Have a Digital Camera Field Trip in Preschool

Yesterday, I mentioned using your digital camera as an alternative to taking a field trip outside the classroom. Today, I had an opportunity to create a neighborhood field trip using my digital camera. I took the photos and I'm considering turning them into a book to put in our library. This would be the perfect addition to the unit on "Community" we do at the beginning of the school year. I've added some ideas and questions I might want to ask.

What is this sign? Can you see a number? What does it make you think of? 

Have you ever been to a 7-11? What was your reason for going? 

Have you been here before? Some friends go here when they are sick. 

Some friends go here when they need shots to keep them well. 

What can you tell me about your visit here? 

What do you think this place is for? Why? 

Do you remember passing one of these? What is it? 

What does the red and white striped pole remind you of? 

This is a place where people might sit and wait. 

What might they be waiting for? How do you know? 

What else could you do while you're waiting? 

I chose most of these familiar places because of the location of the center. Most of my students live near or in the area and would have been to or at least seen these places before. 

I look forward to hearing about your alternative to field trips. 

Your Friend, 

            

Preschool Alternatives to Field Trips

Its becoming more and more common that Child Care Centers are taking less field trips. For one, field trips require additional time, money and staffing. Second, field trips are a liability. One missing child, or a child left on the bus could be the end of a thriving center. Last, transportation is a big issue for small and large centers alike.

Don't let the fact that your facility cannot provide field trips stop you from finding field trip alternatives. Here's a few ideas to get the ball rolling.




Bring the field trip to you. 
I've had many field trips in my classroom over the years. People in your community are more than happy to stop by and share their passion with your class.
-The Zoo (ask what animals they may be able to bring)
-The Library
-The local supermarket
-The bakery (ask for a discount or coupons for your parents)
-The fire station (ask them to bring stickers and hats)
-The local police department (ask them to bring deputy stickers)
And many, many more!

Create the field trip in your classroom. 
Find props, recruit parents and friends to send items related to your field trip.
-If you're class is studying a specific culture: 
 Encourage your parents to bring in painting, pictures, mugs, or anything that represents that   
 particular unit of study.
-If you're studying a particular place:                                                                 
  What items can you find that are associated with the place? 
  For example, if you're studying the beach you might want to                                    
  bring in shells, a big umbrella, beach towels, swim suits, sunglasses, etc.

Take advantage of technology.
Make use of your dvd player, ipod, video camera, the internet, and digital camera.
-The dvd player
 The library has a great collection of dvd's about places, people and events especially for children.
-The Ipod
 Find music related materials of even stories about your field trip. 
-The Video Camera
  You go on the field trip and shoot video of the place you'd like to share. Enjoy it with your class. 
-The Internet
  There's a fantastic site called KidvisionVPK. The teacher Mrs. Peggy and her students go on 
  exciting field trips and invite you to come along. 
-The Digital Camera
  Take still photos of the place. Bring the photos to school and share them in circle time, 
  create a photo center or even use them to make a slide show. 


Keep in mind field trips are fun. They help children tie together the lessons you've been teaching. They provide valuable learning experiences and promote an expanded vocabulary.

Even if your school or childcare facility shy away from field trips. You can still provide some rewarding field trip alternatives right in your own classroom.

Preschool Painting With Celery

Welcome Back Friends from your Thanksgiving vacation. I hope you all had a fabulous holiday. I spent a few hours in the kitchen on Thanksgiving morning preparing a big dinner for my family. One of my tasks was to dice the vegetables for the stuffing. When I got to the celery I notice what a beautiful flower it made inside once the stalks were removed. Of course I couldn't wait to see what it would look like covered in paint. This project is perfect for younger preschoolers whose fine motor skills aren't fully developed.

 This is how the celery looked when I cut the stalks off. Isn't that pretty? 

I put orange paint in the bottom of a plastic bowl, and dip the celery inside. 

Celery is usually inexpensive especially around the holidays. You could use the stalks for some yummy snacks dipped in Ranch dressing or make Ants On A Log. 

       

Preschool Thanksgiving Hats and Head Pieces

It's almost Thanksgiving! In this unit we learned about the Pilgrims and the Native Americans. 

We talked about the clothes they wear, the food they prepared and how they lived. 

We planned our own Thanksgiving  feast and enlisted the help of another teacher to pull it all off. 

We created some hats and headpieces to wear for our Thanksgiving feast. 

Here a some of our creations. 

The Native American girls used crayons and markers to decorate their head piece. 

They chose feathers to tape in place and finish the look. 

The boys did similar head pieces using more feathers. 

 The Pilgrim boys used black, white and yellow construction paper to make their hats. 

We measured the bands around their head. 

Then, the students glued the front of the hat to the band. 

The Pilgrim girl hat was a little more tricky and required more adult help. 

We used butcher paper to fold in place and added string to secure along the bottom. 

What a great addition to our Thanksgiving unit! 

Feel free to link your Thanksgiving ideas below.  

The Class Tepee

Tepee:
noun: tent of the American Indians, made usually from animal skins 
laid on a conical frame of long poles, having an 
opening at the top for ventilation and a flap door.

Last year one of my pretty handy dads built a tepee for our class. During our Thanksgiving unit we talked all about what it must have been like to live in a place with no running water, no bathrooms and no TV to watch. The tepee was considered a classroom center. 

The kids were allowed to take books and toys inside when was their turn.

 

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