Think back to your childhood for a moment. What’s your favorite memory from your early education years? Was it the arts and crafts? Or was it playing on the playground with your friends? If you’re like me and so many others, it was hands-down the field trip we took as a class to the zoo. Field trips are so much more than entertaining outings, especially for preschoolers. They help provide young learners with experiences that stimulate their brains and foster curiosity in ways that time spent in the classroom can’t always compare to. Planning a successful, educational field trip isn’t as simple as picking the most exciting destination though.
A memorable experience comes from a well-planned trip that helps educate as much as it entertains. Let’s explore some of the different considerations you’ll need to make to help ensure your next field trip leaves a lasting impression on the preschoolers in your care!
The Benefits of Field Trips
Though field trips can be an absolute blast for students, education is usually priority number one. Luckily, most field trips can easily provide both learning and entertainment to your young attendees by engaging them in ways they may not otherwise experience in the classroom. These adventures offer opportunities for students with different learning styles such as visual, aural/auditory, and kinesthetic, to learn about certain topics in a way that truly speaks to them and helps them grasp the concepts presented.
The benefits of field trips don’t stop with education though, there are a wide variety of positives that children can take away from their experience. For example, social skills can be reinforced during your outing as students may speak with classmates they don’t normally engage with, or ask tour guides and speakers questions. Field trips are also a fantastic way to broaden children’s minds and expose them to new cultures and traditions outside their own.
Preparing Your Students
Lesson Plans
For your field trip to really have an impact on your preschoolers, try to make sure that your lesson plan leading up to it is related in some way. For example, if you’ve been learning about different kinds of animals in your class, a trip to the zoo would make an excellent follow-up so children can see and even touch some of the creatures in person!
Waivers and Permission Slips
You may already know that each child will need a permission slip to come along on your preschool’s field trip but how far in advance should these slips be sent out? Though you’ll want to keep the field trip top of mind for parents by sending out communications like newsletters or reminders to their phones if you use a mobile app at your child care center, in reality, the best time to send out your permission slips is as soon as you have the time, date and location of your trip finalized. This gives parents plenty of time to read and sign the document and any additional waivers that your destination may require for attendance. When it comes to keeping parents in the loop, more time to sign is always best.
Safety Plans
As with all moments in child care, student safety should be a priority. That’s why you’ll need to put together a safety plan ahead of your field trip detailing student allergies, modes of transportation, and procedures to take in case anything goes wrong. It doesn’t hurt to have plenty of first aid supplies on hand to prep for any minor cuts or scrapes either. If all goes well, you’ll never need to use your safety plan, but it’s imperative to have one in place and shared with all chaperones in case of an emergency.
Field Trip Ideas
With the benefits and preparation requirements in mind, it’s time to decide on your field trip destination. Regardless of your pick, make sure to call the location you’re considering or check their website to see if they can accommodate your group size and confirm they offer exhibits and activities that are age-appropriate for your preschoolers. Now, let’s take a look at some of the best educational field trip ideas out there!
Indoor Ideas - Great at any Time of Year
Museums
When it comes to educational field trips, it doesn’t get more classic than visiting a museum! There are a variety of specialized museums to choose from so you can ensure your trip is in sync with your teachings. For example, if you’re covering colors with your preschoolers, an art museum could be the perfect pick, or if you’re learning about weather, a museum of natural science may be better suited for your trip. Some areas even have children’s museums filled with activities that students can engage with while learning! When it comes to educational field trips, it doesn’t get more classic than visiting a museum! There are a variety of specialized museums to choose from so you can ensure your trip is in sync with your teachings. For example, if you’re covering colors with your preschoolers, an art museum could be the perfect pick, or if you’re learning about weather, a museum of natural science may be better suited for your trip. Some areas even have children’s museums filled with activities that students can engage with while learning!
Aquariums
Aquariums can truly spur the imaginations of your preschoolers as they get an up-close look at the fish and other sea creatures on display. Some aquariums even have a touch tank where children can physically and safely interact with certain aquatic animals, perfect for any young kinesthetic learners! Aquariums are a good choice for students learning about the ocean or if you’ve had any sea-related storytimes like “The Rainbow Fish”.
Planetariums
Are you planning on discussing stars or space in the coming weeks? A trip to a planetarium is your perfect field trip pairing. Planetariums provide guests with a chance to learn all about the cosmos around us in an educational and often interactive environment. This is a great choice to help instill a sense of wonder and interest in astronomy in your students at an early age.
Fire Stations
A visit to your local fire station provides preschoolers with the opportunity to learn all about fire safety and meet some hometown heroes in person. Many fire stations offer field trip tours of the facility where children can explore a fire engine, try on some firefighting gear for pictures and even enjoy a themed story, read by one of the firefighters themselves. Some fire departments will send a firefighter and fire truck to your child care center for children to meet and greet with. Afterward, the firefighter will usually do a presentation for kids in your classroom.
Libraries
Though your preschoolers may be a little too young to pick up and read books on their own, it’s never too early to showcase the wonders of your local library. Many libraries offer scheduled story times and even interactive activities for children to enjoy and learn from. A library trip is also a very budget-friendly option that could help ensure all of the children can attend.
Outdoor Ideas - A Good Option for Good Weather
Zoos
Similar to the aquarium, a trip to the zoo can be an educational and exciting experience where preschoolers can see the animals they’ve been learning about in person. They may even have the opportunity to touch or feed certain animals depending on the zoo’s offerings.
Botanical Gardens
Learning about plants is much easier when your preschoolers have real-life examples in front of them. Fresh air and wide open spaces filled with all kinds of beautiful flowers and other plants make for a memorable experience that will stick with your young students.
Nature Centers
The offerings of nature centers can vary greatly between locations but many of them incorporate elements of both zoos and botanical gardens with a focus on plants and wildlife native to their specific regions.
Farms
If you want your preschoolers to be able to meet every animal that Old MacDonald had, a visit to a local farm is a great choice for your field trip. Some farms offer tours to help teach children not only about the animals that live there but also about the crops and food that they produce. To help them learn about where their food comes from.
Virtual Options - No Travel Required
If for some reason your plans change due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, or a field trip just isn’t in the budget right now, virtual field trips are a fantastic option to explore. Many of the locations listed above offer virtual tours and exhibits so your students can get a look at animals, presentations, displays and more all from your classroom.
Whether your preschoolers end up observing their favorite animal at the zoo, exploring nature at the botanical garden, or finding their hero in a firefighter, each field trip offers valuable lessons that can help inspire them and ignite their interest in education. With some careful planning, you can ensure that your students go home having learned new and exciting things and made memories that will last a lifetime.
Parent communication plays an extremely important role in every field trip. If you want yours to go faster and more efficiently than ever in preparation for your next trip, try Jackrabbit Care! Our mobile app simplifies parent communication meaning less hassle and more time to focus on planning the perfect field trip. See for yourself with a free, 14-day, full-access trial!
