10+ Field Trips to Bring STEM Topics to Life
There are lots of great ways to bring STEM topics to life for your kids or students. You can do experiments, you can read great STEM books, you can investigate with tools and real materials.
read also: What We love about STEM Reads
However, I think a field trip into the community is one of the best ways to bring STEM topics to life.
Field Trips…
- Give real life context to the skills you are learning.
- Motivate kids who are struggling.
- Build connections between the classroom and the community.
- Help reach children with different learning styles.
Here are 10 of our favorite STEM Field Trips for bringing to life science, technology, engineering and math concepts.
10+ STEM Field Trip Ideas
1. Nature Walk (Science)
If you are learning about the natural world, seasons, weather and more then getting outside for a nature walk is a natural field trip. Our preschoolers took a walk each season to look up close at whatever season we were learning about. Our favorite was the Signs of Fall walk.
2. Visit Real Animals (Science)
The zoo, the aquarium, the farm, the pet store. If you are learning about animals – go observe live animals. Whether you pick one animal to observe and draw and learn about or explore a whole range, seeing the real live animals is a valuable experience for any animal unit.
3. Farm, Farmers’ Market, Grocery Store (Science)
Learn where food comes from by visiting one of these places (or all of them).
One of my favorite field trips is going to a pick-your-own farm. Every year in the early summer we go pick own berries. (Don’t miss our tips for berry picking with toddlers)
4. Visit Different Environments – Beach. Forest. Desert. (Science)
Live in the mountains? Go visit one. Live in the desert? Go see the plants up close. Live near a lake or the ocean? Go get your hands and feet wet. Books and pictures and samples are great, but the real environment offers so much more for the senses and curious minds.
Also Read: 3 Reasons Every Field Trip Needs an Adventure Journal
5. Garden (Science)
Flowers and growing plants are common learning themes. Get out in your community and see some plants or flowers up close. Learn how to grow things or about different types of plants at your local Garden, Botanic Garden, or Garden store.
Read Also: How to Use Picture Books with STEM Learning
6. Science Museum (Science and Technology)
If you have a science museum then this is a great choice for a STEM field trip. Lots of science and technology and other STEM topics are explored on a bigger scale in science museums. Make sure to check online beforehand to see what exhibits will work best for your kids.
7. TV Station (Technology)
How do images get into our living rooms every evening? Go find out. Call and ask your local TV station if they are okay with some inquisitive kids coming to observe and ask questions at a quiet time of the day.
8. Repair Shop (Technology)
Taking things apart and putting them back together often fascinates kids. See if you can visit a repair shop in town that focuses on phones, computers or other kinds of technology. Make sure to bring questions about how things are fixed, what tools they use and how do they get to be so good at repairing things.
9. Skyscraper (Engineering)
If you have a kid or class interested in the building then nothing is cooler than visiting a skyscraper (or whatever the tallest building in your area may be). Be inspired by the size. Notice the design. Draw the building. Compare to other buildings in books. And don’t miss the amazing view from the top that is only possible because of an engineer’s vision.
10. Hardware, Mechanics, or Other Parts Store (Engineering)
Introduce your little budding engineer to the tools of the trade, whichever they are most interested in.
11. Math Walk (Math)
One of our most favorite and popular field trips ever was our counting walk. This is a fun field that practices counting skills and number writing skills with toddlers and preschoolers. For older kids, turn it into a number finding or addition trip by altering the directions slightly.
also read: 16 summer adventures with free bingo printable
12. Grocery Store or Farmers’ Market (Math)
Put math in action by practicing numbers or currency at a grocery store or farmers’ market. Give your kids a certain amount of money ($5 is a good start at a Farmers’ Market), practice how to make a purchase and then encourage them to make the pick and purchase on their own while you stand nearby for help only if needed.
Nothing makes a topic come alive and have meaning like finding ways to practice them in the real world.
