In the first year of Sophia Academy’s existence, when we were still a pilot program and shared space with another teacher, we were forced to take field trips every Thursday so her classes could meet. Frequent field trips are still important to us as we seek to awaken genius in every student through our multi-sensory, hands-on, and relational education.
Field Trips can accomplish in one afternoon what might take weeks to get across in a classroom. By being able to handle authentic objects, listen to real world scientists, move through the shopping district of a foreign culture, or tour everything from a submarine to a guitar factory, student learning is not only enriched but imprinted more securely in the brain.
Studies show that students who take educational field trips are more intellectually curious and interested in life around them (NEA). Their critical thinking ability and their historical empathy go way up as they are presented with the multi-sensory environment of museums and art or science institutions (Education Next, 2014). And a study by the US Travel Association found that those students who take field trips have better grades (59%), higher graduation rates from high school (95%) and college (63%), and greater income (12%) (NEA).
We don’t need a study to tell us that field trips are value added to our Sophia education. We see it daily in the increased compassion, understanding, and positive world view exhibited by our students.