Recommended Field Trips

Virtual Field Trips

National History Education Clearinghouse (NHEC)
A blog that lists several Virtual Field Trip Opportunities.

Windows into Wonderland
This Yellowstone National Park site has 17 video tours that cover geothermal, wildlife, and historical features of the park. The site is designed for students in grades 5–8 and includes an “Ask an Expert” component.

Onboard the Titanic
In “Onboard the Titanic,” students follow the path of one of five actual passengers to hear their story and find out whether they survived the tragedy.

Nova Online Adventure
In this NOVA Online Adventure, students navigate down through Khufu's pyramid to the burial chamber.

National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art includes an interactive kids' zone where students can view and sometimes modify famous works of art.

NASA
NASA has a wealth of resources, including the interactive feature “Taking a Virtual Tour of Titan,” which features continually updated views of Saturn's moon.

The Essential Skills for Field Trips

Language Arts

1. Reading – Strand 3 Concept 2 – Functional Text – Identify, analyze and apply knowledge of the purpose, structure and clarity and relevance of functional text. (Students may read about a site before or as follow-up to a field trip.)
2. Writing (Communicate effectively) – Strand 2, Concept 1 – Ideas and Content - Writing is clear and focused, holding the reader’s attention throughout. Main ideas stand out and are developed by strong support and rich details. Purpose is accomplished

Math

1. Estimation – Strand 1 Concept 3- Using estimation strategies reasonably and fluently while integrating content from each of the other strands.
2. Patterns – Strand 3 Concept 1 – Identifying patterns and applying pattern recognition to reason mathematically while integrating the content from each of the other strands.
3. Transformation of Shapes – Strand 4 Concept 2 – Applying spatial reasoning to create transformations and using symmetry to analyze mathematical situations.

Science

1. Process:  Strand 1 - Inquiry – Observations, questions and hypotheses.  Scientific Testing: Investigating and modeling.  Analysis, Conclusions and Communication.   Experimental design and evaluation.
2. History and Nature of Science: Strand 2 – Evaluating history of science as a human endeavor and the nature of scientific knowledge.
3. Science in Personal and Social Perspectives: Strand 3 – Evaluating changes in environments and Science and technology in society.
4. Product:  Strand 4, 5, & 6 - Content area knowledge, understanding, and evaluation.

Social Studies

1. Strand 1-2, Concept 1: Research Skills: Formulate questions that can be answered by historical, geographical study and research. 
2. Strand 1-2, Concept 1:Construct graphs, tables, timelines, charts and narratives from historical data
3. Strand 4, Concept 1: Construct and Interpret Maps
4. Strand 4, Concept 5 : Describe how humans can modify ecosystems
5. Strand 4, Concept 5:  Explain how modifications in one place (e.g. farming techniques, canals,  dams, industrialization) lead to changes in other locations.

Music

1. Strand 2 Concept 1: Relate: Understand the relationships among music, the arts, and other disciplines outside the arts. 
2. Strand 2, Concept 3:Relate: Understanding music in relation to self and universal themes.
3. Strand 3, Concept 1: Evaluate: Listening to, analyzing, and describing music.
4. Strand 3, Concept 2 : Evaluate: Evaluating music and music performances.

Art

1. Strand 2 Concept 1: Relate: Student will analyze and interpret contextual ideas, meanings, and purposes of art from diverse cultures and time periods.
2. Strand 2, Concept 1:Artworlds: Describe the role that art plays in culture and how it reflects, records, and interacts with history in various times, places, and traditions. Concept 2: Materials, Tools, and Techniques: Use materials, tools, and techniques in his or her own artwork.
3. Concept 4 : Meaning and Purposes: Express ideas to communicate meanings or purposes in artwork.

Physical Education

1. Standard 2: Students comprehend basic physical activity principles and concepts that enable them to make decisions, solve problems and become self-directed lifelong learners who are informed physical activity consumers.

Making the Most of Field Trips

Governing Board Policy

Field Trip Grant Opportunities

Dysart Education Foundation

Grants from Target

Target Grant Application site for 2009

Suggested sites and ideas for getting a Target Grant

Suggestions for Geological Field trips in Arizona

• Arizona Geology
• F.O.S.S. "Water"

Environmental Education Field Trips

• Grants
• Project Wet

Field Trips for Arts in Arizona with Funding suggestions

Other sources for school/teacher/funding for field trips

Character Counts grants