Field Trips – Follow Up on the Fun!

Field trips can be so much fun for students, and they definitely provide unique opportunities for kids to discover new places and to experience real world learning.

But have you ever felt that your students had so much fun that they missed out on the learning? It’s discouraging to discuss the trip with your students later, only to discover that your students can’t answer the most basic questions about their learning experiences. I don’t believe in loading kids down with assignments when they are on field trips, but I do think students should be expected to learn something new that day.

Field Trip Follow-up Report Freebie

To help my students reflect on what they had earned during our adventures, I created a Field Trip  Follow Up Report for them to complete the next day. Here’s how I used it:

1. Before the trip, I showed the form to them and told them to be on the lookout for new ideas and information that they could write on this report later. I didn’t ask them to fill it out out during the trip because I knew they wouldn’t have time.
2. The next day, I gave each student a copy of the form. We spent a few minutes discussing the trip and letting students share with the class what they enjoyed and what they learned.
3. Finally, I provided quiet independent work time to give everyone the opportunity to draw a memorable scene from the trip and to write about what they had learned. If they were not able to finish during class, I allowed them to finish it for homework.

I have to admit that after the excitement of the trip, I really enjoyed that bit of quiet reflection time! The completed reports make a great bulletin board, too. You could easily turn this into a digital project by asking students to create a storyboard in PowerPoint or using a suitable app.

I created two variations of the Field Trip Follow-up Report, with the main differences being the the clip art and the amount of space between the lines. Both forms are available in color and black and white, so choose the option that works best for you.

Have you ever had your students tie-dye T-shirts to wear on a field trip? If you choose a class color, it’s a great way for you and parent volunteers to identify your students quickly in a crowd.  To learn more, read Boost Class Spirit with Tie-Dyed T-Shirts. Your students will love designing their own T-shirts, and this project will ensure a memorable and easy field trip!