Teacher’s Brain

Tag: virtual

Why You Should Take a Virtual Field Trip To The Zoo With Your Students

Distance Learning, education, Teacher's Pay Teachers

Thinking about making a trip to the zoo with your students? Zoo field trips are an elementary school classic. Don’t we all remember going on one at some point in our childhood? 

It’s now one of my favorite things to do with students because It’s an experience that combines fun, hands-on learning, and a chance for our little ones to connect with nature and wildlife.

Why should you take a field trip to the zoo? 

There are so many reasons! First and foremost, a trip to the zoo offers a unique opportunity for our students to observe animals up close and personal. Seeing these creatures in their natural habitats helps them develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for the diversity of the animal kingdom. 

It sparks their curiosity and allows them to make real-world connections with the concepts we’ve been teaching in the classroom, like animal classification, habitats, and adaptations. 

What are some other benefits?

Additionally, a trip to the zoo supports the development of observation and critical thinking skills. Encouraging our students to carefully observe and compare different animal behaviors, physical characteristics, and habitats helps them develop their powers of observation and critical thinking. 

They can make predictions, draw conclusions, and discuss their findings, strengthening their scientific inquiry skills- score!

Finally, let’s not forget the joy and excitement that a zoo visit brings to our students. It’s an experience that they’ll remember for years to come.

The sheer awe and wonder they experience while watching a giraffe or a monkey in action can inspire a lifelong love for animals and conservation.

Ready to take a field trip to the zoo but can’t make it happen? Try a virtual field trip to the zoo! 

Virtual field trips are an amazing way to enhance a student’s learning right from the safety of your four walls. I have the perfect virtual field trip to the zoo resource for you! 

This Virtual Field Trip to the Zoo Google Slides resource is all you need to create a magical zoo experience with your students. 

virtual field trip to the zoo

Use these interactive, editable Google Slides to easily have students copy and paste movable parts, learn about zoo animals, facts, what to bring on a trip and so much more! 

virtual field trip to the zoo

Here’s what’s included: 

28 Google Slides with Titles, Edit Text Boxes, Directions, Movable Parts 

  • KWL Chart
  • Packing A Suitcase for the Trip
  • 1 Minute Take Off Flight Video
  • 10-minute Zoo Field Trip Video (Car Ride to the Zoo, Animal Facts)
  • Sequencing Events, 3 Writing Prompts, Counting Objects (under 10), Labeling Parts, Zoo Counting Song, and Comprehension Questions
  • One extra slide for you to add anything you would like to the lesson. (videos or an assignment)
  • Home Connection Optional Assignment for students to build an animal habitat. 
  • Black and white ink-saving Writing Pages and Home Connection Page for in-person teaching.
field trip to the zoo

I hope your students love this resource as much as I do! If you want more virtual field trip ideas, check out my post here!

Virtual Field Trips For End Of The Year Celebrations

Distance Learning, Teacher's Pay Teachers, Teaching Tips

The school year is wrapping up! It was definitely a different year than anything we have experienced before. Many students had a hybrid learning experience and some did distance learning all year long. Teachers definitely had to adapt and find new ways to stay connected with students from afar. 

Another thing that wasn’t possible this year was field trips! I always loved going on field trips with my students. It is so refreshing to get out of the classroom for a new kind of learning experience. 

If you are missing field trips and looking for something exciting and new that you can do from the safety of your classroom (or home for those who are distance learning), you definitely need to a try virtual field trip! 

There are so many options out there for virtual field trips. A quick Google search will show tons of ideas! You can take a virtual field trip to the zoo, an aquarium, museums, science centers, farms, national parks, and more! Don’t see a virtual field trip idea that calls to you? You can also use Google Slides to give students a virtual tour of your chosen location. 

Of all of the virtual field trip options, my favorite is a virtual field trip to the BEACH. 

I created this virtual field trip beach day for elementary students! To start, students will “take a flight” to the beach, then, once they arrive, the learning starts. Students will learn about beach safety, ocean life, what to do at the beach, and more! 

virtual field trip

Then, students can participate in some learning activities including labeling, counting, and writing. 

virtual field trip

Included in this resource you’ll get 8 Google Slides with titles, edit text boxes, directions, and movable parts along with: 

  • KWL chart
  • Packing a suitcase for the beach activity
  • 1 minute take off flight video
  • 7 minute beach field trip video (beach safety tips, car ride to the beach, animals at the beach, people swimming, and interview questions of what people like or don’t like of the beach)
  • Sequencing events, 2 writing prompts, counting objects (under 10), labeling parts, beach song, and comprehension questions
  • One extra slide for you to add anything you would like to the lesson. 

virtual field trip

Since this is a virtual activity, it can easily be done in the classroom or while distance learning. It makes a great end of the school year activity! 

I hope you and your students love these virtual field trip ideas!

Looking for more end of the year activities to do with your students? Check out my post here on memory books! 

 

virtual field trip