1. The Field Trip Dilemma!

2. Field Trips We’re going on a field trip!
What do you want your students to remember?
What is your most memorable field trip? Why?
What are some field trips you take with your class?

3. Field Trips
They give students a chance to connect classroom lessons to real-life experiences and tangible artifacts.
They give students access to culture, history, and art that may be left out of the regular curriculum.
The sensory, physical, and social aspects of field trips enrich learning experiences.
Different environments allow teachers to design new and real- world challenges.
They can help students prepare for life after graduation and future careers.
They’re fun!

4. Field Trips We’re going on a field trip!
….how will this work for my student with visual impairments?
Field trips are a great equalizer – they provide experiential learning opportunities for all – especially for students who lack experiences, either from lack of family opportunities, disadvantaged families, or disability. Planning for all the student needs takes work!
Remember – you are not alone! Field trip planning works well as a team effort – you do not need to plan alone!!

5. Unique Needs Unique needs of students with visual impairments:
Unable to feel a complete object if it is very large
Unable to touch anything that is at a distance, behind glass, or dangerous
May not have background knowledge that peers might have learned from television or illustrations
Unable to read signage that is only in print

6. You’re going where??? Classroom Teacher Perspective:
Itinerant Teacher Perspective:
Mobility Specialist Perspective:
Student Perspective:
Venue Perspective:

7. Planning Before the field trip: Determine learning outcomes
Assess background knowledge
Activities
Details
Learning outcomes: typically needed for administrators to determine if trip is appropriate; helpful to know to help prioritize background knowledge, material preparation, and choice of activities
Background knowledge: May need research, orientation to site or similar site
Activities: Are there physical skills, orientation and mobility skills, or background knowledge that need to be learned and/or practiced prior to trip? Any modifications to plan for safety or access? Will the students stay in a large group, or small groups rotate through learning experiences? Will the student need a map during the trip to facilitate understanding and/or independent movement?
Details: Are there worksheets/information that needs to be brailled or enlarged? Consider student groups/chaperones; admission (money, tickets, wrist band, etc) lunch; souvenirs, security, etc.

8. Planning Learning Outcomes: Content area: Science Science center: Zoo:
Simple machines
Force
Astronomy
Biology
Zoo:
Mammals, birds, reptiles
Plants: trees, grasses, flowers
Ecology
Earth science: rocks, waterfalls, climate
Awareness of endangered species
Other sites:
Des Moines Botanical Gardens
County/State Conservation Education Sites
Science center – exploration areas often use gravity, acceleration, and simple machines for hands-on activities. Star lab and Imax are visual requiring description. Weather section also has animals and skeletons (all behind glass) Some hands-on activities are available
Zoo: make sure to check to see what animals are on exhibit at the time of visit
Iowa DNR has education resources, workshops, and links to county conservation boards:
shows animals on exhibit, also “just for teachers” lists workshops – ideas for thematic trip Teacher workshops: eligible for zoo program!!
Zoo channel on YouTube

9. Planning Learning Outcomes: Content area: History/Government
State Historical building:
Iowa history topics
State Capitol:
Government
Architecture
History
Living History Farms
1600, 1850, 1900 farms; 1875 town
Economics
Communities/interdependence
Other sites:
Jordan House
City/County Historical Buildings
State Historical Building: Self-guided tour. Teacher guide PDF lists how exhibits tie to core curriculum, suggests teacher prompts in areas. May consider brailling bingo game. Teacher resource link
State Capitol Complex: Guided tour, but self-guided information may be helpful for preparation
Living History Farms: Be sure to check teacher link on website: Iowa Core content; also mini grant opportunities
Historical Museums by county:

10. Planning Learning Outcomes: Content area: Arts Des Moines Art Center:
Various media
Civic Center of Greater Des Moines:
Theater
Music
Dance
Des Moines Playhouse
Des Moines Arts Center:
Civic Center of Greater Des Moines:
IRIS: Iowa Radio Reading Information Service:

11. Preparation Site, classroom teachers, TVI/O&M, parents
Material preparation
Pre-teaching
Pre-visit
Anticipate Plan B – things happen!!

12. Let’s Go!
Let’s look at several typical Central Iowa field trip locations….

13. Science Center of Iowa http://www.sciowa.org/
This is an interactive map on the website…but it does not give detail within each area. Consider simplifying the map.

14. Science Center of Iowa
There are some signage with explanations of what to do at each station, but most kids don’t take time to read them!! Very hands-on and interactive.
YouTube:

15. Science Center of Iowa Accessibility Challenges:
Star Lab
Imax theater
Experience platforms
Features that promote hands-on experiences:
Small Discoveries and When Things Get Moving are very hands-on
Unique opportunities:
Escalators!

16. Science Center of Iowa

17. Science Center of Iowa Advanced Preparation: Check on current exhibits
Plan live school program or discovery lab for more focused and/or hands-on activities
Discuss modifications required
Obtain materials to be brailled.
Consider which areas will provide the most meaningful experiences
Create maps if needed
Hands-on experience with various elements of areas
Star charts and/or tactile books

18. Blank Park Zoo https://www.blankparkzoo.com/
Interactive map on website

19. Blank Park Zoo https://www.youtube.com/user/Blankparkzoo

20. Blank Park Zoo Accessibility Challenges:
Most animals cannot be touched
Limited tactile/braille signage
Australia and Discovery areas have free-roaming animals
Features that promote hands-on experiences:
Some signage in newer exhibits have casts of beaks, vertebrae, claws/hooves, etc
Sensory backpack available
Unique Opportunities:
Can schedule hands-on session with educational animals; during the summer can feed select animals
Teacher workshops available – not only receive CE, but often some support for a visit

21. Blank Park Zoo

22. Blank Park Zoo Advanced Preparation:
Contact educational staff at least 4 weeks prior to visit for list of animals on display.
Inform staff of other sensory concerns for safety of student AND animals
Consider which areas will provide the most meaningful experience
Call to ensure backpack will be at check-in
Review Touch and Sound Experiences handout
Create map if needed
Research selected animals on exhibit
Visit zoo’s YouTube channel as pre/post activity

23. Living History Farms

24. Living History Farms

25. Living History Farms Accessibility Challenges:
Signage is print only
Boardwalk (Walnut Hill area) can be uneven
Restrooms may be a distance away
Gravel paths
Features that promote hands-on experiences:
Sites work to be multisensory experiences
Interpreters receive annual training for integrating needs
Unique opportunities:
Compare then/now and through time

27. Living History Farms Advanced Preparation:
Call at least one month in advance
Read or braille information on different sites
Create map, if needed
Consider which areas/activities will provide the most meaningful experience
Review teacher links, blogs and learning fields on website for additional information
Check for possible funding assistance on website

28. Iowa Capitol Building l

29. Iowa Capitol Building

30. Iowa Capitol Building Accessibility Challenges:
Most signage is print only
Many artifacts are behind glass or beyond reach
Features that promote hands-on experiences:
Sculptures, carvings, and relief images
Able to meet government officials, listen to debate
Unique opportunities:
Security procedures
Spiral staircases!!
Dome tour!!

31. Iowa Capitol Building

32. Iowa Capitol Building Advanced Preparation:
Contact tour guides at least a month prior to visit
Read or braille information on website
Video tour and cell phone/QR tour available
Self guided tour handout has information on key locations (not on website)
Prepare for spiral staircase travel; and steep steps to dome
Prepare for security procedure/metal detector

33. State Historical Museum:
State Historical Building: Self-guided tour. Teacher guide PDF lists how exhibits tie to core curriculum, suggests teacher prompts in areas. May consider brailling bingo game. Teacher resource link

34. State Historical Museum
State Historical Building: Self-guided tour. Teacher guide PDF lists how exhibits tie to core curriculum, suggests teacher prompts in areas. May consider brailling bingo game. Teacher resource link

35. State Historical Museum
Accessibility Challenges:
Most artifacts are behind glass
Signage is only in print.
Tours are self-guided only (no guides available)
The “Hands On History” area is not open to school groups
Features that promote hands-on learning
A few exhibits have wheels to turn, objects to touch or manipulate, or cast reproductions
Unique elements:
Stairs!
Much of museum is dark for navigation
Primary source material online:
Primary source material for selected units:

36. State Historical Museum

37. State Historical Museum
Advanced Preparation:
Check ahead to see current exhibits
Determine most appropriate exhibits
Read or Braille excerpts from field trip guide
Prepare “bingo game” (scavenger hunt) in Braille or large print
Field trip guide:

38. Civic Center of Iowa http://www.desmoinesperformingarts.org/
Accessibility options:

39. Civic Center of Iowa Accessibility Challenges:
Many performances are primarily visual
Preferential seating may separate student from class
Each program has its own control over pre/post opportunities
Features that promote hands-on learning
Teacher guide offers extended learning plans
Ask for opportunity to touch objects
Unique elements:
Live performance
Theater seating O&M
Theater tours available
Similar accommodation for Des Moines Playhouse: Friday Funday’s 10:45 performances are audio described: Contact ticket office for other requests

40. Civic Center of Iowa Preparation: Review theater etiquette
If requesting audio description, contact as soon as possible.
Download study guide for background information and student handouts that need to be brailled/enlarged (available 4-6 weeks before performance)
Contact IRIS if additional questions about audio description
Archived study guides:

41. Des Moines Art Center http://www.desmoinesartcenter.org/
artists in the permanent collection
Tours:

42. Des Moines Art Center
artists in the permanent collection
Tours:

43. Des Moines Art Center Accessibility Challenges:
Many works in the Art Center are paintings or drawings
Board approval required for permission to touch sculptures
Sculptures are large enough that they cannot be entirely touched
Exhibits change often in Art Center, so maps must be updated for the current collection
Features that promote hands-on learning
Docents are trained for verbal description as well as artistic commentary
Texture and materials used create different tactual experiences
Unique elements:
Audio tour online or cell phone
Can schedule art activity along with tour
artists in the permanent collection
Tours:

44. Des Moines Art Center

45. Des Moines Art Center Preparation:
Contact Art Center at least 6 weeks prior to visit
Board permission for touching art
Prepare docents
Create map of current display
Listen to audio tour of museum and/or sculpture park
Print/braille information on exhibits from website or research
Use selections from Art History through Touch and Sound (available from IBSSS Library)
artists in the permanent collection
Tours:

46. Other Trips Farm Safety Day: http://farmsafetyday.com/
Different sites/dates
Contact site coordinator

47. Other Trips County Conservation Education Sites
County conservation boards:
Outreach or field trips
Collect artifacts for experience journal

48. Other Trips Climb Iowa https://www.climbiowa.com/
Required safety equipment/consent form
Ropes help with upper/lower body strength
Guides did a great job with verbal directions

49. Other Trips Neil Smith National Wildlife Refuge
Project Bluestem Curriculum available at workshops
educators/project_bluestem_curriculum.html

50. Other Trips Biz Town Junior Achievement program
Classroom learning followed by simulated community day at Biz Town