Farm Field Trip

learning about bees 

I love field trips!  I think it is so important to take students on field trips.  It is always so fun, it is a great learning experience for kids, and the students love it.  I personally find it best to teach a unit and then choose a field trip that relates to that unit to maximize student engagement and learning.

learning about horses

I know with budget cuts and school funding issues that money for a field trip can be hard to come by but I find that fundraising works great.  I have asked local businesses for donations, had parents sell snacks after school, and hosted school movie nights to raise money.  I have not personally written grants to receive money but that is also an option as well.

learning how to
brush a horse

This year we spent three weeks doing a farm unit and our field trip was to a farm.  The kids loved going to the farm.  The learned how bees make honey and why it is important.  They also had the opportunity to learn how to feed various animals and they were able to feed the animals.  They learned how to properly brush horses and were able to also brush the horses.  Students also learned various crops that grow on the farm and were able to pick oranges to keep and take home. We finished our farm day with a tractor ride around the entire farm and a giant corn maze which was a big hit.

feeding the goats 

The farm we visited have seasonal activities (apples in Fall, pumpkins in October, christmas trees in December).  Next year I would like to plan the farm field trip after our pumpkin unit because each students has the opportunity to select a pumpkin to take home!