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FIELD
TRIP OPTIONS: Pumpkin Patch Fire Station
You are invited to share your tips and memorable and/or funny experiences!
JoAnna
Clark, from New York reminds us that:
The
best "Pumpkin Patch" field trip is a pumpkin farm where children can enjoy hayrides,
corn maize, and pumpkin and gourd picking.
From
Stormie:
Random notes:
1. Visit the "patch"
in advance and request a preschooler field trip for yourself and gather information:
*What are the fees for the pumpkins
(and hayride, if one is included)? Are adult and child fees the same?
*Get copies of maps and written
directions for parents if available
*How
long will the trip take including the time it takes to get there and back?
*Will a snack be provided?
*Consider what children need to
wear (are boots needed, for example)
*How
big are the pumpkins that children will be getting? (I've
been on trips where the pumpkins were too big for the children to carry).
Will children also be getting gourds, corn, coloring books, and other items?
Make preparations with parents for how items are to be carried.
2.
Make reservations early!
3.
Before leaving, prepare the children:
*What
will we be seeing/doing?
*Answer
questions: What is a hayride? Will I be afraid? What is a gourd?
Before the trip activity: Mini-Geography: (Make
a note that you can do this for any field trip.): On a large sheet of paper, draw
a simple map of the route you're taking to get to the pumpkin patch. Children
can trace it with their fingers.
Post Field Trip Activity: Pumpkin
Patch Memories Collage: Ask the farm owners in advance if it's ok to gather
weeds, seeds, leaves, vines, etc that could be used for a group collage upon returning
to the classroom the next day.
Group Time
Discussion Points: What did you like best about the trip? Was there
anything you didn't like?
Here's a great book
to read before leaving on the field trip:
Pumpkin
Day, Pumpkin Night, by Anne F. Rockwell; Megan Halsey, Illustrator:
Jeffrey goes with Mom to pick out a pumpkin.
MAKE HEAD COUNTING A HABIT!!!!!!
Fire
Station
Random notes from Stormie:
First, consider whether you want to take the children to the fire station or have a firetruck and firefighter come to the school.
I was taught that a fire station field trip for preschoolers should include these topics of interest: Fire safety, the fire station itself, firefighting uniforms, firetruck, and fire fighting equipment
As with any field trip, take the tour yourself first and find out:
*Is the tour more hands-on rather than "sitting and listening" for too long?
*Does the guide discuss fire safety with the children on a preschooler level of understanding?
*Will children get to see, get into, and/or touch a firetruck? Listening to the siren is a bonus if children are prepared in advance
*Is the firefighter uniform introduced? Can children touch it, experience it?
*Are children introduced to the fire station itself (see and experience where firefighters eat and sleep)? Telling the children about a typical firefighter's day is a bonus.
*Will children get to see and touch some of the fire fighting equipment?
*How long does the tour take?
*How long does it take to get there?
By the ways:
*Where are the restrooms?
*Will you be back in time for snack or should it go along with you?
Make reservations well in advance.
MAKE HEAD COUNTING A HABIT!!!!!!
Out of the
mouths of babes....