Published with Permission
\nWritten by Kelly Vittoria
\nwww.TOSMagazine.com<\/p>\n
As any homeschooling family knows, much of our children\u2019s learning actually takes place outside of the home. Field trips can be an exciting, if not essential, component of your family\u2019s curriculum. They spark an interest in children of all ages and can be valuable resources to enhance lessons being taught in the home.<\/p>\n
Following is a list of ten free or low-cost field trips that can boost learning and in some cases help nourish your child\u2019s soul:<\/p>\n
1. Pizzeria\/Bakery<\/strong><\/p>\n Major Educational Themes: Nutrition, Science<\/p>\n How to Schedule: Start by calling around to your favorite spots, explaining that you and your group would like to request an educational tour. There may be a nominal fee for supplies.<\/p>\n Bonus: Children may be able to make an edible treat to take home.<\/p>\n 2. Music Store<\/strong><\/p>\n Major Educational Theme: Music<\/p>\n How to Schedule: Again, calling a local business to inquire about a tour is the way to go. This tour should be free.<\/p>\n Bonus: This is an opportunity for parents to ask about instrument rentals and lessons offered, if their children are not already studying a musical instrument. Children may be invited to handle and play different instruments, getting a feel for which one(s) they might be interested in.<\/p>\n 3. Police Station<\/strong><\/p>\n Major Educational Themes: Social Studies, Personal\/Public Safety, Science (forensics for older children), Problem Solving\/Critical Thinking, Public Policy\/Law Enforcement<\/p>\n How to Schedule: Research your community\u2019s police station non-emergency<\/em> phone number. Do not call 911 to schedule a tour. This tour should be free.<\/p>\n Bonus: Police stations often offer parents public safety materials such as child identification kits, which help law enforcement officers safely locate children in the event that they are missing. Some police departments work in cooperation with the area school system and\/or children\u2019s hospital to provide public relations programs such as Safety City, a miniature model of a city where elementary-aged children drive mini-cars and learn safety related to bicycles, pedestrians, vehicle traffic, stranger danger, and school buses. Sponsors often offer a take-home workbook curriculum as well.<\/p>\n 4. Firehouse\/Ambulance Station<\/strong><\/p>\n Major Educational Themes: Fire Safety, Health (basic first aid), Science<\/p>\n How to Schedule: As with those listed above, be sure to use the non-emergency line when calling about a tour. Since firehouse tours can be popular with public schools, Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops, and other organizations, unless you have a particularly large homeschooling group, be prepared for the possibility of having to share a tour. This tour should be free, but donations may be accepted or expected if your town relies on a volunteer fire department.<\/p>\n Bonus: Children may get the chance to try on a fireman\u2019s suit and\/or helmet. Take your camera.<\/p>\n 5. Farm<\/strong><\/p>\n Major Educational Themes: Science, Math & Economics\/Industry, Local History<\/p>\n How to Schedule: Look up the phone number of a farm near you, and when you call, ask to speak to the owner or manager. You may have a better chance in the off-season, before harvest, when staff members may be more readily available to give a tour.<\/p>\n Bonus: Many farms will offer free or low-cost samples of their products. Farms that raise seasonal products, such as apples, strawberries, and pumpkins, may allow your children to pick their own produce to take home.<\/p>\n 6. Play or Concert<\/strong><\/p>\n Major Educational Themes: Music\/Performing Arts, Literature<\/p>\n How to Schedule: To save money, keep your eye out for performances that are being held at churches, colleges, and toward the end of the traditional school year, at public high schools. If your community has a local theater for the performing arts, you may have the luxuries of more choices and more professional performances. Depending on which venue you opt for, there will be a varying fee.<\/p>\n Bonus: You may get a discount on tickets if you have enough homeschoolers in your group.<\/p>\n 7. Hospital\/Medical Center<\/strong><\/p>\n Major Educational Theme:\u00a0 Health, Science Note:\u00a0 For security reasons, the newborn nursery may be off limits, but be sure to ask!\u00a0Seeing new life is exciting for children and parents of all ages. 8. Art Studio<\/strong><\/p>\n Major Educational Themes: Art, Art Appreciation<\/p>\n How to Schedule: Call a nearby studio and ask if they can offer a special tour for your homeschooling group. If not, consider attending an open house, which is usually offered free of charge. The studio may also offer an introductory painting, drawing, or sculpting class to interested students, for a nominal fee.<\/p>\n Bonus: Children will be able not only to see completed works of art, but they also may have the opportunity to watch an artist create a piece. Many artists are more than happy to answer questions about their work, including questions about style, method, and inspiration.<\/p>\n 9. Recycling Plant<\/strong><\/p>\n Major Educational Themes: Environmental Preservation, Science<\/p>\n How to Schedule: Some recycling plants do not offer tours, for safety reasons, so be sure to call and ask before making any plans. This tour should be free.<\/p>\n Bonus: Children may be able to make a small craft out of recycled materials.<\/p>\n 10. Soup Kitchen\/Food Pantry<\/strong><\/p>\n Major Educational Themes: Social Responsibility\/Charity, Nutrition<\/p>\n How to Schedule: Most soup kitchens and food pantries are desperate for volunteers and are more than happy to teach the community how they operate. There should be no cost for this tour, but donations of food, money, or time would be eagerly accepted.<\/p>\n Bonus: Your children will leave with the satisfaction of knowing that they helped the less fortunate. They will also come home with a renewed sense of appreciation for God\u2019s blessings and Jesus\u2019 message about helping the less fortunate and downtrodden.<\/p>\n Kelly W. Vittoria is a writer, registered nurse, childbirth educator, and former homeschooling mother of one. She lives on Long Island, New York, with her son DeVante and their cat Lisa. She would love to hear from you and can be reached at <\/em>KellyVittoriaWrites@yahoo.com<\/em><\/strong><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n Copyright 2012, used with permission. All rights reserved by author. Originally appeared in the April 2012 issue of The Old Schoolhouse\u00ae Magazine, the family education magazine. Read the magazine free atwww.TOSMagazine.com<\/a> or read it on the go and download the free apps atwww.TOSApps.com<\/a> to read the magazine on your mobile devices.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Published with Permission Written by Kelly Vittoria www.TOSMagazine.com As any homeschooling family knows, much of our children\u2019s learning actually takes place outside of the home. Field trips can be an exciting, if not essential, component of your family\u2019s curriculum. 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\nHow to Schedule:\u00a0Call the main\u00a0phone number of your local hospital(s) and ask to be directed to their public relations or similar department. Tours can vary in nature from an administrator walking your group through the main hallways explaining the mission of the hospital to a nurse educator\u00a0explaining how\u00a0germs are spread and offering health tips.\u00a0 This tour should be free, though you may have to pay for parking.<\/p>\n
\nBonus:\u00a0 Some\u00a0facilities offer surprisingly peaceful and inspiring chapels or general prayer\/worship areas, which offer a nice break from the\u00a0overall coldness and\u00a0possible chaos that may be found in a hospital. Children may be given some souvenirs to take home, such as\u00a0a paper surgical cap.\u00a0Also, being familiar with the facility may help reduce children\u2019s\u00a0potential fears should they or a family member ever require hospitalization.
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