A field trip can be much more than a break from the classroom. Travel can become an extension of the lessons students are already learning, giving them an opportunity to see subjects and ideas come to life. Rather than simply visiting attractions, consider how each experience can connect to a subject students are studying before, during or after the trip.
Before building an itinerary, identify a few subjects or concepts you want students to explore. A destination like Pigeon Forge, Tennessee offers opportunities to connect a variety of experiences to classroom learning.
In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, students can explore ecology, biodiversity, geography and conservation while experiencing one of the most biologically diverse areas in the country. Teachers can even use National Park Service lesson plans and activities to prepare students before their visit.
Look for learning in unexpected places. At Dollywood, students can explore concepts such as physics, engineering and even zoology while experiencing rides, attractions and the park’s natural surroundings.
Museums such as Titanic Museum Attraction and Alcatraz East Crime Museum can bring history to life through immersive exhibits and artifacts, while WonderWorks provides hands-on opportunities to explore science and technology.
For music, theater and dance groups, a student trip can provide an opportunity to move from studying performance to experiencing it firsthand. Pigeon Forge offers a number of theaters and venues including Array Theater and Country Tonite Theatre where student groups can perform, participate in workshops or experience live entertainment. The STEM Magic Show by Jason Hudy takes students behind the curtain to reveal how science powers the impossible. These opportunities can help students understand what goes into a professional production while building confidence and teamwork.
A simple question or assignment can transform an attraction into a learning experience. Ask students to identify examples of conservation during a visit to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, explain the physics behind one of the rides at The Island in Pigeon Forge, ask how a museum tells a historical story, or observe the different roles involved in producing a live show.
Finally, bring the experience back into the classroom. Have students present what they learned, create a project based on the trip or connect their experiences to a lesson they will encounter later in the school year. The goal isn’t to turn every moment of a student trip into homework. It’s to give students context for what they’re seeing and a reason to remember it.
The best student trips strike a balance between education and fun. In Pigeon Forge, there are so many opportunities to explore, perform, discover and experience something new every trip.
Contact:
Mike Gwinn
Senior Sales Manager
Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism
865-429-7329
mike.gwinn@cityofpigeonforgetn.gov
MyPigeonForge.com
Photo courtesy of Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism.
