Nothing sparks curiosity like going beyond the classroom walls. Whether it is taking advantage of McLean’s proximity to the capital to explore government buildings or strolling through museums that record the world’s history, extending class knowledge beyond the textbook is an invaluable experience for students. Yet our school doesn’t take enough field trips to give students hands-on experience that makes learning come alive.
Students would greatly benefit from increased field trips due to the substantial learning opportunities and friendships that they are able to foster on these trips.
More opportunities to leave the classroom are critical in helping students connect school education to real places and concepts.
“Seeing what we learn in class in real life makes the material a lot more interesting and [is] something to look forward to,” senior Marina Lopez said.
According to the Department of Education, students who participate in field trips are more likely to receive better grades on tests and feel more involved in class.
Touring institutions can enhance students’ understanding of classroom material. For example, visiting the Library of Congress will allow students to gain knowledge regarding how the government operates and assist students in their history and civics classes.
Many students have never been able to visit major government sites on their own due to financial limits or lack of transportation. If schools increase the number of field trips students are able to go on, it can give students equal access to these buildings.
Additionally, STEM-related field trips to locations such as Howard or George Washington
University laboratories will allow students to learn beyond their science classroom lab and acquire knowledge from professionals. Students will be able to watch scientific processes and view models and samples that would not be possible in the classroom.
Not only do these field trips benefit the learning of students, but they also form friendships and strengthen bonds between students.
When departments organize field trips, students from different classes are able to travel together. This gives students the chance to meet and interact with people they otherwise would not have.
“Some of my best friends have come from going on field trips and interacting with people I didn’t know very well,” sophomore Rihanna Sharma said.
Field trips also play a significant role in strengthening existing friendships between students as they are able to spend more time outside of school together.
According to Meliksah Demir, Ph.D., a professor at Northern Arizona University, it is companionship and simply doing things together that make teens happy in their friendships.
Some may argue that increasing field trips is too costly and takes away from valuable instructional and work time in the classroom. Additionally, there exist concerns regarding the organization of transportation, supervision and schedules, creating logistical challenges that aren’t worth disrupting the normal school routine.
However, although field trips require extensive planning, the academic and social benefits outweigh the inconveniences. These experiences strengthen what students learn in class by giving them real world examples to refer to. But more than education, field trips also benefit students’ socialization among their classmates.
Ultimately, field trips are not only a great way to learn and retain information, but also to meet new people, build friendships, and bond with their classmates and peers.
