Preschool
What We Saw: The classroom was
planning a field trip to a pet store. Before the field
trip, the teachers asked the children to come up with
questions they might like to ask at the pet store. The
teachers wrote the children's questions down on a large
sheet of paper. Two of the questions were "How big is
the snake?" and "Can we pet them?" Another activity that
the teachers planned in preparation for the field trip
involved asking the children to use a clipboard and paper
to draw something in the classroom. The children were
encouraged to draw anything that interested them such
as a fish, a block or a pinecone. The children will be
taking clipboards and paper with them on the field trip
so that they can draw or write about their experience.
After the field trip, the teachers will find out from
the children what interested them the most and then explore
those areas of interest further.
What It Means: The teachers are incorporating
the Project Approach in their classroom. This approach
involves allowing the children to decide what interests
them the most and helping the children to investigate
their interests. Through this investigation, basic literacy
skills are enhanced and children experience excitement
about learning. The children were going on the field trip
with specific questions to ask, they will record what
they seen, and will come back to the classroom to expand
their learning from the field trip.
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Trips Promising Practices
