Field trips are an important aspect of education as kids get to see, hear, and do as you explore your community. Oral histories and hands-on experiences lead to discovery learning, and this kind of learning really sticks. My kids recall things they’ve heard from the people who experienced them much more than from simply reading about them.
From perspectives of World War II as a young Jewish girl or as a young American soldier, to walking around in Shoeless Joe Jackson’s house, these real experiences leave a lasting impression on kids.
When I taught in a public school classroom and ventured out to a museum with my classes to see a Holocaust exhibit, not only was it the first time most of them had even been in a museum, but the artifacts and displays immersed them in the history we had been reading about. They got to see first-hand that history is real. Those kids will never forget that. I’ve learned that all you have to do is ask, and people are more than willing to provide a field trip for you. (Don’t forget to send them a thank you note!)
The Ultimate Homeschool List of Free & Low Cost Field Trips:
- Airport
- Art museum
- American Legion museum
- History museum
- Baseball museum
- Professional sports team training camp
- U-pick farm
- Organic farm
- Alpaca farm
- Goat farm
- Dairy
- Plant nursery
- Grain mill
- State parks
- Fish hatchery
- Horse stables
- Zoo (membership saves money if you go often or have a large family, and is often reciprocal)
- Veterinary clinic
- Dental clinic
- Nursing home
- Restaurants (cost of food only, usually w/ a group discount and educational talk/tour included)
- Grocery Store (Behind-the-scenes tours)
- Local colleges and universities
- Library tours/talks/classes
- Post office
- Fire station
- Police station
- City Hall (meet the mayor)
- Airport
- Television station
- Radio station
- Newspaper office
- Book printer
- Civic center
- Free children’s concerts given by the local symphony
- Children’s theater performances
- Historical homes
- Historical monuments
- Manufacturing plant
- Recycling center
- Waste-water treatment facility
Click here to take a look at how I keep records of our field trips for school credit and print my field trip form.
Have any ideas to add to the list? Add them in the comments and I’ll put them on the list!
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How about a local synogogue, temple or mosque along with various churches to foster acceptance and religious tolerance?
Good ideas! I took a group of students to a synagogue when we read Anne Frank’s diary. The rabbi showed us scrolls that were rescued from Nazi occupied areas, and a Holocaust survivor shared her powerful story with us. Such an amazing experience!