Field Trip Ideas

Dance Performance

  • Attend a dance or gymnastics performance or practice at a local studio, school, or professional organization. Children will observe the many different movements of the performers.
  • In advance, discuss what children will see, who the performers are, and how they learn their dances. Discuss and demonstrate good audience behavior.
  • Following the performance or show, invite a performer to talk with the children, demonstrating various movements and encouraging children to perform as well. Take photos, if possible.
  • When you return to school, talk about the trip highlights. Play music and invite children to put on their own performance.

Nature Observations

  • Children will observe movements in nature. Bring children to the outside play area or to a park. They will be very, very quiet as they observe movement all around them. Ask them to whisper when they speak, paying the most attention to using their eyes to see even slight movements.
  • Have children lie on their backs on the grass and look up at the clouds and birds passing overhead. Ask children to listen for the wind and to look for swaying tree branches, leaves, and grass. Remind them to whisper.
  • Encourage children to look under rocks and on the ground to watch insects move. Use a magnifying glass if you wish.
  • Following this nature observation trip, have children quietly demonstrate the movements they saw.