Field trips are more than just a break from the classroom routine; they are valuable educational experiences that play a crucial role in a child’s development.
Beyond the confines of traditional learning environments, field trips provide unique opportunities for hands-on exploration, interactive learning, and the development of essential life skills. Exposing children to new and diverse environments through field trips can ignite a spark of curiosity and interest in a particular subject.
Field trips also engage multiple senses, offering a richer and more memorable learning experience. Children can touch, see, hear, and sometimes even taste or smell elements related to the topic at hand.
AJA has over twenty unique field trip destinations. Students have visited the Bullock State History Museum, ZACH Theatre, Austin Zoo, Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum, the Austin Rodeo, The Alamo, The Xiang Yun Temple of Fo Guang Shan, and more.
Opportunities for social interaction and teamwork outside the classroom setting are a crucial part of why field trips are important. Field trips are not just fun excursions; they are powerful educational tools that enhance traditional classroom learning.
Seventh grade parent, Greg Jacobson explained, “My daughter being able to visit a Buddhist Temple with her class will be something she will always remember. Being able to experience other cultures and gain an understanding of different religious and cultural backgrounds helps us build the future with more peace.”
Other recent trips include the following:
Kindergarteners visited the Austin Zoo. They loved seeing farm animals (sheep, goats, longhorns, baby chicks, pigs), going to the petting zoo, learning about the chuckwagon used for cattle drives, seeing the pig races, and eating lunch in the big stadium. A favorite student quote from the trip was “The baby goats are trying to eat my jacket!” This trip ties in with their study of birds and hatching chicken eggs¾animals, life cycles, habitats, what we need to survive.
First and second graders went to the Zach Theater for Frog and Toad, the play. Ms. Cutler shared, “The highlight of the trip was experiencing the pure joy on everyone’s faces as we immersed ourselves in the music and humor of the show. The shared laughter and silly stories from the performance made it a truly memorable experience for all.” One student, Zephram, summed up his enjoyment of the play by saying, “What made me laugh was when Toad thought Frog was on the sled but he was not. It was so funny!” He also mentioned, “I liked it because I spent time with my mom.” This field trip tied perfectly into their curriculum as second graders were beginning their fiction writing unit. Witnessing the play brought fiction storytelling to life, allowing them to see firsthand how characters encounter and solve problems. It provided valuable discussion points about the deeper meanings behind the characters’ experiences, enriching the learning in the classroom.
First graders also visited the Austin Zoo, where students observed different animals and their habitats. The Austin Zoo helps rehabilitate animals through rescue, conservation, and education. Romy said, “I saw an animal that I did not know what it was called, a prairie dog, and it was super cute.” Ella said, “We saw a white tiger and I thought it was very cool.” This ties in with their Project-Based Learning on animal habitats and creating a habitat for an endangered animal that they are researching.
Fourth graders’ journey into Texas history at the Bullock State History Museum brought social studies lessons to life, as students engaged with artifacts and historical references learned in class. The day also featured a thrilling STEM activity on electricity, a scenic lunch overlooking the Capitol, and a thought-provoking 3D IMAX movie sparking discussions on sustainability and ocean conservation. It was a day filled with learning, excitement, and important questions about our role in shaping the future.
Fourth and seventh graders traveled to the Alamo in San Antonio as part of their study of U.S. and Texas history in social studies. They viewed different tools used within the Alamo and to defend the Alamo, including weapons, writing supplies, cooking supplies, etc. Students saw where women and children were hidden during the war and how they were the only survivors. Maya stated, “I learned about how the leader died and I learned that it was actually a mission and not just a war. I also found out that the women and children survived when I thought nobody survived. I also saw all of the engravings along the wall from people who had been there.” Gabey stated, “I learned about how to fire a cannon and what the guns looked like and how they fired them. Very different from firing a gun now.” The main takeaway from students was how big of a historical impact the Alamo still has today. They also could not believe how small the actual site is!
Fifth, sixth, and seventh graders didn’t have to go far for their Jewish Studies field trip, because the field trip came to us! Shalom Austin, together with the Anti-Defamation League and other philanthropic organizations, brought a replica of a Holocaust-era cattle car to the Dell JCC. Students viewed artifacts, such as armbands, uniforms, propaganda, and advertisements before entering the cattle car. Once inside, they viewed a 360-degree multimedia presentation that took them from 1933 through1945 and showed what Jewish people experienced before, during, and after their journey in the cattle car.
Students shared that being in the cattle car for just 20 minutes, with only 20 people, gave them a better appreciation for what people endured when there were over 100 people in the cattle car for several days without food, water, or restrooms. Students are delving into a Holocaust unit in the spring, and this gave them an opportunity to see primary source documents and artifacts.
