connecting field trips to curriculum

Research and common sense show that field trips are much more memorable, impactful, and effective when deliberately connected to classroom curriculum. Having clear ties to what you’re working on in class helps build student knowledge, while also making the entire curriculum more relevant. Use these tips to create a cohesive learning experience.

Identify your learning goals

Before planning your field trip or any of the supporting curriculum, ask yourself: What do I want students to gain from this experience? Do you have specific topics or concepts you’d like to address? Skills you would like students to practice? It’s important to identify these at the very beginning so that you can incorporate them into both field trip and classroom activities.

Identify 1-3 specific concepts or skills you would like students to become proficient in by the end of the unit. Think about how students will demonstrate achievement of these Learning Goals, and what education standards they meet. Then, identify which Learning Goal(s) each planned activity – both in the classroom and during your field trip – will support.

Download our Teacher Planning Page for Fieldtrip-Connected Curricula on our Planning Tools page.

Before your field trip

Classroom activities done prior to your field trip can serve several purposes:

• • Build knowledge of the concepts or topics they will explore during their field trip

  • Practice skills or use tools they will use during their field trip

  • Meet experts who can introduce the topics students are exploring

  • Introduce expectations and rules you wish students to follow during the field trip

  • Orient students to what they will see and do

During your field trip

Some ways you can actively support classroom work during the field trip:

• • Prepare an effective worksheet that incorporates Learning Goals and provides guidance for students about what to focus on (check out our How-To Guide on this subject)

  • Sign up for an education program that relates to your Learning Goals, if available

  • Enlist experts at the site to guide students, answer questions, or provide special opportunities such as career interviews or a private tour

NOTE: Not sure what learning opportunities your field trip site can provide? JUST ASK! Many sites welcome teachers who wish to work with them on special programs, and developing these relationships can help spark authentic student projects long into the future.

After your field trip

It’s important not to let the opportunity to continue learning slip away once you get back to class!

• • Review and reinforce what they learned during the field trip

  • Investigate questions that came up during the field trip

  • Build on the experience with related projects and experiments

  • Use it as a segue into the next learning unit!

Simple ideas for pre- and post-field trip activities

Before the Field Trip

• • Have students draw a picture of what they think the field trip site will be like and what they’ll see there. Use the drawing as an assessment tool by having students adjust their picture after the field trip.

  • Ask students to research the history of the field trip site and explain its significance in the local community.

  • Have students practice visual observation skills in the classroom or on school grounds by asking them to imagine themselves as alien visitors to Earth, then describe ordinary objects (such as a hairbrush, clothespin, blade of grass, etc.) in detail.

After the Field Trip

• • Have students select an animal or object to observe closely at the field trip site, then write a story or research report about it.

  • Ask students to invent a new species of animal, or a new version of an object or artifact they saw during their field trip. Have them build a model and give a presentation sharing why they think their invention is an improvement on the original.

  • Challenge students to research an age-appropriate conservation or social issue related to their field trip site, and ask them to come up with ways to prevent or mitigate this issue.

Additional Resources

Visit our Ocean Literacy Partnership Resources Library for activities, curriculum, and background information on a number of ocean topics.

See our Map of Lincoln County Field Trip Sites and Community Partners.

Contact Oregon Coast Aquarium’s Teacher Programs Manager for curriculum planning, field trip support, and help connecting to community partners.