Educational things?

[iheartdisney]

I go to DL at least once a month, so I shouldn't have to ask, but alas, my mind is blank!
Long story short, my DD7 has issues... her class field trip is this week, and her teacher has said she can't go if I don't. And since DH can't get off work and I can't find anyone to watch our younger children, she can't go.
So I figured why not have a family field trip to Disneyland instead?
The only educational stuff I've come up with so far is visiting Mr. Lincoln and the Animation building.
Any other ideas?

 

[Raindown]

Petting zoo/farm/animals at Big Thunder Ranch?

 

[erinbharris]

I have no suggestions, but wanted to send you a hug--I'm a teacher, and we'd NEVER tell a family that their child couldn't come on a field trip. Regardless of the 'issues'.

Ok, one suggestion...get ice cream at some point, talking about dairy is educational!

 

[DisSarahK]

Ride lots of rides and see which ones go clockwise

Seriously though, you can make anything educational. Make a graph chart at home for something (anything) and fill it out in Disneyland. It could be about flower colors, balloon colors, predicting how many rotations King Arthur Carrousel makes during one ride vs how many rotations Dumbo makes...lots of possibilities

 

[LuLusApple]

There was a great thread on here about condor flats and the aviation history particularly in soarin' I think it was by oc_Tony? It is a great thread tho, I found it educational. I'll try to find it

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Are you going to parkhop? How about the tortilla factory and the bread factory where you learn about tortilla-making and bread-making? Blue Sky Cellar is fun too; you can learn about themepark-making.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Learn a little of the history of Disneyland and Walt Disney. He really did have a big effect on our culture.

Estimation- how long will it take to get through the line? Then time it.

 

[oc_tony]

There was a great thread on here about condor flats and the aviation history particularly in soarin' I think it was by oc_Tony? It is a great thread tho, I found it educational. I'll try to find it

Here's the thread on aviators and aircraft in the Soarin' queue.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2391623

 

[LavenderPeach]

How about going to the GCH lobby to see Arts and Crafts style architecture.

Or, how about food groups at lunch.

Buying souvenirs to learn about money. Maybe bring some coins so she has to count out the exact change.

Reading - read the wait time boards, the menus, the plaque above the tunnel, etc.

She could learn how to use a map. Pick a ride or attraction and then have her use the map to find her way over. I guess that wouldn't work if she knows the park really well but maybe you could find something on the map that she doesn't usually see.

 

[specialks]

Maybe a little too much for 7 yrs but you could talk about the different countries represented in It's a Small World and then find them on a world map.

 

[iheartdisney]

What awesome ideas! Now I'm coming up with something for everyone based on their levels!
Last trip, to keep her distracted while we rode Pirates, I had her count the beards and miustaches (to give her something to think about besides how much she hates the ride)
In case you are wondering, she counted 54.

 

[taylor3297]

I go to DL at least once a month, so I shouldn't have to ask, but alas, my mind is blank!
Long story short, my DD7 has issues... her class field trip is this week, and her teacher has said she can't go if I don't. And since DH can't get off work and I can't find anyone to watch our younger children, she can't go.
So I figured why not have a family field trip to Disneyland instead?
The only educational stuff I've come up with so far is visiting Mr. Lincoln and the Animation building.
Any other ideas?

Is she in a public school? If so they allow the teacher to decide if a child can go or not? When I was teaching (which was recent) we were never allowed to tell a child they were not allowed to go on a field trip, even if the child had issues. If a parent could not go along, then that child would be my best buddy for the day. Sometimes, I would have several best buddies during a field trip. I would be calling the teacher on this one.

 

[reynmagsmom]

I also have a son with "issues" and he has never been left behind for a field trip with or without me he is now a senior in high school and does alot of community stuff without me along during school as it is part of his program but that just doesnt sound right or fair......there are laws that protect our little ones from this type of situation and I too would call not only the teacher but your district superintendent....
But as others have said there are many things at DLR that can be made educational!!!

 

[LuLusApple]

Here's the thread on aviators and aircraft in the Soarin' queue.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2391623

Ahh thanks I need to bookmark it Great thread! Thanks

 

[earlysummer84]

ya, It's so difficult but I think u should arrange to let her go with class.

 

[iheartdisney]

I think it is standard in this area. Last year in Kindergarten, at a different school, different district, the teacher had the same rule- she doesn't go if I don't, and the field trip was only to a lemon grove, about 2 blocks from the school. At the time Dh's cousin was living with us, so we had built-in childcare

 

[skiingfast]

She could record the line in time, the load time vehicle to vehicle and the guests per ride vehicle to figure out the ride capacity, or how many people were in line in front of you. How many ice creams you can get for $100? How much 25 cokes cost? She could talk to one of the CM's on the mainstreet learn about taking care of the horses or how a steam engine works from the conductor on the dineyland railroad.

There is tons of history throughout adventurland and frontierland. you could take a loop on the rivers of america and talk about where riverboats traveled and why people took them.

i could go on forever the parks are too rich in detail.

 

[azdisneylover]

You can show your child the different in metals by making pressed pennies with pennies prior 1980 and pennies after 1980. You can also make it a learning experience when you clean the pennies with vinegar and baking soda before you go. You can talk practice telling time when you get into a line, see what time it is from the certain point, and periodically check your watch. Read the story in the castle. In DCA, you can talk about perspective and how bugs see things, etc. Main street, you can talk about how technology has changed the way people travel, (by foot, trolley, car, double decker bus, train).
Maybe you can give your children disposable cameras to take pictures, then make a report or story with the developed picture explaining everything they learned on their field trip.
(The best thing I get reminded is, there is always a place where a family can go and EVERYONE has a good time). Thank you, Walt.

 

[amym2]

We pulled DS out of school for a week to go to WDW last year (he was in 1st grade) and his teacher gave him a disposable camera. Every day DS wrote down his favorite rides and anything memorable, and when we got home he added photos to his "journal." He took it in to read to the class. Since he's not a big fan of writing or public speaking, this was an accomplishment! Last October we pulled him out of school to go to Washington D.C. and when we got home he made a poster about what he had learned and showed it to the class. Maybe your DD could do something along those lines?

 

[NStramler]

I think it is standard in this area. Last year in Kindergarten, at a different school, different district, the teacher had the same rule- she doesn't go if I don't, and the field trip was only to a lemon grove, about 2 blocks from the school. At the time Dh's cousin was living with us, so we had built-in childcare

I would be talking to someone at the District Office about this "policy". It is not fair for a child to be left behind just because her/his parents can not arrange to go on the field trip with them. I know you are planning on taking her to Disneyland anyway but I am sure she would enjoy the trip with the other students and teacher so much more this time. The next day the kids are going to be talking about what they did, say, etc and your little one is going to be left out of that also. Again, I would be knocking that door down demanding that my child not be excluded from the interaction of a field trip with her peers!!! Kids can be cruel and you can bet that those little ones will know that she was not "allowed" to go.... Better to put a stop to this now instead of letting it go on any longer. Good luck!