pass cursor over picture for a view of real concentration -sketching is a favourite activity

Field Trips
Learning is gained through active hands-on experience during Field trips that cannot be gained in the classroom . Where possible expert local guides provide a rich source of information for the participants.
Project becomes real, giving the pupils an opportunity to develop and enhance the pupil's socialisation and research skills.
New recording skills are learned which are valuable for other trips.

Planning for Field Trips

Field trips should begin with good planning. Having selected the site, preparation for the trip itself, appropriate follow up, and evaluation is essential so that students will have a successful educational experience. Consult existing school board policies and follow its recommended rules.

Trip Selection

Identify the desired site
Identify the instructional objective to be met.
Get approval from appropriate school authorities for the trip.
It is essential to visit the site to familiarise yourself with all features of the field trip. It is vital to establish a rapport with an 'expert' at the site who will give talk and answer questions.
Provide appropriate consent forms to send to parents/guardians
Contact the appropriate individual at the field trip site to arrange the actual date and obtain appropriate information for the trip.
Contact the bus company to arrange for transportation on the selected date. Private school bus companies are generally interested in providing such a service.

Essentials

Plan tools needed for the trip. Knapsack, to leave pupils hands free, with necessary contents such as clipboard, pencils, plastic bag or sheet to sit on, camera sound recorder etc
Change of footwear and raincoat to be brought on trip where necessary.

School Policies
· Discuss school policies with the principal, covering field trips, teacher liability, and teacher responsibilities. Arrange for a colleague and or parents to accompany you. Arrange a suitable route keeping in mind any relevant landmark that could be included en route.

Administration ·
Confirm the final date of the trip with the school principal, the transport company and the pupils · Send a cover letter to the parent/guardian, including some or all of the following:
.Trip itinerary
.Student cost.
Bus arrangements.
Date and time of the trip.
Eating arrangements.
Packed lunch
Bottle of water
Supervisory arrangement.
Pocket money limit
Educational purpose of the field trip

Trip Preparation

· Establish a set of standards of behaviour for the trip.
· Establish eating arrangements in consultation with pupils and get recommendation on the restaurant from a customer or resident in the location of site.
· Telephone or e-mail a restaurant in advance to arrange suitable lunch time- preferably before one o clock to avoid rush hour.
· Pay appropriate pre-visit activities to prepare pupils for the trip. This may include a visit by a person who has already visited the field trip site. Discuss with the class the purpose of the field trip
· Prepare activities worksheets to include some pictures for students to complete before, during, and after the trip. Allow for some spare copies.
· Where possible include treasure hunt type activity to keep pupils engrossed in search for a particular picture, statue, natural phenomenon etc.
· View and discuss the destination's web site if there is one.
· Set a definite deadline for departure time with instructions for contacting the school in the event of being unable to meet deadline or to travel.
· Where possible check local parking arrangements in advance to save valuable time on the day.

Pass cursor over image to see the sketch.	Pass cursor over image to see another angle!
sketching window arches	sketching church gable

Conducting the Trip

· On the day of the trip:
o Call roll.
o Check backsacks, and other supplies.
o Divide class into small groups and assign chaperones to younger pupils- siblings or neighbours.
o Check bus seats and seating arrangements are satisfactory
o During the trip, make sure pupils have time to look out and comment on journey, make lists of towns, count animals or birds observed, maybe keep a record.

On Arrival

Pupils with equipment such as cameras may need advice or help.
Check for 'forgotten' items.
Allow pupils to sketch. If time does not allow let them make partial drafts to be completed later back at school.
If possible arrange to take a camcorder on the field trip. If a pupil is trained to use it record interviews or lectures.
Include thin paper for doing rubbings on gravestones, building signs , and other surfaces such as brick or wood.

Follow Up

· The class writes or e-mails a thank-you letter to relevant people.
· Discuss assignments in the field trip worksheet.
· Type accounts in word processor and save in individual folders.
· Download pictures and save in folders. · Scan any relevant material in site brochures and save in folders
· Prepare a plan for web-site, booklet or school newsletter.
· Class presentation for other pupils who were not on the trip.
· Evaluate of the trip with the pupils

Evaluating the Trip

o Educational purpose. o Strengths. o Weaknesses. o Suggestions for improvement.

WORKSHEETS


Worksheets were prepared using a word processor. Pictures of features of the town hall were cropped and inserted for the pupils to focus on a particular architectural feature and to sketch in the remainder of it. As soon as we arrived at the site the pupils got to work with great enthusiasm to spot the window or door and to complete the task
Third & Fourth Class.

class worksheets for field trip to Ballyjamesduff Convent building
first & second class	first & second class
First & Second Class	Infants
Infants	Infants

Schools Integration Project SIP 019. Dissemination Days. Butlersbridge Central N.S. held two days of dissemination on 17/4/00 and 18/4/00. Invitations were sent out to all the partners in the school education cycle: the Board of Management, Parents, School Inspector, Parents Association and the wider community. There was a great response and on Day One visitors were introduced to I.T. based projects by the children and teachers. A follow up on Day Two included looking at the children's work, surfing the internet, and exploring other aspect I.T. The major focus was the life and works of local architect William Hague. Ninety five per cent of parents attended. Also in attendance was N.C.T.E. Information Technology Advisor Mr. Michael Farry from Navan Education Centre as well as our local advisor and technician Mr. Pat Mc Enroe from 'Cavannet Computers'. The preparation of work for the two days was put together by our school I.T. co-ordinator Evelyn Brady in conjunction with the rest of the staff - Catherine Fitzpatrick, Denise Carter, Terry Leddy and Geraldine Donohoe. .
Pat and Jim -CavanNet- demonstrate new technology
Refreshments were prepared and served by two of the schools past pupils. Both days proceedings were recorded on video by Pat Lee, for parents and for the school library

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