If there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that young minds are inquisitive ones. And at Kindergarten age, students love to learn more about the world around them, and there’s no better way to do that than to take them out in it.
Sure, class-based learning has its place, but there’s something so great about seeing them learning while having a blast at some new place that they really enjoy.
Plus, information always soaks in better subconsciously, when they don’t actually realize that they’re learning because the trip is simply too much fun.
But for teachers, thinking about where to actually take your class can be quite difficult. If you’re scratching your head trying to think of your next field trip destination, keep reading as I’ve got plenty of inspiration.
1. A Pumpkin Patch
This is a great option, especially around Halloween. The kids will have tons of fun picking out their very own pumpkin that they’ll be able to carve either back in school or at home with their parents.
But there’s so much more to this trip than just picking out a pumpkin. Many pumpkin patches offer tours around the area (often by hayride which is also tons of fun) where your students will be able to learn all about the process of growing vegetables.
For the kids, it’ll seem like just a fun day out, but actually, they’ll soak up tons of information along the way.
2. The Zoo
Let’s face it, who doesn’t love a trip to the zoo? This will be as much fun for the teachers as it will the students! Kids will love looking around and seeing all the diverse wildlife that the zoo boasts.
However, it is also a great way to get them involved in animal observation. And more than this, they can learn a ton about each animal, their habitats, behaviors, and even their conservation status.
Plus, most zoos will offer educational programs where zoo keepers will provide a guided tour and give more in-depth talks about the animals. And if you’re really lucky, you may even be able to get up close with some of the animals.
3. Children’s Museums
Museums always offer interesting and educational days out, but taking 30+ kindergarten students to a place where they can see tons of cool artifacts but not touch any of them is basically asking for trouble. The temptation is just too much.
That’s why children’s museums that are specifically designed for interactive and hands-on learning are great options. Not only is touching allowed – it’s encouraged.
Kids can delve into the fun and learn something along the way without having to be too mindful of their behavior.
Many children’s museums also offer workshops or programs for schools so that you can be sure that they’ll apply the information they’ve learned practically in some way throughout the day.
4. The Fire Station
You can never go wrong with teaching your students more about the community helpers that live close by. Fire stations are a great place to do this, as there are tons of fascinating things for them to see while there – the fire trucks and all the equipment.
Often local fire stations will cooperate with schools to give the young kids a tour and answer any questions they may have about the line of work.
Plus, considering that the firefighters can sometimes look a little intimidating to younger children with all that big gear, it’s a great way to reduce their anxiety around them.
5. An Apple Orchard
Little kids love to get down and dirty, right? Anything physical and hands on is sure to captivate their attention so an activity such as picking apples at an orchard can never go wrong.
And not only is it interactive and a lot of fun but it also offers plenty of opportunities for education.
Throughout the trip, the little ones can learn a ton about how apples are grown, raised, and harvested. Quite a few apple orchards will also offer tours where a guide will walk you through everything you need to know.
6. The Public Library
Now, compared to some of the other trips this one might seem a little less exciting, but you can ensure that no matter where you’re located there is likely to be a library nearby.
Plus, there is something magical about the library and it’s never too early to get your students falling in love with reading. Each book will transport them to a new place.
Here, you can teach them all about the library, let them browse their favorite books, show them how to borrow books, etc.
And, if you contact your local library ahead of time, it is likely that you can ensure that a librarian can speak to the kids and tell them more. You could even request a storytime where you sit down and the class collectively reads from a selected book.
7. The Aquarium
This is basically the same principle as a zoo trip, only all the animals are underwater. Kids love going to observe all the fish and try and spot a ‘Nemo’ or a ‘Dory.’ The variety of aquatic life is sure to keep the kids happy and entertained.
But along the way, they’ll learn a lot more about the aquatic animals. Some aquariums will also provide tours or educational programs where you can speak to those who work in aquariums.
They can teach the little kids more about the underwater world and the issues and threats that these animals face.
8. A Bakery
This field trip won’t always be possible depending on the bakeries close by and whether or not they grant behind-the-scenes access.
But many do, and it’s a real blast for the little ones. Along the way, they’ll learn all about how different bakery items are made as well as take a tour of the kitchen and watch some of the tasty treats being made.
Some bakeries even offer fun activities such as cake decorating for the little ones. But even if they don’t, the kids can still purchase a delicious cake or pastry at the end of the tour which they will be sure to love.
9. A Farm
Farms are always a great day out for kids, and many offer educational programs or guided tours around them.
There is so much for the kids to see, from all the animals, the grounds, and the production processes. It really is very visually appealing and your kids are sure to enjoy the day – you might even take part in a tractor ride.
And the beauty of this is there are so many different types of farms to choose from. There’s dairy, poultry, apiaries, and more. You can opt for larger commercial farms or alternatively opt for a smaller family-run farm.
10. The Grocery Store
Again, this one might seem a little simple or boring but it can actually be really entertaining for the kids and is a great option for a field trip on a budget.
Children can also learn quite a lot here from how the food is sourced to the concept of goods for money, there are all sorts to learn.
You can even teach them more in-depth information about the different kinds of roles in the grocery store as well as the different departments.
Once back at school, you could even do workshops where each child takes on a role of the grocery store from the cashier, customer, shelf-stacker, etc.
Plus, most grocery stores will offer food samples, and that’s every little kid’s favorite part!
11. Children’s Theatre
The arts are just as important as all the other subjects taught in school, and there’s no better way to get the little ones interested in them than taking them to the theatre.
Children’s theatre shows are always aimed at the age group so you can be sure that they’ll be thoroughly entertained and invested.
Plus, most children’s theatre shows will have an underlying theme or message that is important for the child to take away.
From accepting people as who they are, to forgiveness, to kindness, there are plenty of theatre productions that revolve around important life lessons and morals in a simple and effective way.
12. The Beach
If you have a beach nearby, you should definitely take full advantage of it. Everybody loves a beach day and the kids are sure to have plenty of fun throughout the day. It can be a great way to introduce some hands-on learning activities too.
You can learn about clams and shells and incorporate maths into the equation by measuring them out. You can ask students to write their name or words in the sand to improve literacy, you can learn more about the ocean.
And of course, once your students have done well learning, you can also give them some free time to just play and enjoy the beach!
Final Thoughts
As you can see from this article, there are no end of places that you can take your younger students that are sure to be fun and entertaining as well as educational.
No matter which of these activities you choose, you can be sure that your students will come back happy and fulfilled. And not only that, but they’ll have some new-found knowledge too.
Hi, my name is Helena Waters and I was a teacher for 40 years before retiring last year.
During my time as a teacher I dedicated the majority of it to making classrooms as fun as possible, with educational parties, fun activities, and low cost entertainment that made the children excited about learning.
I taught children of all ages, from preschoolers to high school students. Now, with the pandemic having uprooted everything that children once knew about school and learning, I think that the need for my ideas is bigger than ever.
That is why I created School Sparks, a place in which I can write down and share all of my ideas on how to get students excited about going to school again. I hope that you’ll find some useful within a school setting, even at home too!
