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Share your ideas too. E-mail me at stormie@preschoolbystormie.com
FIELD TRIPS: Do you have favorite March field trip experiences, tips, funny stories, etc?
From
Stormie:
Personal Note:
When I lived/worked in Columbus, Ohio, I remember that the airport there had a
viewing balcony where you could watch planes take off and land. I haven't
checked out other airports but I'm guessing that all the big ones have such an
area. Just keep in mind that planes are much louder and much bigger this
close up and although the experience is very exciting, it might be scary for some
young children, so be sure they are developmentally ready for such a trip.
Don't forget to:
*Check on parking fees
*Make reservations
months in advance
Topcis of discussion related to the airport:
*Weather as it relates to safe air travel (on preschooler
level of understanding) (For example, sometimes airplanes have to wait until
the weather is good before they take off.)
*Big planes
versus little planes (size, how many people they can carry, one is louder than
other when taking off/landing, etc)
*Discuss these community
helpers: Air Traffic Controller, Pilot, Stewardess
*Thought
Question: How do airplanes get fuel? Do they pull up to a gas station
like cars do? (Define the word "fuel.")
MAKE
HEAD COUNTING A HABIT!!!!!!
Here's
a bit of humor shared by Julaine Nelson:
When the bus driver stopped at the bus to pick up Chris for preschool, she
noticed an older woman hugging him as he left the house. "Is that your
grandmother?" she asked. "Yes," Chris said, "She
came to visit us." "How nice," the driver said, "Where
does she live?" "At the airport," Chris replied, "Whenever
we want her, we just go out there and get her."
Beth
Bennett from Fairbanks, Alaska:
Helicopter Trip:
During Our "Transportation" unit, we took a field trip to the Ft. Wainwright Army
Post. One of our school's dads flies Chinook helicopters and is in charge
of their flights. He set it up for us so that we could go out to the hangar
and get on board one of these huge helicopters. We had 16 kids and 4 dads!
The children were taken, two at a time, into the cockpit. They were allowed
to put on $2500 radio helmets, talk through the radio, move the "stick" around
and ask him questions. The "guys" at the post spent about an hour with us.
They never once said, "Don't touch that." I want to emphasize here the need
to get dads involved in preschool activities. They want to participate.
Hooray for dads!
Thanks
to Peggy Smith, Preschool Director in Chicago, Illinois for starting us
off with this fabulous idea:
Milking Station:
There aren't many farming families represented in our Chicago classroom, so after
we visit a farm, we set up a milking station in the classroom near the water table:
Poke very small holes in the fingertips of rubber gloves (use the strong Playtex
type, not the cheapies you use for changing diapers, etc). String a rope
between two chairs, then using clothespins, attach several rubber gloves to the
rope, attaching only one side of the glove so that it hangs open. Now the
fun part begins: Fill the gloves with water, place a bucket under the glove and
a chair next to the space. Have the preschooler sit and pull and squeeze
to see if s/he can get the water out of the glove. They work at it like
crazy, have a great time, make a HUGE mess (not their problem) and appreciate
that glass of milk they had at breakfast. Kids remember doing this for years.
From Stormie:
Learn from my experience: In advance of taking
children to a farm, make sure you walk the same exact pathway the children will
be walking. Is there lots of mud? Will boots be required? Is
there lots of cow/horse (or other animal) manure? I found out one year
that some parents strongly object to their children walking through manure --
even in boots. Personally, I would expect it at a farm, and would expect
to have to do some cleaning of boots before children get back into the vehicles
they came in. So, just be prepared and prepare parents -- don't take
anything for granted!
Alternatives to a trip to the farm:
*Take children to watch a farmer plow a field.
*Take
children to see cows grazing.
*In-House Field Trip:
Have someone bring a pony to the school for children to ride.
Other
Field Trip Options:
*Take children to watch a van
or truck being loaded with something (transportation theme).
In-House Field
Trip: Have someone bring a kite to the school and fly it for the children
(wind/air theme)
MAKE
HEAD COUNTING A HABIT!!!!!!
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Reminder
from Stormie: If you would like to begin collecting ALL my current classroom
ideas (each on a 4 x 6" index card), as well as new ones that I create, you
can do so by ordering my "Activity Cards." Click here
to check them out.
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