Field Trip
Teacher Tips
From the fans at The
Organized Classroom Blog’s
Facebook Fan Page
Compiled by Charity Preston
Organized Classroom
The OC Blog on Facebook
©2013 * Organized Classroom Organized
Classroom
asked
“What are
your best
field trip
tips?”
©2013 * Organized Classroom “I love trips that are hands on. We have a local
high school that has its own garden. They
provide trips on gardens, making pizza from
dirt, the kids made a worm bin. They have
been great trips!” -Pamela B.
“Wear matching shirts. Take pictures of each
child as they get on the bus in case they get
separated from the group.” -Deb J.
“Good, reliable chaperones!” -Melissa R.
“Our nature center does a Habitat Detectives
program designed for K and 1 that is excellent.
Hands on, outdoors, lots of time for questions
and exploring. Plus we get to eat our lunches
outside!” -Donna M.
“If you have little ones pair them up and they
them hold hands with their buddy the whole
time!” -Brian H.
©2013 * Organized Classroom “After 29 years, my best advice is to over plan!
Have at least one car go along. Have a small
emergency kit in a plastic gallon zip lock bagit has been handed to a sick kid before. A roll
of paper towels, a charged cell phone, extra
cash. Most of our trips are at least an hour
one way.” -Michele H.
“Pre-plan with the kids so they know what to
expect, give those reliable chaperones some
pre-trip information too!” -Kathy G.
“A scavenger hunt! Students must find the
answer to different questions on the field
trip. For older kids, we allow them to take
pictures and video with their phones to make
presentations.” -Shannon A,
“If the trip will require students to be divided
into groups, go ahead and write their names
in coordinating colors representing their
group. This saves time and you trying to figure
out good pairings on the spot.” -Constance C.
©2013 * Organized Classroom “They have shirts that have their name on
them that are used throughout the year
when there is a sub that they wear. I keep all
emergency contact information with me. I
give each chaperone a note with lunch and
end times on it and my cell #. At lunch I check
in with everyone. Typically groups have 2 kids in
them.” -Emily K.
“For safety, don't use name tags. Strangers
can call them by name. We have put contact
info. On a label inside their shirt where it is not
visible.” -Michele H.
We only do the school name and phone
number on name tags not a child's name.”
-Bonnie Y.
“Tip: Make sure you let parents know not to
drink alcoholic beverages while in the presence
if your students. (Yup! It happened to my
colleague last year.)” -Hilda E.
©2013 * Organized Classroom “When using name tags I put a sticker or colored
dot that matches the name tag of their
chaperone. So if a child can't remember their
chaperone's name, they match up with the
sticker. Always provide chaperones with
guidelines, itinerary, and your expectations. I also
give them tips on how to engage the students in
conversation to make reflection powerful. I also
make a "bus packet" for students to work on
whole traveling. The farther the distance, the
more activities. I make the activities relevant to
the focus of the trip. They work on it while sitting
by their seat buddy. I tie pencils to their clip
boards so they don't get lost and provide
chaperones with a bag of extra pencils that are
sharpened. I give each chaperone a mini "boo boo
bag" filled with band aids and antiseptic cream
just in case. During the bus ride I pass around a
mini notebook and collect all parent chaperones'
cell numbers, just in case it's not what I have on
record with me. I give my parents my cell number
and never put a group with me so I can handle
any difficult situations and visit with all groups.”
-Rachel W.
©2013 * Organized Classroom “I like to pack my backpack full of "everything
you might possibly need even if you think you
won't need it"...hand wipes, anti-bac gel, paper
towels, a couple plastic grocery bags,
sunscreen (if outdoors), extra snacks in case
kids forget lunches/snacks, a little cash, band
aids, rubber gloves...you name it, I probably
have it!” -Jill B.
“Being organized and all the kids wear same
shirts!!” -Ashley M.
“We wear school uniforms so being able to find
each other is easy. Having trustworthy
chaperones is key!!!” -Denise B.
“Teacher doesn't take a group so if there is an
issue you can deal with it or a troubled child
can come to you easily.” -Kristi R.
“Go with another teacher if possible so you
have someone to bounce ideas off of in case
of an emergency.” -Rebecca E.
©2013 * Organized Classroom “We tie dye shirts at the beginning of the year
and then wear them every trip. Makes it easy
for the tour guides to know who is in our
group. If I have enough chaperones, I assign
kids to a chaperone, then when ever we
transition I have kids stand by their
chaperone then the chaperones give me a
thumbs up. If it's just me and one chaperone,
one takes the front and one brings up the
back of our line. We also fundraise at school
to raise money. We've done a lemonade war,
sold Popsicles for 50 cents each, and sold
candy grams around holidays. We're in fifth
grade and go on a ton of field trips. Also, be
sure to ask the places you're going for deals.
Many will wave admission fees for schools
with 50% or more free/reduced lunch.”
-Samantha F.
“I NEVER take my own group in case there is an
emergency I need to deal with. I also buy
postcards for the kids to write to their
parents and they get mailed.” -Michelle M.
©2013 * Organized Classroom “You cannot possibly over prepare! It allows you
the luxury of enjoying every exploratory
moment with your kids.” -Karen P.
“backpack with signed emergency forms/
contact numbers, first aid baggie, sharpie,
package of wet wipes, small scissors. put an
extra sandwich and water bottle in your
lunch in case someone forgets, print mailing
labels stickers with school name, school
number, one teacher's name and cell number
and put on each child's back.” -Ging Ruth M.
“Reliable and responsible chaperones, plus
making costs all inclusive (admissions, food,
transportation).” -Donna M.
“Make sure kids know that, if they get lost,
they should STAY PUT!! Not wander half a mile
away to the House of Darkness at the Bronx
Zoo...” -Chris
©2013 * Organized Classroom “We do the tie dye shirts also. Love it because
they are so bright you can pick your kids out
immediately. We always get compliments on our
shirts. We go with 3 other classes and each
class has their own two colors. We do blue/
yellow, green/yellow, red/yellow, tangerine/yellow.
Always have a backpack with contact numbers
for children, schoolmate., listing of groups with
chaperone cell numbers and I give them my
number, first aide kit, neutral change of
clothes, Kleenex, wipes, and baggies.”
-Barbara N.
“When we go as a grade level, each class makes
a tie-dye shirt in a different color. So if any of
us see a child out of place, even if we don't
personally know the child, we know exactly
which class the child belongs with based on the
color of the child's shirt.” -Christine Y.
“Enjoy them! Even with all the hard work
involved with planning one, I really miss them
now that my system has all but eliminated
them.” -Sabrina M.
©2013 * Organized Classroom “Parent chaperones are a must. Many of my
colleagues only take 1 or 2 chaperones. I take
as many as I can. I divide my class into groups
of 3 or 4 students, depending upon behavior,
and assign each group to a parent. I do not
take on the responsibility of a group. That
frees me to maneuver and oversee all
students without being tied down to just one
group. I can make necessary payments, take
pictures, handle situations, etc. In addition, for
those years when I have a child with extreme
behavior issues, I put in his/her behavior
contract that he/she will only go on field trips
if the parent goes as his/her personal
chaperone. I figure if a child is unable to
control his behavior in a controlled
environment (the classroom), there is no way
I'm willing to put him, myself, or at the class at
risk in an open, unfamiliar environment. And
yes, one year I did have such a child run away
from the group and get lost. It was
frightening!” -Christine Y.
©2013 * Organized Classroom “Pack band aids, tissue, baby wipes, an extra
little bottle of water or two. Save one in case
of an emergency. I had a student who had an
allergy attack of some sort or he sweat
sunscreen in his eyes or something and I used
my whole water bottle to soak his poor puffy
face. It helped!” -Sheila G.
“Get a manila folder. Paper clip a class roster
outside. As students turn in permission slip
forms highlight their name and throw the
form into folder. Always bring a backpack for
lunches and waters. I only allow brown paper
bag lunches so we don't lose any nice lunch
containers.” -Kristin V.
“Try and get more chaperones than needed
so that if any cancel that day you have
extras on hand.” -Kristin V.
“Take a water bottle, bag and paper towels in
case anyone gets sick on the bus!” -Jessica W.
©2013 * Organized Classroom “We put tags on each child, but instead of their
name, it has the school name, teacher name,
and teacher cell phone number. I always have
a backpack with band aids, tissues, wipes,
hand gel, gloves, ziplock bags, grocery bags,
and anything else I think we might need.”
-Debra L.
“Everyone wear regular t shirts, clothes,
Brightly colored.” -Mary H.
“Count your students at every point when
they are all together. Count them before
getting on the bus. Count again before leaving
the bus. Count again at the beginning of
lunch and again before they break for lunch.
Count again before getting on the bus and
finally again when returning to your
classroom. Sounds redundant, but you will
always know someone hasn’t wandered away
from a chaperone who was looking elsewhere”
-Charity from Organized Classroom
©2013 * Organized Classroom