Field trips that Coordinate with the Curriculum

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Hello! I am brainstorming ideas for field trips that coordinate with the MP curriculum. I would love to culminate our studies with some day trips! I have kids in K, 3m, and 5m, but I'd love to hear ideas from all the cores. Here are some I have come up with:

Famous Men of Rome-
Washington DC would be great, but it's too far for us. We live in Knoxville, TN.
(I especially want an idea that coordinates with Rome!!)

Famous Men of the Middle Ages-
Renaissance Fair

Famous Men of Greece-
Parthenon in Nashville

Famer Boy and Charlotte's Web-
State Fair

Mammals- The Zoo

Geography-
Ethnic Food

I am looking forward hearing your ideas!

-Angelica

[smithamykat]

My field trip idea to coordinate with Rome is an art museum. We are in PA but only a couple hours from NYC, so we've made the trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art twice now. Seeing ancient Greek and Roman sculpture, mosaics, pottery, etc. was pretty amazing and brings those cultures close to us. I don't know if there are any big art museums near you with a Roman collection, but I would look for that! Medieval arms and armor and stained glass were another huge hit with my kids at the museum, so if you can find any of those pieces, that would coordinate with Famous Men of the Middle Ages. Science museums are another family favorite. There's always something that dovetails with our MP science studies, plus fun hands-on activities. Can you tell I love museums? :-)

[Teach05]

I found it easiest to do field trips that tied into the enrichment books. They’re much smaller scale ideas than some of the cross-country trips that tie into the huge government themes.

But here is a mix of a few I can think of:

Local art museum (easy to make a connection to any art study)
Local heritage days and maple-tapping (Little House)
Police station tour (Officer Buckle)
Zoo, aquarium, pet store (Any number of animal books)
Local parks (any number of nature topics)
Local observatory (astronomy)


We often visit these things more than once, but we go in “looking” for certain things. It’s helpful to only plan a few “new” trips or costlier trips and instead focus on leaning into the day-to-day places. It’s easier to tackle actually going.

[Jen_NH]

I also think that a museum trip could easily tie into multiple themes/time periods. Most "big city" museums have an ancient wing with Greek and Roman art. They will also have Medieval and Renaissance wings with paintings and sculptures. I love the other ideas you have and that you're accessing things in your area.

[VAmom]

A few other suggestions: We enjoy YouTube and Rick Steves (a PBS travel show) field trips. Sometimes weather, finances or life circumstances (like new babies) prohibit more involved field trips. One memorable YouTube field trip was we ate popcorn while “visiting the Palace at Versailles” in second grade. We got to oooh and aaah over all the ornate things, and I didn’t have to tell anyone to keep their hands in their pockets. 😁

Also, don’t worry if you don’t make it a particular field trip when you’re studying it. Last year we visited an art museum and my third and fifth grader were very excited to recognize a piece of art from second grade. This year they enjoyed seeing Roman art, even though no one is studying FMOR.

Just as a side note, DC is cool but it is A LOT of walking and standing. Even if it was closer, waiting into your kids are older will be better. They will appreciate what they see more than they would if you went now.

[enbateau]

We went to a lot of art museums at that age. Find as many free ones as you can. Going to a big city is great practice in good manners, ordering tickets, eating at the cafe, using your inside voice, etc. I took kids young. My little guy did lots of whining, but we always stayed to show him whining wouldn't get him out of it, then we ended with good food and a nice dessert. There's so much to be said about seeing a work of art in person, its size, whether the brush strokes stand out or are smooth, whether you can see the light source, who or what is the subject and why the painter chose it (him, her, them). One of my favorite things to do is tell a story or read a book about the artist ahead of time and ask my children what they notice in the art when we see it in person. In ancient art, we find the "story." Sometimes we look for special exhibits and go. You can listen to art podcasts in the car on the way there and try to find some of the details mentioned in the work. Also, try to find guided tours. Museums are becoming good at capturing kids' attention.

We also tour local historical buildings and houses. This is easy on the east coast where the United States was launched, but most states have great living history interpreters, festivals, fairs, and more where costumed history buffs fill your ear with a treasure trove of information kids eat up.

Also, I cannot speak highly enough of just doing the curriculum and learning it well. We are returning home from an incredible tour of the Borghese Gallery, Vatican Museums, Uffizi, Barghello, Academia and Le Louvre. My daughter's Classical knowledge impressed the tour guides we hired, and because they didn't have to fill in the basics, we got an even more incredible art education from experts excited to go deeper. I am so thankful I learned it all along with her (via countless hours of recitation and review) because all of the pieces of the puzzle fit together in a new way. Understanding the history and culture has made it a thousand times richer.

The one thing I lament about modern kid museums and botanical gardens with play structures is that it age segregates kids away from things that they should find fascinating. Travel, explore, go to cities with great architecture (capital buildings, state houses, old mansions, court houses, estates) and ask good questions around your kids. Soon your kids will be wowing you and others.