Zoo
Zoos are a favorite spot for many children. Kids can observe animals they might not otherwise see in the wild. Kids can learn map reading skills, animal facts, and even a bit of geography as they read the descriptive plaques. Bring along one of these zoo scavenger hunts to keep everyone focused.
Aquarium
Aquariums let kids observe aquatic animals that they couldn’t see otherwise. Kids learn to care about protecting our planet when they see the wide range of animals impacted by their choices.
Farm
Working farms are amazing places for kids to visit. Our summer with a CSA taught my children so much about life on a farm and where our food comes from. They learned that things grow in seasons and that sometimes hard work is involved in getting food to our table. Groupon frequently has discounted tickets to farms with family-friendly attractions.
Nature Center
Nature centers frequently host kid-friendly educational opportunities. The employees are an excellent resource for learning about your environment. I love adding in related books, either before or after, our nature center visits. Freshlyplanted.com has compiled a list of 25 kid-friendly nature books.
Historical Site
I highly recommend checking out the historical sites near your home. My kids love history and I think that is in part due to all of our field trips. Field trips to historic spots allow your children to really get a feel for what people of the past struggled with in their daily life. Check out this compiled list of 100 historic sites to see in the United States from This Crazy Homeschool Life!
Factory
Factories are excellent places to learn about manufacturing and assembly lines. You can even tour an Amazon fulfillment center! Just be sure to get on the wait list well in advance of when you want to go. It fills up fast!
Planetarium
A planetarium is an excellent spot for a homeschool field trip if you are studying the solar system or constellations. The light displays are amazing. It does get dark right before the show starts, so it might not be the best field trip idea if your child is afraid of the dark. Check this website for a list of some US planetariums.
Recycling Center
If you have a child that is fascinated with trash trucks, I highly recommend a visit to a recycling center. You can even take a virtual field trip tour of a recycling center online.
Fire Station
Taking a field trip to visit a fire station is an important part of that lesson. Kids can tour the station, but most importantly, they can see a fire fighter wearing all of the gear. Seeing a fully dressed fire fighter in a safe setting helps prepare them. Here is a great field trip response worksheet to help kids process everything they learned.
Police Station
Police stations are a natural fit for any child learning about community helpers or the criminal justice system. I recommend setting up a field trip with your local police station AND the helicopter unit. My kids thought the police station was interesting, but they really gained useful information from the helicopter unit tour. These are the officers that respond to situations such as lost children and catastrophic injuries, so they reinforce safety tips, like always wearing a bike helmet when riding on wheels.
Grocery Store
Grocery stores provide another piece of the ‘where does my food come from’ puzzle. Kids also learn about point of sale, bakeries and delis. Some grocery stores even offer nutrition lessons. Print out this grocery scavenger hunt and kids can find items and compare prices.
Pet Store
Pet stores are a perfect field trip idea if your child loves animals. Many pet stores sell a very limited variety of animals, but they do sell everything needed to care for a pet. Use this pet scavenger hunt at the pet store to lead a discussion about proper pet care.
Art Museum
Even young kids can enjoy art museums if they have the right preparation and parents have the right expectations. Plan to keep the visit fairly short if your kids are young or high energy. Choose 1 or 2 pieces to analyze with this handy guide.
History Museum
History museums are a natural fit for homeschool field trips because they can tie in with history lessons. These museums come in a range of sizes and cover a plethora of topics. You might even find small local history museums located in little old towns.
Science Museum
Science museums usually contain a wide range of science topics so you are almost guaranteed to find something that correlates with a lesson. These museums are usually full of hands on activities and experiments to keep little learners interested and engaged. Be sure to check out the online exhibit guide before you go, so you can see everything you want to see. Here is a list of science centers in the US. Sort it by state to search it a little easier.
Children’s Museum
Children’s museums are a great place for the 3-8 crowd to burn off a little energy while learning a bit too. Typical exhibits include building with large blocks, water play, light tables, and make believe. Many children’s museums offer discount nights every so often.
Fish Hatchery
Fish hatcheries are perfect if your kids have any interest in fish. We toured our local fish hatchery as the salmon were returning to spawn and were able to see gorgeous salmon in all stages of life. They care a little more about keeping our streams healthy because they have seen salmon fighting their way back to the hatchery.
Pumpkin Patch
Some pumpkin patches host a homeschool day each year with discounted entrance and educational classes.
State Parks
State parks frequently host seminars led by park rangers. Some of these seminars are open to the public and some are special requests. Check out the state park website for your state and see what is available.
National Parks
National parks tend to either have gorgeous scenery or historical sites. Kids can even take part in the junior ranger program. Be sure to check out the visitor center. Many national park visitor centers display exhibits that explain what the children will see in the park. Find a national park near you here.
Post Office
Post offices are busy places with lots of moving parts. Schedule a behind the scenes tour and see how mail gets from one part of the country to another. Print off this copy of Post Office I Spy and keep toddlers entertained while their older siblings learn all about the mail process.
Military Base Museum
Military bases can be tricky places to visit, but if you have access to a military base museum I recommend you arrange a visit. The exhibits will be specific to the base. For example, the base in Quantico, VA featured marine involvement in various wars.
State Capitol
Touring your state capitol building is a great way to garner interest in state politics. Every state capitol follows a different protocol for setting up field trips, so you will need to check with your state officials to find out how to set up a tour.
Botanical Garden
Botanical gardens are beautiful enchanting places. We like to just walk around and enjoy all of the gorgeous plant life. If you have an artist on your hands, be sure to bring a sketchbook.
Symphony
Attending a symphony or concert is a great way to foster a love for music. Many symphonies perform special concerts for children. They are shorter in length and play more recognizable tunes. Some even host instrument petting zoos so the kids can get up close and personal with the instruments.
Restaurant
Gather a few friends and call up a local restaurant to schedule a homeschool field trip. Restaurant field trips often include a behind the scenes tour of the kitchen. You might even be able to get a little snack. Restaurants can include a pizzeria, fast food chain and a diner, to name a few.
Movie Theater
My family is a big fan of heading to the movie theater after we finish reading a book. Read the book, watch the movie, and compare which you liked better. My kids start looking forward to this as soon as they start seeing the new movie trailers.
Live Performance
Live performance ideas include puppet shows, plays, and dances, just to name a few. Kids seem to love watching live performances.
Story time
Story times are often hosted by libraries or book stores and they are perfect for young children. Many times the story times have themes. It is great when you can coordinate the theme with a lesson or unit study, but listening to stories is always educational in it’s own right.
What are your favorite homeschool field trip ideas?
