Class Trip- Destination Washington, DC

The school trip – a rite of spring

It is an annual rite of spring, much like the senior prom. I am referring to the phenomenon known as the class trip. Each year, the economy and the local school board permitting, thousands of middle and high school students board charter busses (or planes) and head for variety of destinations. Some end up at Walt Disney World where the focus is on enjoyment and entertainment. Other schools prefer a more historical and educational experience.  A major destination for many seems to be Washington, DC- our nation’s capital. A trip here can be a life changing experience with memories that  can last a lifetime.

Washington is a great field trip destination with dozens sites for students. It is a social studies teacher’s dream trip. Despite the high cost of transportation and hotel rooms, one of the pluses of DC is that all federal sites are free. The Smithsonian, Arlington National Cemetery, the White House, Capitol, the Supreme Court and the Library of Congress, all have no admissions fees.

I was in Washington DC last week visiting some of my favorite sites. I finally got to see the inside of the Supreme Court building as I had always been in DC on a weekend when the Court is closed.

I was gratified to see so many students for all over the country visiting the sites that they had read about for years. Many were decked out in bright colored tee shirts or hats so that teachers and chaperones could keep track. Some students seemed disinterested, spending more time texting or listening to tunes on their IPods rather than taking in the sites. For others there was an air of exhilaration- perhaps they were away from home for the first time. Some had a the “ Aha” moment- so that’s where Barak Obama lives.

Carrying out a successful class trip requires a great deal of planning. Some teachers, with much foresight, had contacted their legislators, months  before the trip, to arrange for special tours of the Capital or White House that are not generally opened to the public. Some of the more convenient or less expensive hotels fill up first , months in advance of a visit. There are also professional tour companies that will plan your entire experience and cater to school groups.

Here are some tips for teachers planning future class trips.

A)      Prepare several pre- trip activities. Have students complete some research of their destination. There are great web sites that will help get students ready. The U.S. Supreme Court’s website is a very helpful prior to visiting the building. Go to www.supremecourt.gov.

B)      Have students keep a journal or diary of their trip. They can add photos from their digital cameras or cell phones to create scrapbook of their experience.

C)      Develop a follow up activity when the students return home. You  might for example have groups of students  prepare a newscast sharing with the class what they saw and experienced.

D)     Teachers should keep a log of the trip and activities making notes about the best sites, what to avoid next year, and where to eat or stay.

Finally I recommend viewing the web site www.historyexplorer.si.edu. This site from the Smithsonian has great ideas for trips with free resources teaching and learning American history.