Field Trip Journal
Field trips are an amazing opportunity for a hands-on learning experience on whatever topic you’d like to focus on. You can use this field trip journal for any field trip you attend this year.
See the other Summer Learning Printables here and stay tuned for the new ones. I love adding new ideas to all the fun summer learning options for kids!
If you’re studying animals, you can visit the zoo, if you’re studying history, you can visit a local historical site.
If you’re studying dinosaurs, visit the museum. Nothing can replace the excitement of being in those places and seeing them in real life. You get a real life-size comparison of dinosaurs and a visit back into time at a historical site that is hard to imagine just from books.
While we’re always on the go during a field trip and chasing kids around making sure we don’t lose anyone. I do like to capture what they’ve learned afterward to see what the kids took away from the experience.
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Field Trip Journal
Each child has their own interests and they’ll take away what intrigued them. This is what makes field trips so great! The idea of a field trip is fun but seeing what the kids get excited about is awesome.
When we visited the art museum, my boys were very interested in the war and battle theme artwork while my daughter really enjoyed the dog ones.
By asking for their written narration or drawing, you’ll see what they learned and what caught their interest. These always make for wonderful keepsakes.
If you’re homeschooling, having a field trip journal is a great thing to have. This really has the kids paying attention and looking for items that draw their focus. They can easily draw or write about their favorite things that they saw during the field trip which is a great way for them to work on their communication skills.
Be sure to check out my Ontario Science Centre Field Trip for a fun example of a super cool field trip for kids!
To extend this activity, find some books that are relevant to the time period or the topic that you’ll be studying during the field trip. Planning a visit to the local library and picking out some new books is a great idea or you can easily order some online, too.
Read ahead of time so they know and recognize the terms and items you’ll find on your trip. This gets them more excited and more engaged during the trip. Plan a topic that you’re wanting them to research before the trip so that they can really have a good idea of something to look forward to.
Science museums or any museums, in general, can be hectic and crazy so if you can learn about their favorite topics ahead of time they’ll be able to make those connections during the trip.
Recommended Field Trip Books for Kids
Before or after you’ve returned from the field trip, you can always dive even deeper. Ask them what they’d like to learn more about and just jump in. It doesn’t have to be planned or structured but you can follow their lead.
The best part about books is that it helps to really dive into the topics that you might be exploring on your field trip. With so many great book options for kids, there’s no doubt that they can have a huge amount of knowledge in their minds before you even leave for the trip.
There are always a ton of book ideas that the kids can easily dive in and start reading as well. I’ve found that when I have books in the house handy, the kids love to pick them up and read them.
You can even pick out a handful of books before the field trip so that the kids prepare and are ready for the day. Make certain to choose a good mixture of factual books and story books so that it keeps their minds open to learning.
Below is just a small sampling of fun books that the kids might enjoy. They’re all quite different from one another but that doesn’t make them any less fun!
Field Trip to the Moon (Field Trip Adventures)Amelia Bedelia’s First Field TripGoing on a Field Trip (Emma Every Day)Field Trip to Volcano Island (Field Trip Adventures)This Field Trip Stinks!Field-Trip Fiasco (The Jitters Series)
Ask each of your kids the same question and you can get all different answers. They will remember things that stuck out to them or that they found really interesting.
I have a child who loves history and one who is more science-minded and loves animals. When we go to the museum their favorite things and the things they stopped to read more about are different.
They’ll take away different things and I love seeing what lit up their eyes. It’s really a lot of fun to stop and see what each person remembers loving from the field trip.
You can even tell them or write down your own ideas so that they’re active in that as well. Use this part of the packet to start conversations also. If the kids have a favorite thing that they learned, ask a few questions digging deeper into it to talk about what they really loved.
Recommended Travel Games and Activities
Consider having these cool and fun past-time games and activities for your little ones handy the next time that you’re planning a field trip. It’s a great way for the kids to get a little bit of fun time while waiting to arrive at your next destination.
Field Trip Mad Libs: World’s Greatest Word GameMini Voyager Travel Activity Kit for Kids, Includes Crafts, Toys & Games Designed for Children’s Independent Play, for Road TripsCcinnoe Erasable Doodle Book for Kids-Toddlers Activity Toys Reusable Drawing Pads, Road Trip Car Game Writing Painting SetBriarpatch I SPY Travel Card Game for Kids, Entertain Children on a Long Road Trip with a Hunt and Seek Card Game, Multi, (639)Bluey Magnetic Playset, Magnet Activity Toys, Perfect Travel or Road TripTEKFUN 2 Pack LCD Writing Tablet with 4 Stylus, 8.5in Erasable Doodle Board Mess Free Drawing Pad for Kids, Car Trip Educational Toys
Download the Field Trip Journal below
Make the most out of your child’s field trip journey! Aside from all the fun, field trips are a great opportunity for learning and discovery of new things. Have a fun trip with your little ones!
More Homeschool Printables
Make certain that you check out some of our other great homeschooling printables. You can mix and match and add them to your lesson planning. Homeschooling is so much fun when you can have themed learning or fun printable ideas for the kids!
How to Catch a Turkey Worksheets by Affordable Homeschooling
Skip Counting Worksheets by 123 Homeschooling 4 me