Going Out on a field trip

This video lesson is designed for 6-12-year-old children. It helps to understand the importance of field trips or going out and its benefits in a child’s early development stages.

What does “Going Out” Mean in a Montessori Classroom?

The Montessori practice of “going out” begins at the Elementary level. The children in the age group 6-12 years are curious and want to discover the world.

“When the child goes out, it is the world itself that offers itself to him. Let us take the child out to show him real things instead of making objects which represent ideas and closing them in cupboards.” – Dr. Maria Montessori.

We’ve all heard and learned about DIY activities that can be done at home, such as recycling paper, creating flowers from old newspapers, creating bird feeders from the milk carton, and so on. But, imagine a child going out in the garden, learning about different plants, their water requirement, creating compost from the kitchen waste, gardening, etc. Which activity helps a child in more abstract learning?

Learning in a classroom cannot answer all the child’s questions, so “going out” is a way to explore beyond the classroom. It helps them to learn more about a topic of interest in a small group and helps them create a connection with the classroom lessons. In contrast with the traditional field trip, where the teachers/school in charge usually plans the activity for the entire class, it is prepared by the children in connection with their class lessons.

“Instruction becomes a living thing. Instead of being illustrated, it is brought to life. In a word, the outing is a new key for the intensification of instruction ordinarily given in the school.”–Dr. Maria Montessori.

From lessons to be learned to finding a place to visit and arranging food during the going out field trip, everything is organized by the children. The overall field trip experience is a wonderful training ground for learning executive function skills.

Benefits of Going Out on a Field Trip

Going Out on field trips is beneficial for many reasons.

  1. It allows children to practice grace and courtesy, learning different ways to act in different social situations.
  2. It helps children develop resilience, courage, and independence in their social interactions.
  3. It teaches children about the interconnectedness of nature and the world around them.
  4. It allows children to apply classroom teaching in a real-world setting, boosting their confidence.
  5. It helps the child develop responsibility, research skills, manners, and cooperation.

 Take the child out to show them real things instead of making objects representing ideas and closing them in cupboards. Watch the video to prepare them with essential life skills with the associated activities.

How is Going Out on a Field Trip Planned in a Montessori School?

Teachers plan to introduce a concept in a classroom setting. Each educator develops a well-organized system for their environment. They follow the following process:

  • Setting Up the Expectations for the Classroom.

The guide observes the children exercising freedom in the classroom before allowing them to “go out.” They notice how many children are responsible, independent, have a choice of work, and care for the environment. They then introduce a topic or concept to the children and they then do a lot of research based on various books. 

Guides also help children be kind, considerate, respectful, and courteous towards others with the help of various resources such as storybooks, articles, research papers, etc. In the classroom, children learn responsible behavior before venturing out into the wider world.

  • Introducing the Concept of Going Out to the Children.

During the first few weeks of elementary classes, the Montessori guide will ‘Going Out’ concept as an extension to any lesson in class. The varied lessons or activities are presented, and the children explore the learning materials provided in the classroom. When they do their respective initial research, it’s their time to go out and experience the concept in real life.

  • Scheduling a Date.

When the children are ready to plan a ‘Going Out’ field trip, they schedule a meeting with the guides and parents. They then determine a date and fill out the “Going Out Form.” The form includes the name of the children, the date, place of field trips, cost, list of children interested, appropriate dress for the trip if any, and who is the in-charge. It is then kept in the class Going Out folder until the day of the trip.

  • Setting up the Expectations of the Trip.

All the children attending the trip assemble a pocket folder with the Going Out Form, money, and blue emergency cards. In order to review the trip, the children present their folders to the guide. Then guides gently remind the children of behavior expectations away from campus in a few minutes.

  • Experience the Lessons Taught in the Classroom

Children reach the destination, explore and observe various concepts learned in the classroom setting.  

  • Sharing the Going Out Experience when Children Return.

Going Out on trips sparks “big work” in the classroom. Children need to write about what they have learned and what new they have discovered. They even write the next learning phase and start practicing them. For example, if children go out to watch planes, they spend hours or weeks building miniature airplanes, they might even want to learn about the speed while taking off and landing down. Thus, it helps children to experience the world around them, how it works, and appreciate the work that people do. 

As we mentioned earlier, going out on field trips brings classroom learning to the real world, allowing children to apply abstract concepts to more constructive ones, which gives them confidence and builds independence.

Take the child out on a field trip to show them to help learn how things work in the actual world and let them learn with their experience. Watch the video to prepare them with essential life skills with the associated activities.

Related Resources:

To watch more practical life lessons, click here.

Video created by Aishwarya | I teach I learn

Elementary | Practical Life | Going Out (English) | by Aishwarya | i teach i learn

This video has been added and used with the author’s permission. It is also available on the author’s YouTube, here.

Tags

  • Elementary
  • English
  • Practical Life