Field Trips

Submitted By: Rebecca Waltz

EDEL 453: Teaching Elementary School Social Science Nevada State College Spring 2014 Instructor: Karen Powell

Field Trips

submitted by: Rebecca Waltz

Primary (Grades K 2) Field Trips

Social Studies Strand Destination Field Trip Description & Notes
Part of Project Wet and the River Wranglers, visiting Baileys pond is a great way for students to understand the ways humans depend, manage and impact natural resources in their community. During field trips to the Baileys Pond, students are introduced to the concept of the Carson River Watershed. Many of the lessons taught at the Watershed cross curriculum subjects as well as teaching other social study standards like map reading. Because its about fifteen minutes away from any school in the Carson City School district and adjacent to Fuji park for a lunch picnic. River Wranglers often provide a printed hand out that allow students to fill in information as they learn at one of the six stations. Contact information:775230-0633 Linda Conlin Because this is a local site that many students are used to seeing in Carson City and they often hold Kids Fishing Day, many K-2 students are familiar and excited to visit. Additionally, because they stock the pond, the fish are usually active. Finally, each fifth grade class participates in the Trout in the Classroom program which many of the younger students look forward to. They would be interesting in preparing for it. This idea was suggested to me by a second grade teacher that was having community issues in her classroom and on the playground in general. She noticed that her students would eagerly point out whenever they saw the D.A.R.E. officer on campus. She asked him to come in as speak to her class about respect to one another and in the community. She said there was a noticeable difference after and students were eager to share how they interacted with one another with the officer. Mark Twain Elementary recently had Miss Nevada come to their school as a reward for their successful reading program. She also took the opportunity to talk about respect and community service. The students (all grades) were excited to see what some called their State Princess. Either guest speaker would meet the standard by talking about the importance of community service and discuss their commitment to the community.
Nevada State College EDEL 453 - Spring 2014 Karen Powell- Instructor page 2

G8.2.1 Tell how the physical environmen t affects community activity, i.e., recreation, water usage.

Traditional Field Trip

Baileys Pond, Carson City, NV

H3.2.4 Demonstrat e respect for each other and people in the community

Visitation Field Trip

A police officer or local law enforcement officer from the Carson City Police Department. ((The D.A.R.E. officers are often willing to do this.)) OR Miss Nevada or Miss Carson City have often made appearances to discuss community service and respect in schools.

Field Trips

submitted by: Rebecca Waltz

H1.2.5 Compare communitie s around the world with the local community.

Global Trek: http://teacher.scholastic.com/a ctivities/globaltrek/flashreturnflas h.asp?cid=register

Virtual Field Trips

This virtual field trip website is a wonderful way for students to go on trip to different countries. Many of the pictures display communities, urban areas, rural community, markets, and cites. The site is easy to navigate which would appeal to K-2 students and it is customizable allowing student to essentially build their own travel journals. I think I would require student to fill out a travel journal made by me that would state WHERE they traveled and HOW was their visit like where they live. Many K-2 students, despite their heritage or culture, can recognize the symbol of Statue of Liberty. While the site may appear to having reading above the level of a k-2, there is the option of audio play. I think the K-2 students would like this as a virtual field trip if displayed on a Smartboard or promethean board and discussed as class. As a teacher I think I would have students make Statue of Liberty crowns like the ones you would buy if you actually visited after writing facts on the back of the crown. By virtually touring this specific landmark, the students would meet the standard by discussing how the United States is a melting pot and how the Statue of Liberty has become a symbol of that diversity for the past and present.

H2.2.2 Explore the importance of both local and national landmarks, and explain how they create a sense of community among citizens

Virtual Tour of Statue of Liberty: http://www.nps.gov/stli/photos multimedia/virtualtour.htm

Nevada State College

EDEL 453 - Spring 2014

Karen Powell- Instructor

page 3

Field Trips

submitted by: Rebecca Waltz

Intermediate (Grades 3 5) Field Trips

Social Studies Strand
G7.4.4 Describe historical and current economic issues in Nevada using geographi c resources, i.e., illustrate demograp hic changes due to mining and gaming.

Destination

Field Trip Description & Notes

Traditional Field Trip

Chollar or Ponderosa Mind Tour: http://www.visitvirginiacitynv.com/ attractions/popular-itinerariesaamp-tours/mines-aamp-minetours.html in Virginia City, NV

Despite hours listed, I called and they are willing to coordinate for field trips planned in advanced to accommodate district policies. Virginia City has a plethora of opportunities for teaching about current and historical economic issues in Nevada. The drive up to Virginia City has signs alone both promoting and protesting strip mining which could be discussed on the way there and the way back. The vault tours, mine tours, and metal panning tours are all available and each support this standard.

H2.4.2 Describe the experience s of pioneers moving west.

A park ranger from Mormon State Park in Genoa, NV

http://parks.nv.gov/parks/mormon-station-statehistoric-park/ is the parks primary website. The park in general offers a tour and has a museum. As the first permanent non-native settlements in Nevada. In the past, park rangers have been willing to speak. The website in general has a large amount of resources that could be used to prepare the student for the visitation field trip. The guest speaker can speak to the pioneers, Native Americans and other key points of Nevadas role in settling the west.

Visitation Field Trip

C14.5.6 Explain that the U.S. Supreme Court is the highest court in the land

Virtual Field Trip/Tour of Supreme Court: http://www.oyez.org/tour

Learning about the supreme court was always seemed a bit abstract to me until I was actually able to visit DC after high school. I think this is a great compliment to help student to realize that the Supreme court is REAL and the judges (whose offices you can tour) are REAL people. The pictures are high quality and each shot has detailed explanation about what is in the shot.

Nevada State College

Virtual Field Trips

EDEL 453 - Spring 2014

Karen Powell- Instructor

page 4

Field Trips
H1.5.5 Describe the social, political, and religious lives of people in the New England, Middle, and Southern colonies.

submitted by: Rebecca Waltz

I love this interactive website. It allows students to examine each region and state of the 13 colonies. On each click there are links, videos, suggested vocabulary and stories that expand on their important roles. The beginning site recommends having a blank piece of paper for a journal before beginning, but I think I would recommend going through a as teacher and creating a customized one for the needs of your class. Creating CLOZE journal responses for ELLs and special needs would assure they still got the information. Furthermore, journal questions could be asked to summarize each region. I think this would provide so much information.

Virtual Field Trip of Colonial America: http://edtech2.boisestate.edu/gu deniusm/502/start.html

Nevada State College

EDEL 453 - Spring 2014

Karen Powell- Instructor

page 5

Field Trips

submitted by: Rebecca Waltz

1. Explain which field trip you are most excited about.

I am most excited about the trip to Baileys Pond, because Ive volunteered for those field trips before. Initially, I attended them because the 5th graders I was observing for science attended after raising trout. However, after attending and reading over the primary social studies standards, I realized that the Baileys Pond field trip actually meets the standards that address natural resources, map reading, Nevada facts and trivia, and sometimes historical background of the area. Every year the River Wranglers and the Carson River Watershed group amazes me with the amount of information they tailor to meet Nevada standards which is why Ill being attending their Teacher workshop. The second field trip that Im excited about is the one with the Park Ranger from Mormon Station coming to visit. Im actually hoping I have an opportunity to make this happen. Ive seen their presentations in person, so I think it would be a wonderful motivator to encourage students to explore Nevada on their own. The Nevada State Park Website is extremely detailed, Mormon Station is within driving distance, and the California Trail is an actual hiking trail. Having a guest speaking give his presentation in the classroom

2. What challenges did you run into during this assignment?

I ran into two challenges for this assignment. The first was connecting field trips to social studies standards. The benefit to this is I know now a list of potential field trips for science. It was easier to find a quality source and then try to find a standard that matched it. The second part of this assignment I struggled with was finding quality virtual field trips or tours at free or reasonable prices. There were plenty suggested virtual field trips that were either poor quality, displayed inappropriate adds, were only slide shows, or didnt provide quality information to fulfill the standard. Again, the benefit is now I have a rather nice list of potential virtual field trips that match standards or approved virtual tours for free time.

Nevada State College

EDEL 453 - Spring 2014

Karen Powell- Instructor

page 6