Field trips can provide rich, phenomena-oriented experiences to engage your students in inquiry-based learning.
While we may not be able to leave the classroom in the same ways we used to, these virtual field trip experiences are just as meaningful! We’ll transport your students out of their virtual classroom space by bringing the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum to them. Our unique museum resources will engage students in real-world experiences that connect the learning happening in your virtual classroom to Chicago’s local nature and science.
Follow the flow below for your best virtual field trip experience.
1. Before Your Workshop
Watch this video with your students for a welcome to the Nature Museum and an exploration of one of our exhibits. Encourage students to use the graphic organizers on pages 2 or 3 to guide their observations through the video. Review expectations and get students excited about the workshop portion!
2. During Your Workshop
You and your students will engage in your selected 45 minute workshop led by one of our Museum Educators. You’ll be contacted by a Museum Educator to coordinate the link for joining your class. We ask that, during the workshop, you participate alongside your students and help with the virtual classroom management.
3. After Your Workshop
Wrap up your virtual field trip by watching this video to explore the Nature Museum grounds and use the graphic organizer on page 4 to compare the two spaces. Then, consider sharing the Sound Mapping, Micro Hike, or iNaturalist activities on pages 5 to 7 with students and their families so they can explore their neighborhood as naturalists.
