Field trips provide the opportunity to connect abstract classroom learning to real-world experiences. The importance of field trips cannot be underestimated. If students are able to make real-world connections to classroom learning, the learning takes on significance, and directs the students attention and engagement. If the students are engaged, meaningful learning can start to take place. Of course, there are classroom activities that make real-world connections such as guest speakers, photography, multi-media technology, literature and personal reflection in writing and art. But, field trips are exceptionally important for two basic reasons. First, the shared experience of a field trip allows for the students to reflect together on common experience and enhance learning beyond the personal connections each student was able to make. Second, the felt quality of experience is stored and processed in different areas of the brain which allows for greater over all integration of understanding in different ways. Students attention is drawn to the sounds, smells and textures of the real world which allows for more powerful connections and retains in memory more significantly than the spoken word.
I have organized one field trip per month this year, and all of the field trips are organized around the theme of water as is a great deal of the classroom instruction. The students have also been learning how to take photographs on the field trips with the purpose of capturing salient ideas and images. The photographs are downloaded by the students onto the classroom computers and act as a catalyst for written reflection, group discussion and art work.
The following is the photography from our field trips:
Capilano River and Salmon Hatchery
Vanier Park Shoreline Clean-up
Lynn Canyon Park - Water Quality
The following is student artwork and projects inspired by field trips:
Landscapes - Water in 3 States - Lynn Canyon/Vanier Park
Reifel Estuary Connections
There will be more field trips this year, and all will be connected to the theme of water. I hope that this account given at this mid-year point in the school year highlights the importance of field trips to this group of students. I also hope this account shows that meaningful connections and learning happen in the classroom when field trips are regularly connected to curriculum.