate different subjects into whatever their fundraising project is...maybe it's an art show, where they auction off recent art projects or maybe it's an event they plan together, create flyers or evites for and make all of the neceassary arrangements.
I strongly agree with you about the increased potential for learning associated with interactive activities, especially field trips. I think this requires teachers to constantly "think outside the box" and get creative with whatever resources are available to them.
I also agree that classes should connect their learning to the outside world - and what better place to do that than to actually get outside the classroom. It's true we can invite guest speakers to share their experiences, but the teacher and students might brainstorm together to come up with opportunities within walking distance of their school.
ReplyDeleteThe elementary school in my neighborhood has an end-of-the-year party each year at a park close by. The students all walk to it, but because it is off school property, it is a very special time for them. It wouldn't be difficult for them to go there other times of the year for other activities, like study the environment. They could take a sketch pad and begin to draw; they could take a magnifying glass and begin to discover; they could take a nature walk and explore. The potential increases when you begin to see outside the box, or should I say classroom.