2. Field Trip Preparations

2. PreparationNow you’ve picked the perfect location for your trip, let’s think through all of the necessary preparations

Prepare Yourself Use concept mapping to web the

learning centered around the trip—exploring possibilities that the trip could take

Prepare Yourself Visit the site in advance

Get the lay of the land How will students of differing needs use it?

Find locations of the bathrooms Places for eating Spots to steer students away from

Identify focus areas and plan for activities during the trip

Meet important contact people for trip (if possible)

Plan students’ learning on trip Will they be using a guided sheet to…

Locate different types of plants in the conservatory?

Search for ingredients at the grocery store? Take observational drawings of airplane

wings at the museum?

Think about the learning you want to take place—Click to see an example.

Prepare Yourself

Prepare Yourself Plan for your chaperones

How many will you need, how many can you take (sometimes site-specific) Ideal Breakdown

How will you enlist them?- If too many, create guidelines- If not enough, enlist baby-sitters,

grandparents, your friends and family, etc.

Pre-K—K No more than 3:1 when possible1st—3rd No more than 5:1 when possible

Prep Yourself Think through behavioral guidelines for the trip

What do you expect students to do while on the trip—Keep them short, sweet, and in the affirmative

Examples:Hands and feet on trail. Observe plants. Use soft voices. Stay with group. (Guidelines for nature preserve)Bottoms on seats. Bodies to selves. Mouths quiet. Ears open. (Guidelines for symphony)

Prep Yourself Make sure you’ve completed the proper

school paperwork to go on the trip Alert all personnel who will be affected

by the trip Lunch staff (if eating on trip) Specials staff (if you’re missing gym,

music, etc.) Office Staff

Prep Your Students Use graphic organizers such as KWL

charts or concept mapping to help them prepare for the trip

Place the trip on your class calendar at the beginning of the month to prepare for

Talk up the trip and learn about what you’ll be doing on the trip in advance

Prep students for trip guidelines and practice them

The day before the trip… Go through the specific steps of the trip Go over guidelines again Show them whatever activity sheet/

activity they will be engaged with on the trip

Go over bus expectations Prepare them for their trip team and team

expectations

Prep Your Students

Prep Your Chaperones Plan to make things easier for them

Create chaperone bags that include books for reading to/ with their team on the bus

Include safety baggies so that they can be self-reliant on the trip (include tissues and basic first-aid like band-

aids, sanitizing wipes) Can be kept in a ziploc baggie—so simple!

Create chaperone sheets for each chaperone to help them be self-reliant on the trip Include the agenda, important numbers

(i.e. your cell phone and bus number to write in the day of the trip), map of field trip site, what they should do with their team, who is on their team

Check out an example here.

Prep Your Chaperones

Plan your teams of students intentionally and thoughtfully Match students up to their related chaperone and

then plan for easy partnerships for that chaperone

You/ other teacher/ school staff take the children who you predict will have the most difficulties on the trip

Create a roll call roster to help you keep track of teams and chaperones

Check out an example here.

Prep Your Chaperones

Now, you’re

ready to go on the

trip!