Geology and meteorology are areas of study found within the earth sciences.
Earth sciences is the umbrella that geology, oceanography, meteorology and any subject that covers earth and space fall under. Students can apply chemistry and physics to how the world works or study fossils that paint a picture of the earth's past. A field trip for an earth sciences class can be an opportunity for students to experience what they have read about in textbooks.
Natural History Museum
Natural history museums are rich with information on the earth's past. Fossils, maps and models of how far the earth has come can be found in a natural history museum. For a field trip, ask the museum if it provides worksheets for the students to fill out to guide them through the museum's exhibits. If not, create questions for students to answer when they return from the field trip by observing exhibits as you explore the museum.
Observatory
Earth sciences include the study of earth's atmosphere and space. Plan a field trip to an observatory to allow students to explore space without ever leaving the ground. If an observatory is not an option, look for IMAX theaters that may have suitable movies scheduled. In the past, IMAX theaters have shown movies such as "Hubble," which explores space through the eyes of the Hubble telescope.
State Parks
Schedule a field trip through a state park. Ask if a park ranger is available to give your group a guided tour of the park. If not, research trail options to take your class on. Students can be encouraged to take pictures of plants, trees and animals they see to classify after the field trip. Students can work in groups to collect information about the park and the information they collected during the field trip.
Greenhouse
In the spring, visit a greenhouse to learn about how it works and why it is necessary in certain climates. Universities' commercial growers may have a greenhouse that your students can tour. Have students research plants and flowers that are common in their area and why some cannot survive in your climate and soil.
Tags: field trip, earth past, IMAX theaters
