Great Planning = Great Field Trips
The time and effort spent planning a field trip pays off. Consider these steps:
1. Decide on the trip – If you haven’t decided where to go, talk to staff members and brainstorm possibilities. Research ideas, paying attention to cost, location, available times, and services offered. If there are multiple selections, consider getting student input. Talk to your principal.
2. Ask permission through proper channels – Explain curriculum connections, location, preferred date/time, and costs. Prepare necessary paperwork (e.g., forms for transportation or to secure funding through a school organization).
3. Organize the schedule – Allow adequate time to get to your destination, eat lunch if necessary, and return. Include activities that align with the trip’s purpose. Plan a variety of activities, possibly rotating groups, add time for restroom breaks. If the schedule changes for any unforeseen reasons, that’s fine. Just inform the chaperones and students (and administration, if needed) so everyone is on the same page and the trip runs smoothly.
4. Secure a food plan – Check out options and what works best for your class: bring a bag lunch and drink, purchase items at an onsite restaurant, or eat at an off-site dining facility. Factor in food quality and selections if eating out, cost, and the time element.
5. Arrange chaperones – Decide on the number of adults needed. Check with your principal to see if other staff members (e.g., teacher’s aide) can attend. You might have a list of parent volunteers to contact or send a note home. Divide students into small groups and assign to adult supervisors. Type up a master list.
6. Create a permission form – The letter should include details of where you are going, the purpose linked to the curriculum, departure/return time, contact information (school/staff member), food and transportation arrangements, list of suitable clothing and/or any items to bring, the cost, and date the forms should be returned. Add a place for parents/guardians to sign/date to give permission for the students to participate. Include room for a contact number in case of emergency or change of plans.
7. Decide on participants – There may be children who aren’t allowed to participate based on their behavior or another justifiable reason. Figure out a plan of supervision while you are gone. Have a backup plan for those who misbehave on the trip itself. Convey the consequences ahead of time to the students.
8. Link the trip to your curriculum – Find out what learning activities and personnel are available at the site if applicable. Decide on assignments or activities the students will complete before going, work that will be done on the trip, or afterward. Consider having students read or discuss topics related to the trip or pre-teach related vocabulary and concepts to build prior knowledge.
9. Miscellaneous tips – Bring a first aid kit and student medications as needed. Take a cell phone and the parent contact information. Pair up the students. Encourage them to bring suitable reading material for the travel time.
10. Use technology - Digital tools like the TravL App work well for connecting everyone on the trip. From the minute the bus leaves the parking lot until the bus returns count on TravL to make sure everyone knows where to be and when to be there. TravL features the trip schedule, complete roster, integrated messaging, and a photo gallery.