Cheap Middle School Field Trips

Ideas and Tips for Taking Students on Educational Excursions

Apr 11, 2009

In conjunction with a unit of study, a field trip can be a powerful teaching tool. The problem is the cost. Try these ideas to give students a memorable experience.

Taking students on a bus to a destination costs a great deal of money that many cash-strapped school just do not have. Try these cost effective field trip tips to get students out of the school building and experience a whole new world.

Walk to a Destination

If the school is in the city, consider taking field trips where students can walk to the destination. There are historical society museums, art museums and some communities boast a zoo. Also, students can walk to a local restaurant to eat lunch and to take a tour. Believe it or not, many students have not visited some of these sites due to their parent’s busy lives.

Go on Short Trips

Sometimes, schools will be able to provide buses for short trips, such as to a local university. Many students have not visited the local university for a tour. This type of field trip gives students a chance to see the campus from a future student’s point of view.

In addition, there is usually a park or a nature preserve within short driving distance. Generally, parks have staff which can help provide activities for students once they arrive.

Websites Offer Help

The Field Trip Factory offers help to find free or cheap field trips for students. There are field trips planned for health and wellness, animal habitats and responsibility, and field trips in the community. The website even offers field trip overviews, field trip materials, classroom activities and educational content.

For bus funding details, visit the Nestle Go Play website. Schools can redeem Go Play! points to help pay for hands-on educational field trips. Field trip bus funding takes 10,000 points. The Field Trip Factory Health and Wellness program has trips planned for healthy living and nutrition, physical fitness, meal planning, decision-making, animal care habitat and safety and personal responsibility.

Virtual Field Trips

If no funding is not available, teachers can try virtual field trips. The Middleschool.net website has a listing of virtual field tips from A-Z, such as A Time Travel into History, B-17 Flying Fortress Virtual Tour, Microbe Zoo or even World Safari. Students do not leave the building, but they can have a unique educational experience.

Field trips allow for memorable educational experiences for students. With schools tightening their belts due to the economy, teachers should not give up on going one. They just need to be a little more creative on arranging them.

The copyright of the article Cheap Middle School Field Trips in Middle School is owned by Kellie Hayden. Permission to republish Cheap Middle School Field Trips in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.