The world is at your fingertips thanks to technology! I find that resources like virtual field trips are terrific for providing experiences for students in your classroom who might not have opportunities to visit places across the globe.
There is nothing quite as exciting as a field trip for students. There is also nothing quite as exhausting for teachers as a field trip. Virtual field trips can provide excitement to learning about locations, animals, culture, or imagination while connecting across your subject areas. You also don’t need a permission slip signed and returned!
How are virtual field trips helpful in elementary education?
- Teachers say that in-person trips and virtual visits provide real-world text connections.
- Technology allows students to travel around the world.
- Students gain cultural understanding when they are exposed to other countries.
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Virtual field trips allow learners to engage and explore new places.
- Teachers are not exhausted by planning and attending an in-person field trip.
- There are no worries about forgetting lunches or finding volunteers to chaperone.
Students can learn about animal habitats or dangerous places like a volcano!
- They are FREE!
It is hard to replace visiting real places to help enhance learning experiences, but during the pandemic, I found virtual field trips beneficial.
You don’t have to buy anything to make a virtual trip. There are lots of places like the San Diego Zoo online that have fantastic links to see animals in real-time. I like to have students dress up as part of the trip theme, include writing, centers, math, or science activities to complete the field trip.
If you don’t want to plan a virtual field trip, for just a few bucks on TpT, you can find them already made and ready to take your class on some exciting adventures!
Here are a few popular field trips for K-2 Classrooms:
- Beach Themed – Learn about beach safety and what it would be like to go to the beach.
- Earth Day – Take your class to the recycling center safely!
- Camping Themed Trip – See a bear and other animals while learning about camping.
- Zoo Trip – Be their favorite teacher by taking students to the zoo! They can find hidden animals, write about the trip, take a plane ride, and more!
- Wizard School – This is a GREAT way to teach your class about fiction and non-fiction stories. Students will visit a school for wizards, use their imaginations to write their own stories, learn about the life cycle of a frog and enjoy a home project with parents!
I hope you have fun learning with your students this year in the comfort of your own classroom!
Read all about How to Set Up Your Virtual Classroom