virtual science field trips 3rd grade

• Grades 6-12
• School Leaders

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3 Incredible Science Field Trips That Don’t Require Permission Slips

Perfect for grades 3–8; watch them in your classroom, any time!

Want to take your students on a virtual field trip? You’re in luck! Check out these incredible, free trips from Nature Works Everywhere .

Can you imagine what it would be like to see a giant panda cub climbing a tree in China? Or watching a giraffe gallop through the grasslands in Kenya? My students would be enthralled. There’s something magical about letting them experience a place far, far away, where they can learn not only about the animals and their homes but also about science and geography.

Below are three virtual field trips we can’t get enough of. Watch these 45-minute videos with your class—any time! They’re perfect for grades 3–8, and each includes a teacher’s guide packed with discussion questions and more. Check them out below.

1. The Deserts and Grasslands of Africa

Head to Africa with scientist Charles Oluchina, where you’ll discover the importance of grasslands and learn how ecotourism in Kenya has benefited both people and wildlife. Students will see giraffes, lions, and elephants; the footage will make you feel like you’re on safari! You’ll also visit Burkina Faso and learn how one farmer invented an ingenious method to help restore forestlands that had been lost to desertification. Get a sneak peek below and then watch the full virtual field trip here .

2. China’s Great Forests: What the Giant Panda and Earth’s Climate Share

Do you know what a takin is? It’s a goat-antelope found in the eastern Himalayas. You’ll get to see some, along with golden snub-nosed monkeys and giant pandas, when you go on a virtual field trip to China’s forests. Expert scientist Yue Wang will explain the role forests and mountains play in the carbon cycle and climate change, and students will get a better understanding of just how important habitats are for both people and animals. Watch the full field trip here .

3. The Coral Reefs of Palau: Nature’s Amazing Underwater Cities

Underwater cities—sounds intriguing, right? The coral reefs of Palau, a network of islands in the Pacific Ocean, are just that. Dive into the water and explore the colorful reefs. Students will learn about the interconnected ecosystem built on symbiosis, where diverse organisms have evolved to protect, clean, nourish, and even mimic one another. It’s spectacular! Watch the full field trip here .

Check out our Best Field Trip Ideas for Every Age and Interest (Virtual Options Too!)

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260+ Field Trip Ideas for Grades Pre-K Through 12 (In-Person and Virtual)

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Virtual Hands-On Science Field Trips

For reservations, call 810-237-3409.

Whether you’re teaching remotely or in the classroom, we can virtually present interactive science content to your kids. Activity kits include all the materials for fun, hands-on exploration that aligns with state standards.

⭐ Virtual Field Trips for Classroom Learning: Programs marked with a gold star are available as virtual experiences for in-person learners in their classrooms.

🟢 Virtual Field Trips for Remote Learning: Programs marked with a green circle are available as virtual at-home experiences for remote learners.

Grades Pre-K & K What’s the weather like? Design a weather report folder to use for observing and describing the weather. Students will see how weather affects our daily lives while drawing clothes on their weather bears. NGSS: K-ESS2.D

Grade K Students will build their own terrarium to take home while investigating living and non-living things. NGSS: K-LS1-1, K-ESS3-1, K-ESS3-3, 1-LS1-1

⭐🟢 Moon Phases

Grade 1 Make a glow in the dark moon phase book that will help kids explore the predictable pattern of the shapes of the moon we can see on Earth. NGSS: 1-ESS1-1

Grades 1-3 What makes sound? Students will find out as they investigate vibrations, pitch and loudness with fun hands-on activities. NGSS: 1-PS4-1, 1-PS4-4

⭐ Build Your Own Ecosystem

Grades 1-6 Investigate ecosystems and the water cycle, and learn what living things need to survive. Students will build an independent ecosystem to take home. NGSS: 1-LS1-1, 2-LS2-1, 4-LS1-1, 5-LS1-1

⭐🟢 Landforms

Grades 2-3 Explore Earth! Students will use clay to sculpt mountains, valleys, plains, plateaus, and other major landforms. Investigate where on earth these landforms can be found and what forces help shape our world. Discover the many different landforms that are located in our very own state of Michigan! GLCE: E.SE.02.21, 3-G1.0.1, 3-G1.0.2

⭐ Fossil Science

Grade 3 Make a plaster fossil model to take home and touch real fossils, while learning how fossils are formed and how they provide evidence of life long ago. NGSS: 3-L24.A

⭐🟢 Build-A-Buggy Challenge

Grade 3 Students will investigate how the shape of a vehicle affects its ability to move through the air. Design and build an aerodynamic buggy and then use a ramp and fan to see how far the buggy can travel. NGSS: 3-PS2-1, 3-PS2-2

⭐ Amusement Park Science

Grades 3-5 Students will explore forces and motion, while re-creating some of their favorite amusement park rides. Find out why you don't fall out when a ride goes upside down. Investigate contact and non-contact forces, while designing a tabletop marble roller coaster. NGSS: 3-PS2.A

⭐🟢 Moon Phases & Eclipses

Grades 4-6 Students will make a glow-in-the-dark moon phase book and an eclipse project while exploring the motion of the Earth and Moon. NGSS: 5-ESS1.B

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6 Free Resources for Virtual Field Trips

Teachers can use panoramic photos and videos of locations all around the world to make lessons more engaging.

How can you take students around the world without moving very far? If you haven’t yet, it’s worth trying virtual field trips and excursions. Now more than ever, these resources allow students to experience spaces they might not otherwise get to see, and there are many ways to introduce them to students as they explore a topic.

Virtual field trips can help students explore a new space, build vocabulary and background knowledge, and expand their world view. Whether you want to explore the setting of a novel, introduce a place-based math problem, or make connections to current events, virtual field trips can expand upon traditional lessons in many ways. One of the reasons I love them so much is that they allow students to view a space that piques their curiosity and provides context for their learning.

The term virtual field trip can be used to describe not just 360 degree photos and videos but also the live interactions and video conferences you might set up with a subject matter expert like an author or museum docent. Flipgrid (one of my favorite tools) hosts a handful of these types of virtual field trips .

6 Ways to Set Up Virtual Field Trips

The list of free virtual field trip resources here is adapted from my ISTE Live presentation in December 2020. Students can access these resources without logging into a new website—teachers can post the link to a 360 degree panoramic image or interactive experience in a platform students already use, making it easy for them to access in both traditional classroom settings and at home.

1. AirPano : This site includes 360 degree videos and images from around the world. You aren’t required to create an account—you can just jump in and start searching. When you’re ready to share with students, there is a link you can copy and paste or an embed option if you’re adding a widget to a site of resources. If you’re looking for international locations, AirPano is a great choice for exploring outdoor spaces, including Machu Picchu in the daytime, or the northern lights at night.

2. Google Maps Treks : In combination with Google Maps and Earth, Treks organizes content in an easy-to-navigate way. There are Treks for places around the globe, including the U.S. and Canada, Egypt, Nepal, and India. Each one has information and videos for students to explore.

3. National Geographic : National Geographic’s YouTube channel transports students all over the world to learn about different cultures, foods, animals, and more. Have students press play on the video, and as the video begins, they can use their cursor or trackpad to spin the video in different directions. They can tap on one part of the screen to move the video back and forth as they learn about a new place.

4. Nearpod : Known as an interactive presentation tool, Nearpod has virtual reality content built into its platform in the form of 360 degree panoramic views, which can be used as a great pre-reading strategy to introduce a new book or spark discussion about a social studies or science topic. To use these interactive experiences with your students, insert them into any Nearpod lesson in the same way you would add a slide or poll. (Please note: Nearpod also offers a paid plan with additional amenities.)

5. 360Cities : This collection of stock 360 degree images has lots of user-uploaded resources. There is a special school version that allows you to introduce students to more dynamic learning experiences; it has features such as a guided tour creator.

6. Google Arts and Culture :  This tool has a variety of high-quality content, including interactive views that let students walk through notable spaces such as museums and explore examples of beautiful architecture like the Alhambra in Spain. You can let students know that this resource is mobile-responsive in addition to working on a web browser—they can access the content on a smartphone or tablet, or their Chromebook or laptop.

Engaging Students With Guided Questions

Set a purpose for students as they explore these resources by using prompts to guide their excursions. Potential prompts include:

• What do you think the weather is like in this place?
• How do you think someone captured this moment?
• What might be missing from this shot?

I’ve put together more prompts here .

If building student vocabulary is a primary goal of introducing virtual field trips to your students, you can point out different objects in the panoramic views or ask students to find certain features. For example, imagine students are learning about geological features and you take them on a virtual field trip to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Together you can discuss vocabulary like crater , steam vent , and igneous rocks .

When sharing with students, include a prompt or question and post the link and task into a space they already have access to, such as Google Classroom, Seesaw, or Schoology. If you’re sharing a list of resources for students, colleagues, or families that includes some of these virtual excursions, you might curate a list of favorites using a tool like Google Sites, Spark Page, or Microsoft Sway.

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Virtual Field Trips

Explore the World with Virtual Field Trips

Designed for ages 9-15 but customizable for all ages, virtual field trips allow students to travel the world and explore natural environments without leaving the classroom. Each virtual field trip contains a video, teacher guide and student activities.

Working Trees: Reforestation and Responsible Forestry

Forests represent a powerful opportunity to pull carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, helping to cool our planet while also providing clean air, clean water, and habitat for wildlife.

Less Harm on the Farm: Regenerative Agriculture

Food is more than something we eat to survive; it's a part of how we thrive. Learn how regenerative agriculture can help us feed a growing population while restoring nature.

Climb-It Change

Explore how climate change is impacting alpine ecosystems and go on a climbing adventure with scientists who take you to some of the most stunning mountain ranges in the United States. This film is a Rocket Soul Studios production.

Protecting Our Oceans and Ourselves

More people rely on our ocean for food, energy, transport, recreation and other natural resources than any other time in history.

Climate Heroes: The Power of Trees

Trees are our climate superheroes! From Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States to St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean, trees are playing critical roles in cleaning our air and improving our resilience in the face of climate change.

You’re the Scientist! Citizen Science, Frogs and Cicadas

The conservation community relies heavily on volunteers not only to restore natural areas but to help gauge the success of restoration efforts.

Changing Climate, Changing Cities

Get a front-row, ground-level seat to the challenges cities face as they confront this force of nature, and discover the solutions experts are promoting to mitigate it.

The Secret Life of Corals

Learn how fragile reefs are being damaged by human activity and climate change, and how scientists are developing ways to restore corals.

Borneo: The Symphony of the Rainforest

On this journey, we’ll learn how experts are using cutting-edge science to find out how healthy the rainforest is—and to discover where it needs some help!

View from a Canoe

Can you imagine a place with 100 million acres of forest and 30,000 miles of coastline? It exists. The Emerald Edge is home to the largest intact coastal temperate rainforest.

Wild Biomes: America’s Rainforests & Deserts

Two wildly different ecosystems, both dependent on the same precious resource: Water. On this virtual field trip, we’ll travel to Seattle and Arizona.

The Coral Reefs of Palau

Join our expert scientist, marine biologist Stephanie Wear, on a virtual field trip to the coral reefs of Palau where you'll explore amazing underwater cities.

China’s Great Forests

Join our expert scientist Yue Wang, a conservation planning officer for The Nature Conservancy, on a virtual field trip across the world to two stunning provinces in China.

Powering the Planet: Renewable Energy

Join scientist Alex Wegmann as we embark on a Virtual Field Trip to explore a compelling question: How can we get the energy we need without harming nature?

Journey of Water: Colombia’s Páramo

In this virtual field trip, we will explore the magical páramo ecosystem and the stunning mountain landscapes found just beyond the capital city of Bogotá.

Peru: A Coastal Ecosystem

Join fisheries scientist Matias Caillaux to explore the Humboldt Current Ecosystem off the coast of Peru while learning about the area’s amazing diversity and productivity.

Ridge to Reef: A Virtual Field Trip to Hong Kong

The “Ridge to Reef” (R2R) concept is a holistic approach that takes into consideration all the environments within a watershed — from the top of the mountains down to the ocean — and shows that what happens on land affects what happens in the water.

Stay connected for the latest resources from Nature Lab

Don't miss new Nature Lab teaching guides and videos. Sign up to get the monthly Nature Lab newsletter with free environmental education materials for educators and families.

Explore Our Youth Curriculum

Access resources aligned to The Nature Conservancy’s research and designed specifically for a young audience and classroom use.

Science Fun

Schedule In-School Schedule “On Demand” Call: (919) 460-5800 Email: [email protected] Below you will find 3rd Grade Science Field Trip Programs. Each program lists the Science Standard that is covered.

Virtual program experiments and activities may vary slightly -but guaranteed to be fun, engaging and meet curriculum standards.

Motion Commotion (VIRTUAL or In-School) Learn what gets us moving! Junior Physicists will separate fact from fiction as we experiment with friction. Chemically concoct magnetic mush and build a “centripetal force simulator”.  See for yourself how forces can change the speed and/or direction of experiments! Essential Standard: 3.P.1.1, 3.P.1.2, 3.P.1.3:  Understand motion and factors that affect motion.

Virtual Field Trips

Visit new places and learn from wherever you are.

Virtual Field Trip Videos

Learn and explore with the Michigan Learning Channel! Find a video below and discover a new place to visit.

• 9th - 12th Grade
• Kindergarten
• 21st Century Skills
• 30 Days of Clay
• AADL Storytimes
• Career Chats
• Career Girls
• Cartoon Academy
• Classroom Connection
• Classroom Connection ELA
• Curious About Careers
• Curious Crew
• DIY Science Time
• Extra Credit
• Family Math
• Free Writes
• Future of Me
• Future of Work Collections
• Great Lakes Now
• Illustrative Math
• InPACT at Home
• Let's Learn
• Live from the Opera House
• Math Mights
• Math Mysteries
• Meet the Helpers
• Mindfulness Moments
• On Location With MLC
• Partner Content
• Read With Me At Home
• Read, Write, ROAR for Parents
• Read, Write, ROAR!
• Reading ELD
• RWR Preschool
• Simple Gift Series
• Special Programs
• Story Pirates
• The Career Center
• The Good Eggs
• The Nap Time Show
• Visual Thinking Strategies
• Wild Hope Shorts
• Wimees Words

On Location at The Silver Beach Amusement Park

Take a trip into the past and learn all about St. Joseph's historic Silver Beach Amusement Park.

On Location at The Shadowland Ballroom

Learn how the the Shadowland Ballroom in St. Joseph, Michigan served the community with music and dancing. Then learn how the ballroom still lives on at Silver…

On Location at a Detroit Historical Archaeology Site

Learn about the 7 Grandfather Teachings by taking a visit to the Ziibiwing Center in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

On Location with the Ziibiwing Center

On Location with the Marquette Harbor Lighthouse

Take a trip with Alexis Dahl to the Marquette Harbor Lighthouse. Learn about how lighthouses work and their fascinating history.

On Location with the Maritime Museum

Alexis Dahl takes us on a tour of the Maritime Museum in Marquette, Michigan. Learn all about how Lake Superior has impacted the lives of almost every Michigan…

On Location With the Castle Museum - Timber

Learn about the history of the timber industry in Michigan by visiting the Castle Museum in Saginaw, Michigan.

On Location With the Castle Museum - Automotive Production

Learn about the Castle Museum's Automotive Production exhibit.

Bring your curriculum to life with Virtual Field Trips.

Take your K-8 students on a learning experience they’ll never forget, without even leaving the classroom.

Every teacher wants to be the one their students remember forever.

But things like budget cuts and bigger classrooms stand between teachers and the education they want to give their students.

Virtual Field Trips bridges the gap between your curriculum requirements and your resources so every teacher can give every student the memorable education they deserve.

Students' favorite teachers are using Virtual Field Trips.

Here’s why:.

“I teach socioeconomically disadvantaged 9th graders who are 2 to 3 years behind in their reading and writing. Virtual Field Trips are the best way to give my students something to write about.

We do one each Monday and they love them! They always ask me, “Where are we going today?””

“My 6th grade students are always excited to learn through Virtual Field Trips. The videos are so engaging and informative.

I don’t have time to learn new technology, so I love how easy it is to use Virtual Field Trips!!!”

“Virtual Field Trips has been such a blessing to my students and me. The theme in my classroom is ‘travel.’ Thanks to VFT, the pandemic couldn’t stop us from having weekly field trips.

Our virtual field trips are the highlight of each student’s week. This was by far one of the best purchases I made this year.”

Teach your students something they'll never forget

Support each and every student.

Some students need a little extra help to learn well. Our interactive videos and activities help you overcome physical, cultural, and economic challenges, so no student is left behind.

Cover your social studies curriculum in less time.

We design each video and activity to help you meet social studies, geography, life science, and ancient civilization curriculum requirements in each U.S. state.

Grow your students into global citizens.

Take your students on unlimited educational field trips throughout North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

“There are so many topics included in their library that we study in the Primary School that it is well worth buying into and the children were mesmerized from the moment they began watching. The images were bright and colourful while the commentaries very informative and clear, leading to a lot of discussion afterwards. I definitely recommend it.”

Catherine S, 4th Grade Teacher, Spain.

Created by educators, for educators.

Hey, I’m Dale! I’m a traveler, educator, and parent of a special needs child. These three passions are why I founded Virtual Field Trips and created these videos for you to use in your classroom.

Visiting 40+ countries on six continents taught me the educational value of exposure to other places, cultures, people, wildlife, and landscapes. As an M.Ed. in Instructional Technology , I’m also passionate about serving other educators. And as a proud mom to a son with special needs , I understand the power of visual learning.

Virtual Field Trips and all its videos, quizzes, and activities are my way of helping you introduce your students to the marvels of the world around them, in a visual form that will engage and educate all your young learners.

It’s easy, it’s affordable, and, most importantly – it’ll help you teach your curriculum in the most fun & memorable way.

Become a member today! Your students will love you for it.

Virtual Field Trips videos are...

Easy on your budget.

Just $45/yr for unlimited access to our entire video and resource library! We promise it’ll be the best $45 you invest in your students.

Built for your curriculum.

We pack each video and worksheet with teaching that helps you meet your specific curriculum goals.

Overflowing with activities.

Each video includes printable worksheets and quizzes to help your students remember what they learned.

In English & Spanish.

We’ve translated our entire video and exercise library into Spanish. No student left behind!

Closed captioned.

Help your students follow along and understand every word with closed captions.

Easy to access.

No annoying log-ins! Just send your students the link and they can watch on any device (even their phone).

How much does it cost?

We know being a teacher doesn’t exactly put wads of cash in your wallet. That’s why we’ll always be affordable and accessible.

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Post-trip quiz + resources for 1 video, access to closed captioned version of 1 video, cheapest option, teacher + classroom.

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Unlimited access to the entire Virtual Field Trips library

All quizzes + learning resources, access for 1 teacher and all students, access to all spanish videos, access to all closed captioned videos, best value option for one teacher, school membership.

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Best for school administrators supporting their teachers & students.

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“My students love these virtual field trips and honestly can’t get enough of them. They ignite awesome writing.”

Mari, 1st Grade Teacher and Librarian in Toronto

Here's how it works:

Choose your membership.

Whether you need one video, a year’s worth of teaching, or a membership for your whole school, you can choose the membership that’s right for you.

Select your video.

Browse by grade, topic, or location and select the trip that fits your curriculum-specific needs.

Take your trip.

Show the video to your classroom, or send them a link to watch on their own time. Then, follow up with the video’s accompanying worksheets and quiz.

Here are more reasons why:

“ Thank you so much for providing such high-quality, informative, kid-level videos!  I am currently teaching government to my third graders and your video on how our government helps our communities is PERFECT! “

“ I just wanted to thank you for your beautifully filmed field trips and now the worksheets too! I take my students on a “remote” virtual field trip every Thursday and they absolutely love it. Its finally my chance to be Miss Frizzle from the Magic School Bus! The information is presented so clearly, and everything is so bright and eye catching. It has been a challenge finding appropriate field trips, without commercials, that will keep my students interested. You have provided exactly what I was looking for! !!!”

“ Yours is the FIRST website I have found since I started teaching 6th grade that is pitched perfectly to my kiddos! I GOTTA HAVE IT. “

You may be wondering…

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Can't I just use free YouTube videos?

What if i'm not good with technology, do your videos work with my curriculum.

We provide K-9 teachers with student-centered videos for social studies, geography, life science, and ancient civilization curricula. Click here to see how which videos align with the curriculum for your state and grade.

How do my students get the videos?

When you become a member, you’ll get a unique video link to send your students. All they have to do is click that link and watch – no logins!

Can I download the videos?

Do i need any special software or tech, what do i get with my subscription, are subscriptions for a school year or a calendar year, where are the quizzes.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page to the Learning Resources section and you’ll see the quiz file(s).

Will my students need to log in?

How long are the videos, can i cancel my subscription, join 6,500+ other educators in the free facebook group..

At Virtual Field Trips, we care a lot about teachers. That’s why we made a free-to-join Facebook group just for you! Join now to get:

Fun weekly activities for your students

Worksheets and organizers

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Links to hundreds of resources

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Whether you’re teaching virtually, face-to-face, or both, we’re here to support you!

“You have a great site with videos that are outstanding. I like how easy your site is to use.”

Patti, 4th Grade Teacher , New Mexico

“You have brightened my day, as I have looked extensively for high quality virtual trips, and your site is one of the best I’ve found!”

Karen, 5th Grade Teacher, Minnesota

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