Field trips are a time consuming endeavor. It takes time to plan, make curriculum connections, tend to individual student needs (medications), collect money and permission slips and more. I’d much rather enjoy a virtual field trip. The internet makes it possible to ‘travel’ to new places with a click of the mouse.
I’ve used Google Earth to show students the location of their school. When speaking about a part of the country or world, Google Earth literally brings the world within reach to the kids. Students truly see the world as it is. Jerome Burg is the founder of Google Lit Trips and brings a whole new understanding to literature through these downloadable lessons.
Using Skype last year for an author talk was a wonderful experience. Students read the book, The Bystander by James Preller, and a Skype conference call was arranged where selected students interacted with Mr. Preller while the conference was broadcast for the entire school. Exploring Oceans is the feature for the month of November 2013.
The National Parks electronic field trip program allows students to visit various parks that they might never travel to. Lesson plans are available to educators.
Additional
Parent & Afterschool Resources | Grades 3 – 5 | Activity & Project
Can't make it to a zoo? Observe animal habits and habitats using one of the many Webcams broadcasting from zoos and aquariums around the United States and the world.
Classroom Resources | Grades K – 2 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
3, 2, 1... Blast off! Students learn new vocabulary by taking a virtual field trip to the moon, read-alouds, creating a picture dictionary, and completing a final writing activity.
Classroom Resources | Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Recurring Lesson
Students observe animals using one of the many webcams broadcasting from zoos and aquariums around the United States and the world, with a focus on observation, discussion, questioning, and research.
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