field trips word meaning

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Definition of field trip noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• We went on a geology field trip.
• Delegates at the conference were taken on field trips to see the devastation.

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Meaning of field trip in English

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• break-journey
• circumnavigation

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

field trip | Intermediate English

Examples of field trip, translations of field trip.

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of or relating to birds

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Wonder of the Day #2408

Why are Field Trips Called Field Trips?

LANGUAGE ARTS — Languages

Have You Ever Wondered...

• Why are field trips called field trips?
• What are the benefits of field trips?
• Why should family members go on field trips?
• Education ,
• Field Trip ,
• Grandparent ,
• Foster Parent ,
• Classmate ,
• Ecosystem ,
• Chaperone ,

Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by Madie . Madie Wonders , “ Why do they call field trips field trips? ” Thanks for WONDERing with us, Madie !

Have you ever gone on a field trip? Field trip day is often the most exciting day of school! Family members volunteer to go along, and they--along with all the kids--pack a lunch and load up the bus for the day ahead. Field trips are both fun and educational . But have you ever WONDERed where the name came from? What puts the FIELD in field trips?

When you think of the word “field,” many things might come to mind. Do you picture farmland? An open prairie ? How about a baseball diamond or soccer field? Adults might even think of the field (area of interest) they work in. History buffs might think of famous battlefields . A scientist’s mind might go to magnetic fields .

As you can see, the word “field” has many definitions. But when people talk about field trips, they’re using a less common meaning of the word “field.” In this case, “field” describes work done outside of an office or classroom. That makes sense if you think about what a field trip is. It’s an outing that gives you the chance to learn something new outside of school!

The best field trips teach you a lot while you’re having fun. A trip to the zoo can lead kids to learn about new animals. Going to a national monument gives you the chance to experience history firsthand. Even a field trip to a local park can be educational . Kids can learn about new plants and ecosystems .

The value of field trips can’t be overstated . Any student or teacher will tell you field trips are great. And there’s plenty of research to support that, too! Studies on field trips show they have many benefits . Field trips can help students become more interested in new topics. They can also make kids feel more positive about what they learn. Unsurprisingly, studies also found that students remember field trips for a long time!

It’s no wonder that field trips are unforgettable. There’s nothing like setting out on an adventure with your teachers and classmates. Often, kids even get to bring family members along for the ride.

One of the best things about field trips is that they give families the chance to learn together. Parents , grandparents, foster parents , and other adults who chaperone field trips really add to the experience . They get the chance to know their child’s teacher and classmates better. Best of all, adult chaperones can join in the fun and learning right alongside the students!

What kind of field trip would you like to go on? Do you want to tour a local museum? How about a trip to a cave or factory ? You can learn something new from just about any location!

Common Core , Next Generation Science Standards , and National Council for the Social Studies ."> Standards : CCRA.L.3, CCRA.L.6, CCRA.W.2, CCRA.W.7, CCRA.W.8, CCRA.W.9, CCRA.R.1, CCRA.R.2, CCRA.L.1, CCRA.L.2, CCRA.R.4, CCRA.R.10, CCRA.W.1, CCRA.SL.1

Wonder What's Next?

Learn to appreciate differences with tomorrow's Wonder of the Day!

Bring an adult friend or family member along to help with any of these activities:

• Where would you like to go on your next field trip? Identify a location, then write a letter persuading your teacher to take a field trip there. Include details that will convince them. What makes this place interesting? What will you learn? How does it relate to what you’re doing in school?
• Take a virtual field trip! With the help of a friend or family member, identify a topic you want to learn more about. Then, learn more about it on Wonderopolis or Kiddle . Search for related pictures on Safe Search ! Write a paragraph to share what you learned.
• You don’t have to wait for school to take a field trip! Ask an adult friend or family member to take you on an educational trip. Watch birds in your local park. Visit the zoo. Go to the post office or a nearby art museum. Ask questions and talk with your friend or family member about what you learned!

Wonder Sources

• https://naaee.org/eepro/research/library/student-self-reported-learning-outcomes (accessed 24 July 2014)
• https://www.informalscience.org/news-views/field-trips-are-valuable-learning-experiences (accessed 24 July 2014)
• https://www.parentscanada.com/school/the-advantages-school-field-trips-can-offer-kids-and-parents (accessed 24 July 2014)
• https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/field (accessed 24 July 2014)

Did you get it?

Wonder contributors.

We’d like to thank:

Zackery , Nathan , donna and Ms.Wahlin's for contributing questions about today’s Wonder topic!

Keep WONDERing with us!

Wonder Words

• educational

Thanks, cncolover!

We're glad you liked this Wonder, Adelaide! Keep WONDERing with us!

That's a great question for a Wonder Journey, Daniel! Let us know what you find out. 

That's WONDERful, jack! 

We hope you enjoyed that play, chase! What other field trips have you gone on?

Thanks for stopping by, mason!

Have you ever gone on a field trip wonderopolis peeps???????

We've gone on many field trips! They're the best. 

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Question 1 of 3

Which of these is NOT a benefit of field trips?

• a Higher interest in a new topic Not Quite!
• b More positive feelings toward learning Not Quite!
• c Family members can come along and learn together Not Quite!
• d Students get to go wherever they want Correct!

Question 2 of 3

When someone talks about field trips, the word “field” means...

• a work done outside of an office or classroom. Correct!
• b an open prairie. Not Quite!
• c an area of interest. Not Quite!
• d a place to play sports. Not Quite!

Question 3 of 3

This Wonder was mostly about...

• a where in the US you can take the best field trips. Not Quite!
• b why schools often choose not to take field trips. Not Quite!
• c why field trips are called field trips and how they can benefit learning. Correct!
• d how to persuade a family member to go on your next field trip. Not Quite!

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field trip noun

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What does the noun field trip mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun field trip . See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

How common is the noun field trip ?

Where does the noun field trip come from.

Earliest known use

The earliest known use of the noun field trip is in the 1880s.

OED's earliest evidence for field trip is from 1885, in Annual Rep. Board Regents Smithsonian Inst. 1883 .

field trip is formed within English, by compounding.

Etymons: field n. 1 , trip n. 1

Nearby entries

• field-theoretical, adj. 1934–
• field theorist, n. 1934–
• field theory, n. 1922–
• field tile, n. 1856–
• field titling, n. 1828–
• field tortoise, n. 1694–
• field train, n. 1692–
• field training, n. 1836–
• field trash, n. 1791–
• field trial, n. 1817–
• field trip, n. 1885–
• field violet, n. 1597–
• field vole, n. 1828–
• fieldwalking, n. 1853–
• fieldward, n., adv., & adj. c1380–
• fieldwards, n. & adv. 1656–
• field-ware, n. 1546–1858
• field-watch, n. 1797–
• fieldweed, n. 1828–
• field whore, n. 1846–
• field wife, n. ?a1500–1617

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Meaning & use

Entry history for field trip, n..

Originally published as part of the entry for field, n.¹

field, n.¹ was revised in June 2011.

oed.com is a living text, updated every three months. Modifications may include:

• further revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
• new senses, phrases, and quotations.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1895)

• Find out more

OED Second Edition (1989)

• View field, n. in OED Second Edition

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Citation details

Factsheet for field trip, n., browse entry.

Definition of 'field trip'

Field trip in american english, field trip in british english, examples of 'field trip' in a sentence field trip, trends of field trip.

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Synonyms of field trips

• as in excursions
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Thesaurus Definition of field trips

Synonyms & Similar Words

Thesaurus Entries Near field trips

field trips

field-worker

Cite this Entry

“Field trips.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/field%20trips. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.

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noun as in group excursion

Weak matches

• school outing
• school trip
• sightseeing tour

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Example sentences.

Ali, who works with younger students in the program, recalls a field trip in which the children asked for ice cream.

They have already planned field trips to local parks and ordered biology labs.

Even a recent outing to a retail store was a thrilling field trip for the family, he says.

While I would like to think I chose the latter out of self-reflection and an aversion to the status quo, I think the decision was more about the promise of having less homework and more field trips.

He plans to use the winnings to pay off some of his student loans and help pay for supplies and field trips for his students.

“The highlight was a school field trip that came specially to see Bach in the Subways who were perfectly behaved,” he says.

Standing in the dark, I felt lost, like the time I wandered off by myself on a second-grade field trip to the history museum.

When I was in junior high, our 8th grade class took a field trip to Florida.

Not to be missed: Chris Farley as the angry bus driver taking the kids on a field trip.

Shandee, a student on a geology field trip, finds a disembodied—but talkative—arm in a quarry.

On a field trip he had undertaken as a student, the young engineer inadvertently stumbled across a treasure in manganese.

Field trip planned to show that insects feed upon plants; make their homes upon plants.

If possible let the children take a field trip in connection with these lessons.

Other modifications of these forms may easily be found on any field trip.

At least one field trip must be planned for the month of May.

On this page you'll find 9 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to field trip, such as: day trip, excursion, expedition, jaunt, junket, and outing.

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

Different Types of Field Trips for Learning about our World

Who doesn’t love a great field trip? The opportunity to step outside of life’s normal routines and experience something completely new is always a good time and a great way to learn things you might not have known! 

There are tons of different possibilities for field trips, whether you’re traveling far from home or just exploring the woods behind the house, but sometimes it can be hard to see all the opportunities for learning that surround you. That’s why knowing what types of field trips there are can be super helpful for figuring out what sort of educational opportunity you want! This is my list of the different types of field trip opportunities that exist.

I typically divide field trips into two main groups: Nature-focused Trips and People-Focused Trips . 

Different Kinds of Nature-Focused Field Trips

My first major category contains any field trip that is specifically focused on nature. That’s a lot . Whether we’re talking about trips aimed at teaching kids about plants or animals, exploring underground caverns, or learning about the night sky, it’s all about nature!

Learning about the natural world is a huge draw for kids and adults alike, and there is so much out there to choose from. To help narrow it down a bit, I’ve tried to further divide natural trips into smaller groupings.

Astronomical Field Trips

Astronomical field trips are all about space! There’s nothing quite like the unexplored reaches of the universe for sparking excitement and curiosity in the minds of kids. And new discoveries are being made all the time! 

Some of my favorite astronomical field trips have been stargazing in the Atacama desert and watching a rocket launch in Florida, but it could be as simple as taking the kids outside of town to identify constellations! 

Astronomical Field Trip Ideas

• Stargazing (in your back yard or somewhere special!)
• Trip to an observatory
• Watching a rocket launch
• Watching an eclipse
• Space Museum Trip

Examples of our family’s Astronomical Experiences

How to Choose and Plan an Astronomical Field Trip

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Botanical field trips.

Botanical Field Trips are all about exploring the wonderful world of plants. Exploring how cactus survive in the desert, marveling at the diversity of wildflower in the spring, or taking the time to look at the leaves in the fall are all botanical trips.

Some of my favorite trips have been to botanical gardens around the world where we get the chance to see unique plants growing in their natural environments.

Botanical Field Trip Ideas

• Visiting a botanical garden
• Plant identification trip (works pretty much anywhere!)
• Foraging Trip
• Trip to an Arboretum

Examples of our family’s Botanical Experiences

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8 Free Or Low-Cost Field Trips Near Madison, Wisconsin

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Geological field trips.

Geological trips are all about the earth and what makes up the ground we walk on. It’s about a lot more than just looking at some rocks. Getting to see the building blocks of our planet and how they fit together can be an amazing experience, and can take you to some incredible places. Let’s just say that geology rocks. (Hi, I’m a dad.)

There are plenty of amazing options for learning about the earth, but some of my favorites are caving trips, checking out the Grand Canyon, and hiking active volcanoes! 

Geological Field Trip Ideas

• Fossil hunting trip! ( Fossil hunting with kids )
• Going caving
• Hiking a mountain/volcano
• Visiting a Hot Spring (Yes, please)

Examples of our family’s Geological Experiences

Fossil Hunting With Kids – Finding Fun in the Dirt

Field Trip to the First National Park: Yellowstone with Kids

15 Amazing Educational South African Adventures for Worldschooling Families

Ecological Adventures with Kids in Mindo Cloud Forest Reserve

Finding Adventure at the Lost Sea

Finding Egypt’s hidden desert whales in beautiful Wadi al-Hitan

Zoological field trips.

Zoological trips can include so much more than zoos, but they  are  a great place to start. Any trip that’s focused on the fauna of an area is a zoological field trip, whether that’s exotic animals in the zoo or the squirrels at the local park. Animals can be great for kindling a kid’s curiosity, and because of how interconnected the natural world is, they can be a great launching point for any number of exciting lessons!

My family checks out zoos and aquariums pretty much any chance we get, but my favorite trips have all been in the wild. If you get the chance to go reef snorkeling, definitely take it.

Zoological Field Trip Ideas

• Animal Spotting/Bird watching trips
• Visiting an Animal Conservation Center ( Grizzly and Wolf Conservation Center, Yellowstone )
• Visiting an animal Rescue Center ( Proyecto Asis, Costa Rica )
• Going on Safari! ( Kruger National Park, South Africa )
• Swim with wild dolphins or go whale watching! ( Educational Family Adventures, Puerto Vallarta )
• Visiting a zoo

Examples of our family’s Zoological Experiences

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A beautiful mix of Geology and Culture – Batu Caves with kids

Turtles, history, and Fun in the Sun on Georgia’s Famous Jekyll Island

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Why Langkawi is the Perfect Place for Teaching Kids Geology in Paradise

Taking A Slow Walk With Sloths On Bogarin Trail

Other ecological field trips.

I use the term “ecological field trips” as my catch-all for other nature-focused field trips. Really, any trip that gets you out into nature can be a great launching pad for learning. It’s just about getting into nature and seeing what you can discover! There’s no better way of helping your kid to appreciate the natural world than simply getting them outside to spend time in nature.

Some of my favorite ecological field trips are nature hikes, waterfalls, and dispersed camping.

Ecological Field Trip Ideas

• Going camping ( Camping with Kids )
• Visiting a National Park ( My favorite is Badlands )
• Kayaking or rafting Trips
• Go snorkeling ( Snorkel gear for Kids )
• Take a day at the beach! ( 7 ways to add education to a beach trip )

Examples of our family’s Ecological Experiences

10+ Amazing Snorkel Gear Options for Families with Kids

Coral, Dugongs, and Dolphins – Why Marsa Alam, Egypt is perfect for a family-friendly snorkeling adventure

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Ancon Hill makes a perfect afternoon adventure in Panama City

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Different kinds of people-focused field trips.

The other broad field trip category is field trips about Humanity . It’s all about the things that people do, and the ways that we do them. Whether it’s looking at the things we’ve built, the foods we eat, or the jobs we have, if it’s about humans it’s a people-focused field trip. 

Let’s break it down a bit more. 

Agricultural Field Trips

Agricultural field trips are trips that are focused on the farm. Farm trips are great options for teaching kids all about the life cycles of plants, the types and effects of weather, where our food comes from, and more! 

Some of my favorite agricultural trips include fruit picking, petting zoos, and bee farms! 

Agricultural Field Trip Ideas

• Visiting a Bee Farm
• Pick your own produce trips ( Picking Strawberries in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia )
• Visiting a coffee or tea plantation ( Finca Filadelfia, Guatemala )
• Visiting a farm ( Caoba Farms, Guatemala )
• Visiting a petting zoo
• Make your own Chocolate ( Chocolate Tours, Guatemala )

Examples of our family’s Agricultural Experiences

Best things to do with Kids in the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

Learning what goes into a great cup of coffee at Finca Filadelfia in Antigua

Exploring the Fun World of Fungi – Mushroom Foraging with Kids

On the Farm with Kids – Caoba Farms Restaurant and Tour

3 Amazing Places to Learn about Chocolate in Guatemala

Architectural field trips.

Architectural field trips are all about looking at the things that humans build. I typically only consider more modern buildings to fall into this specific category. Basically, if you’re looking at a building that is still actively being used today, it’s an architectural field trip. If it was built in the far past, or if it’s a set of ruins, it goes in the next one.

My favorite architectural field trip is probably Frank Lloyd Wright’s Waterfall house. I was taken there when I was in high school, and to this day I think about that trip any time I see a three-legged stool. Other great trips include going to famous buildings like the Space Needle, or checking out colonial-style houses from the 1700s.  

Architectural Field Trip Ideas

• Explore Famous landmarks ( New 7 Wonders of the World )
• Visit a lighthouse
• Explore local architectural styles (French Quarter, New Orleans)
• Explore Famous houses or buildings (Falling Water, Frank Lloyd Wright)

Examples of our family’s Architectural Experiences

16+ Amazing Activities that make Penang one of the best things to do in Malaysia with kids

A Field Trip into Nashville’s Past at Historic Belle Meade

The New 7 Wonders of the World

A City Carved in Stone – Visiting Petra with Kids

5 Beautiful Spanish Ruins to visit in Antigua, Guatemala

Casco Viejo with Kids: Exploring Panama City’s Historic District

Archaeological field trips.

Archaeological field trips are trips out to see the buildings and artifacts of humanity’s past. It’s all about seeing the way the world was, and learning about humans got through life before our modern advances took hold. It’s about seeing where we’re from, and how far we’ve come.

Ancient ruins, cave dwellings, and the Wonders of the World all fall into this category and are among some of my favorite field trips. 

How to choose an Archeological Trip

Archaeological Field Trip Ideas

• Visit Native American ruins (Cahokia Mounds, Illinois | Aztalan State Park, Wisconsin )
• Visit more recent American ruins ( Dungeness Ruins, Cumberland National Seashore, Georgia )
• Visit ruins in other countries ( Spanish Ruins, Guatemala | Egyptian Ruins, Luxor, Egypt )
• Visit Petroglyph or Cave Painting sites ( Petroglyphs in America | Main Cave, South Africa )

Examples of our family’s Archaeological Experiences

17 amazing things to do in Luxor, Egypt

Pictures in Stone – Petroglyphs in America that you can visit with your family

Mayan Ruins and the Spirit of Adventure

Exploring the otherworldly beauty of Jordan’s Wadi Rum

The Best Roman Ruins in Jordan – Visiting Jerash with Kids

Stand Where Moses Stood – Visiting Mount Nebo In Jordan

Historical field trips.

Historical field trips are  also  about learning from humanity’s past, but I feel like they’re a bit different from archaeological trips. In essence, historical trips are less focused on the buildings and artifacts of the past, and more focused on the actions and events. They’re about remembering the past, the choices that we made as a civilization, both good and bad. It’s sort of splitting hairs, at times, and in the end, I’m not sure the distinction matters, but it’s there. 

Some of my favorite historical field trips are historical reenactments and demonstrations, like at Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown. Other good trips include visiting monuments and memorials, the USS Arizona, or the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. These places make history more palpable and can anchor historical learning in a kid’s mind.

Historical Field Trip Ideas

• Explore the local history of your town
• Visit the site of a historical location or Reenactment (Colonial Williamsburg, VA)
• Learn about major historical events in your own country’s past ( Crazy Horse, SD )
• Learn about human history at a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site ( UNESCO Cultural Sites )
• Learn about the history of wherever you happen to be! ( Jean Lafitte National Park, LA )

Examples of our family’s Historical Experiences

13 Family Adventures in Puerto Vallarta that are Educational and Fun

A Worldschooler’s Guide to re-discovering the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World

The Desolate Prison Island where Nelson Mandela Spent 18 Years

A Good Guide to the Great Pyramid

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Abu Simbel With Kids: Visiting The Temple That Moved

Gastronomical field trips.

I know I say that a lot of these categories are among my favorites, but this time I mean it! Gastronomical field trips are all about food. The food we make and eat as a culture has a lot to say about us. It both depends on and dictates our agricultural practices and our economy. If you want to learn about a culture, you should learn about its food , and that includes your own home culture! A nice culinary field trip pairs very well with an agricultural trips, so if you can find a farm that has its own restaurant, be sure to stick around for seconds.  

Some of my favorite culinary field trips have included cooking lessons, cultural restaurants, and local farm tours, but really any new meal you eat offers an opportunity to learn something new. 

Gastronomical Field Trip Ideas

• Learn how to cook a favorite meal
• Visit a farm and make, or eat, a meal made from what they grow ( Caoba Farms, Guatemala )
• Explore street food options in a different country ( Street Food and Culture )
• Learn about how a favorite snack gets from farm to table ( Chocolate Field Guide )

Examples of our family’s Gastronomy Experiences

Visiting Guatemala’s Beautiful Black Sand Beaches

Restaurants with a view – 10 Rooftop Terraces in Antigua Guatemala

Why Street Food is an Amazing Window into Learning a Culture

What not to eat in Egypt (plus some amazing meals you shouldn’t miss!)

Want to learn about a culture? Learn to cook its food

Other cultural field trips.

People-focused field trips cover a wide array of experiences. Any trip that doesn’t easily fall into one of the other categories gets labeled as a “Cultural Field Trip.” These are the trips that are about the different ways that people do things today. They’re about exploring the way that the world around us works, and they can be considered trips into the “real world.” Trips to the bank to find out how banking works may not sound like the most exciting trip, but it’s a field trip that can help foster an understanding of cultural systems that can have a huge impact on our future. 

Some great cultural field trips could include a trip to learn about using looms to hand-weave a rug, to a local factory to see how they make things, or to a cultural festival to learn about how other people do things!

Honestly, these trips can be almost anything, so long as there’s a focus on learning. 

Cultural Field Trip Ideas

• Visit a local capitol building ( Madison, WI )
• Watch a live musical or opera
• Explore musical instruments from other cultures (Nose flute, anyone?)
• Take a factory tour, or visit a US Mint

Examples of our family’s Culture Experiences

Museum trips.

I wanted to give a special note on museum trips.

Museums are often a blast to visit, and they can be super educational. I love museums, and I definitely suggest visiting them often. But, they don’t really fit with my personal definition of “field trip.” 

Museums typically bring a lot of materials for education together for people to enjoy, but they remove the context needed to allow kids to make cross-discipline connections. They pull things out of the “real world” and put them in a box.

Which is fine, really. I don’t think poorly of museums in any way, I just think that they go great  with  field trips, but maybe not  instead  of field trips. 

And, there are often exceptions to that rule.

One of my favorite museum experiences was chatting with a paleontologist who works in the Perot museum! We watched real-world paleontology getting done by a real scientist , right where she actually worked! That’s pretty much the definition of a field trip! 

Dinos in Dallas – 7 Fossil Themed Field Trips in the Metroplex

Beautiful Butterflies in Copan Ruinas, Honduras – Mayan Hills Resort

Truly, there is an astonishing variety of possible field trips that can be done, and every one of them can be an educational experience worth having. I’ve offered up a lot of different “types” of field trips, but remember that the real world often doesn’t fit itself in neat little categories. So long as you are open to teaching and learning in whatever opportunity presents itself, any field trip you take will be a success. 

So in the words of my favorite field tripper,

 “Take chances, make mistakes, and  get messy !”

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