How many field trips does your elementary school child have?

[lisajl]

Just came from a meeting at our school and found out we are down to one this year.
We have fundraisers, especially an art based one, we just passed a levy and they tell us only one field trip.
I was at a meeting last year with our superintendant and she was very angry that kids were not in school and were at a zoo field trip. She said kids should be in school learning and not looking at animals all day.
Not a good thing to say to parents that appreciate their children learning from other areas other than school.
BTW, some of the kids in our area can not afford to go to the zoo, that is the only time they can go.
They have also stopped our walking field trips, ie..the fair, it is coming up next week and it is right down from the school.
Also stopped field trip to government offices here in town.

Thanks for any input.
Lisa

 

[PlutosFriend]

Our school district is one of the largest in our area. Only 1 field trip per year When my son who is now in 3rd, was in KG, they did 2 per year. I don't get it really. If parents are willing to pay for the field trips, what is the big deal?

 

[paigevz]

We used to have 2-3, depending on funds, when I started teaching 12 years ago.

Then, it moved to just 2, then to one.

Now, we're lucky to even get one...........depends on funding, where we're going, and whether it is deemed to have "educational value"............the zoo and the fair are NOT approved.

 

[CEDmom]

We're in a new district this year so I'm not sure yet about field trips. Last year though DD had 1 trip to the planetarium. I feel badly for kids that don't get to go to a lot of places with their families but personally I don't really like the trips.

What DD's school did last year and I think her new school will be doing is having special assemblies with visitors. These are much more reasonable than a trip and there aren't any logistical issues.

 

[TimeforMe]

WOW! That's really too bad. While I can appreciate the fact that they want the children in the classroom learning, I think kids truly need the experiences that out of classroom trips bring as well. My kids are older now (one in hs, one in college), but when they were younger they went on tons of field trips. Maybe 5-6 per year (or more even ) Even my high schooler goes on more than one field trip per year.

 

[Cor44432]

2-3 and we simply have to justify them as being academically connected to
something in our curriculum. (elementary)

 

[lewdyan1]

My fifth grader and third grader both took none last year. I am hopeful the now fourth grader will get one as they study the Everglades and get to go there at the end of the unit. Otherwise, for us, field trips are a thing of the past!

 

[mytwotinks]

We're down to one with our new superintendent too. He pretty much told us not to expect even the one though. The field trips have to be submitted for his approval and he has to agree that they are educational. He just seems to have a very limitted view of what is educational. It wouldn't make me mad if it weren't for the fact that at least once a week all of the kids in each grade end up watching a movie while the teachers have a meeting. It drives me crazy when my 3rd grader comes home and when I ask what she did today she says "we watched finding nemo."

Seems like maybe they could leave the field trips as a special treat and cut out the weekly BS!

 

[mommyintn]

My ds has 2 a year. He goes to a Christian school and one is something fun (like pumpkin patch, farm field trip etc) and the 2nd one is mission oriented. Last year the 1st graders went to some of the nursing homes in town on Valentines day and did a skit and handed out goody bags to the residents (they did 3 that day!). This year for that field trip they'll be touring Childrens hospital and learning about that. It's too bad so many schools are cutting out the field trips.

 

[hlbtimes2]

Typically one per year, and its is mostly funded by the PTA. K was a trip to the district central kitchen, to see where lunches are made. First grade is the zoo. We had to pay a few dollars for that trip. The teachers team it up with a large report on an animal, and they have to study that animal while at the zoo (each child gets a different animal). Second grade is the fair. We had to pay $6 each for it. I dont know what the other grades do.

 

[disneyjunkie]

My niece and nephew attend a charter school (2nd and 4th grades). They have at least one field trip a month. From late April to June, they have two trips a month. Their parents have to pay for all trips.

I teach kindergarten in a day care center. We have 3-5 trip during the school year and about 6 during the summer. We try to keep the cost under $15.00.

 

[krcit]

My kids go on about 2 a year-usually one big one and a little one. Myoldest dd went on 2 last year-one to a math museum , lol, and a great one to Ellis Island. They had a great time there but had hardly any time there at all. A nice story about that trip...the bus went right past Ground Zero and one of the kids said 'let's have a moment of silence" They did and then started spontaneously singing 'Proud to be An American' They had just learned that song for a Heritage Day project. There wasn't an adult on that bus who didn't get choked up These were 5th graders, btw. A memory I'll never forget.

 

[Becky2005]

I'm so glad our school hasn't gotten rid of those yet!

Anyway, our kids usually go on 2-year, plus 5th graders have outdoor ed which is an overnighter.

I just went to our back to school night. The first graders will be going to the Pumpkin farm & to a theatre performance of some kind (I don't remember them doing that in the past for 1st graders).

I didn't hear anything about my 4th grader but I know in the past they have gone to the Art Museum.

It is usually -- Kindergarten: Restored prairie lands; Pumpkin Farm

1st Grade: Pumpkin farm & theatre experience

2nd grade: I can't remember but I'm sure something.

3rd grade: Zoo, walking history tour, Mayor's office (that might be 2nd grade), Pioneer Village, A Christmas Carol (theatre experience). OK...apparently 3rd grade is the field trip year -- I know it's the project year here!

4th grade: Art museum

5th grade: Outdoor Ed

6th grade (Middle School here): Challenger Space Center

Don't have a clue beyond that & those are just the ones I can remember. I know they take an 8th grade trip to Great America but I'm not sure how that is set-up. I think it's for the physics unit but it also might just be an 8th grade bonus because you are an 8th grader (they have several events like that).

We also have a few assemblies and speakers.

 

[mom_of_5]

I have 3 in elementary and they average about 4-5 a year at least. I am always getting a note home asking me to sign and fork over more money. The 4th graders every year go on two big ones as well. One to the the beach, 4 hours away and one to the mountains 5 hours away. Why exactly I don't know but they sure look forward to them. I think kids need a break from the classroom as long as it is educational in some way, they really look forward to it.

 

[frndofpooh]

We have about four a year. We live in an area rich with history so field trips that coincide with curriculum are pretty easy to find. Thank heavens - I feel that DS learns so much on them, and he gets so much more excited about the material!

 

[SwedishMeatball]

Just found this out tonight at Open House. This is for the second graders. The class will visit a butterfly farm where each student will get a cocoon to take back to the school. They will walk over to the HS to see the "big kids" perform in The Wizard of Oz. Also they will be going to see the play Charlotte's Web at NC State.

 

[goofy's friends]

We're down to one a year as well and very strict rules on what is educational!
Kinda sad if you ask me! K-Pumpkin Patch
1st- Zoo
2nd-Was baseball game --their curriculum was around stats, etc. before, but it got turned down last year, so I'm not sure what now.
3rd-Hospital Labs, etc.
4th-not sure

 

[lisajl]

Thanks for the responses. It's a bit disheartening to see the schools getting rid of field trips. I think kids learn a lot by going outside the four brick walls.

Our DD who will soon be 21, started at this school in 2nd grade. She went on a lot of field trips and a few overnighters. It's just a shame that her brothers won't get the same opportunities.

 

[In a hurry]

How can a zoo trip not be considered educational? That is crazy.

My class will have 3 this year. A historical village, a science museum and a farm.

 

[mickeyboat]

It looks like my kids will go on at least three this year - to performances at local playhouses. The science center is coming to the classroom this year, instead of the kids going out there - to show them some birds.

Last year the PTA funded all field trips - at least the parent's portion of the fees. The school still paid for transportation, which I think it the bulk of the cost. Since the PTA spent all that money last year, and has done very little fund-raising, they can't do it again this year

Denae