Book Study: Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites: Chapter 3 {Field Trips}

Hi All,

I'm linking up with Mrs. Will's Kindergarten for our blogger book study!

It's time for chapter 3 of Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites!!!

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Strategy 3:

Field Trips

"The purpose of the brain is not to make good grades or to score high on standardized tests.  The brain has one purpose - survival in the real world."

Can somebody, anybody PLEASE get this through the thick skulls of our legislators?  I'm seeing more and more teachers feeling more and more compelled to teach to the test - focusing their efforts on test prep rather than STELLAR teaching.  I'm not at all, not even a little bit, saying I blame them. I completely understand their plight - I recently purchased a test prep pack myself and I would have NEVER thought I'd feel compelled to do that.  

What do I always say?  BALANCE & MODERATION people...that's where it's at!

Marcia Tate goes on to say..."Is it any wonder that the places that you travel to in the real world are long remembered? This would make the strategy of field trips one to be remembered."

We are finishing up our learning of plants in science.  We culminate this unit by going to a local metropark where the students get to see everything we've been learning in its natural setting.  It's no surprise that I have third and fourth graders and even high school students come back to me and ask if I remember the time we tapped maple trees and made pancakes back at school?  Of course I remember, it was snowing and FREEZING...HA!

Aside from remembering the experience they remember the content.  Isn't that what this whole book is about?  Providing as many experiences as we can for our students to cultivate those dendrites...we want them to make connections to their learning in such a way that they won't easily forget their meaning.  

What I think I appreciate most about this chapter is that Marcia Tate acknowledges the fact that we might not all be able to take field trips - they can be costly.  That shouldn't stop you from giving your students a change of scenery.  I know sometimes I get stuck inside the confines of the four walls of my classroom  - but once I remember to think outside of that physical box my imagination can create experiences for my students that closely resemble that of an actual field trip.

Some other ways you can change the scenery:

*Take a walk around the inside of the school - clipboard in hand - looking for writing ideas

*Visit another classroom in your school - buddies

*Skype/FaceTime with other classrooms around your district, country, world

Some Virtual Websites to Consider:

  field trip zoom, virtualfieldtrips.org

While you and I knew their importance and significance in a child's learning - isn't it nice to have research to back it?

"Field trips, including those that are virtual, enable teachers to create as many authentic, experiential experiences as possible.  These spatial memories are embedded in the brain and need no rehearsal." {Fogarty, 2001}

How do you incorporate field trips into your instruction?  

Do you go on more than one field trip each year?

If you aren't able to go on field trips - what are some ideas you've done instead?