Argues that historic sites permit students literally to make a connection to earlier people that cannot be duplicated in a classroom. Describes how visits to Curtin Village (Pennsylvania), a Juniata River canal (Pennsylvania), the Gettysburg battlefield (Pennsylvania), and the Antietam battlefield (Maryland) are incorporated into a study of U. S.…

Describes the "Close Up Capital Experience," a program to encourage greater civic participation by exposing middle-school students to the democratic principles, history, and political process of the United States. Outlines a four- or five-day schedule that incorporates active student-centered learning using cooperative structures and…

Argues that the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a useful tool to help teachers understand their students' differences and learning preferences. Describes the use of the MBTI at a Catholic elementary school and a related project to link the appreciation of differences to a field trip to a flower show. (MAB)

Presents activities for use during and after nature walks to help young children learn about trees. (PR)

Proposes using a winter field trip to explore how various plants on a campus thermoregulate. Describes techniques for determining the location of cold stresses in plants and how plants manage to deal with the cold stresses. (DDR)

Mini-field trips to the boiler room and bus garage at a South Dakota elementary school increased student interest in their school and community and resulted in increased attendance. Photographs, interviews, and a student-produced book on the trips reinforced student interest and provided the means to integrate the curriculum and incorporate…

A federal district judge dismissed a suit brought by two students against a high-school principal who found marijuana in their hotel room on a senior class trip. Although the Fourth Amendment governs searches of students by school employees, employees need not have probable cause for a "reasonable" search. (MLH)

Notes factors for determining feasibility of field trips: age of children, value, uniqueness, children's interests, safety, distance, cost, and responsibility. Presents guidelines for organizing field trips including rules, supplies, and parent notification. Includes suggestions for traditional and alternative trips such as backyard field trips.…

Describes a case study that takes readers through a human-centered design process used in developing an "Active Learning" tool, CurioCity, a game for students in grades 7-10. Attempts to better understand multiculturalism and to bridge formal in-school learning with informal field trip learning. (SC)

Offers pointers to keep in mind while planning an outdoor adventure. These include establishing clear behavioral expectations, having specific assignments for students to complete that focus their attention, being flexible in natural settings, communicating strategically, carrying props, and planning ahead. Includes a checklist for logistical…

Virtual field trips offer a new way for teachers and students to visit historical sites and museums. Most notably, virtual field trips provide access to places that normally would be impossible for classrooms to visit, and this, in turn, provides a plethora of learning possibilities for the classroom. Why should teachers consider creating a…

Museums are rich resources of artifacts, archives, and experiences. Today, teachers can access those resources to enhance student learning in more ways that ever before. Technology has allowed museums to make natural and cultural information free and available to those who visit onsite or online. This article features an online activity that…

Each year, about 70 4th- and 5th-grade students from an elementary school in an Indiana urban area participate in an extracurricular social studies enrichment program called the Clio Club. Clio is derived from the Greek muse of history, and the club offers a variety of activities to help students discover and interpret social studies beyond the…

Many changes are taking place in our country. Technology continues to impact on the workplace, demographics are changing the face of our neighborhoods, communities, and work environments. Globalization is placing greater demands on the economy and on workers. Educators and employers must face the challenge of how to prepare learners for new roles…

Ongoing media coverage of the dangers of fieldwork and guidance from some teacher unions is placing fieldwork under threat in many English primary schools. Most teachers believe that fieldwork experiences are a valuable part of geographical learning, but how do children actually articulate the understanding arising from this? The research took…