And so you can be sure it is a place that students of any age will be excited to visit. And the city that never sleeps will be sure to keep you entertained.
From historic sights, educational institutions, and plenty of attractions, it’s sure to be both fun and informative too, making it the perfect destination for your next field trip.
But what will you do while you’re there?
There is no end to what you can choose to do in New York City, and in fact, whittling all the plentiful options down to just 13 has been quite the task.
But below you’ll find what I believe to be the best places to visit in New York City during a field trip. So, let’s get right to it.
This bus tour around the infamous city is the perfect option for school trips.
There are so many architectural and cultural attractions to see while in the city, and this tour offers a convenient way to get from place to place.
This way you should be able to pack more into your day as you don’t have to walk long distances while trying to keep 30+ students together.
And while on the bus the tour guide will inform you of all the rich history and stories behind each and every attraction, and you’ll almost definitely learn some new and interesting facts along the way.
When it comes to museums, they don’t get much better than this one. This attraction is so enthralling and entertaining that your students won’t even realize that it’s educational – but it is.
This museum is extremely popular as a field trip destination, so much so that it’s unlikely that you’ll ever visit when there isn’t at least one school prowling its halls.
And it’s not hard to see why, with interactive learning opportunities, unique exhibits, and over 34 million objects to observe, it is sure to pique the interest of all that attend.
The Statue of Liberty is an iconic landmark that everyone should have the opportunity to visit at least once in their lifetime.
And this popular attraction is a great field trip option for students of all ages.
Lady Liberty holds such an important place in both American culture and history, and so there is plenty of educational content that can go beyond the entertainment value of getting some pictures with the Lady herself.
Then there is the Ellis Island Immigration Museum which can unlock bountiful knowledge about the history of immigration.
And considering that admission to both the statue and the Island is completely free, there’s really no excuse not to. It’ll only cost you your ferry tickets.
For those with younger students, there isn’t a better destination than the Children’s Museum Of Manhattan.
At the museum, you’ll get a 90-minute guided tour suitable for students in grades K-8 where you are shown around a thematic exhibition and an interactive art workshop.
This interactive fun-based learning experience is so great for young minds as they can really get involved hands-on and enjoy their time while they learn subconsciously.
Let’s face it, what is a trip to NYC without visiting the Empire State Building?
It would be criminal not to.
And the world’s most famous building has a lot more to offer than just a great view from the top, though it’s worth going for that alone, there is also plenty to learn about in this educational center.
In fact, the site has actually begun a partnership with Bank Street College of Education so that it can provide free course materials and educational content for those looking to learn more about the building.
This interactive writing experience is sure to get the creative juices flowing in all students.
Here classmates will be encouraged in creative expression, will learn about the elements of storytelling, and will also strengthen their writing skills – all while having a great time.
And the best part is that the field trip can be suited to the age group of the students.
For example, elementary students will collaborate on illustrated books, whereas middle schoolers have a choose-your-adventure book that includes multiple endings to the story, and high schoolers will learn the art of memoir writing.
Visit the Bronx Zoo and you’ll be sure to have smiling faces all around. And there are several different field trip programs available that cater to a range of different age groups.
They even do guided tours and scavenger hunts. There is plenty to see and do here at this zoo with lots of opportunities to educate the students on the diverse wildlife.
Democracy Now! Is a national news program that runs daily, and students are welcomed into the studio to watch the broadcast.
While there, students will learn more about independent journalism, current events, media literacy, and much more.
Because this is a little more advanced, it won’t be suitable for younger students but for middle grade and above it offers a unique educational experience and opportunity.
For students between grades 2-5, Building 92 Brooklyn Navy Yard Center is the perfect destination.
The Ingenious Inventions field trip is informative, interactive, fun, and educational – everything you could want and more.
Not only will your youngsters learn all about the history of innovation, they will also have to put their scientific and mathematical knowledge to the test as they focus on applications of the real world.
When it comes to astronomy lessons, you won’t find better ones than at The Hudson River Museum. The workshop is so impressive that even the adults will get a kick out of this visit.
The live planetarium show is a real wonder to behold where you are able to see the sky as it looks right now.
Throughout the show, students will learn about planets, constellations, and other impressive facts about the night sky.
Then once that’s finished, the hands-on workshop is a great way to explore even more about the planets.
Children will be encouraged to make observations, record data, and find clues in hidden boxes.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it, my top 13 places to visit for field trips. The important thing about ensuring a great field trip is that it is equally as interesting and exciting as it is educational.
That way, you can keep the interest of the students and ensure a great experience all around.
Any of the field trips mentioned in this article today are exactly that. There’s definitely something to be learned but there’s also so much fun to be had.
So, what are you waiting for? Plan your next field trip today!
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!
