farm field trip lesson plan

Farm Field Trips

Growing Minds supports farmers and teachers who want to make farm field trips possible for students. Through our mini-grants, workshops, and trainings, teachers and farmers get the resources they need to create lasting, hands-on learning experiences.

Need help getting started? The following resources include listings of family-friendly farms open to visitors and school groups, activities tailored for on-farm learning, and tips for successful farm field trips. Don’t feel left out, parents. Educational farm visits can happen any weekend and during school breaks; these resources are for you, too!

What you can do

• Find a list of farms that welcome visitors on  ASAP’s Online Local Food Guide
• Read or download  The Hayride: A Resource for Educational Farm Field Trips  for tips and suggestions for your trip
• Request a class pack of (or print your own) Farm Tour Bingo Cards to take on your farm field trip. Bingo cards can be played like a scavenger hunt to encourage student engagement and investigation on your trip. 
• Can’t make it out to a farm? Invite a farmer to visit your school! 

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A Farm Field Trip Guide: A Hands-on Curriculum for Farm-based Education

• Publication

Organization

• Green Mountain Farm to School

Newport , VT United States

• A Farm Field Trip Guide

The hands-on, experiential learning environment a farm provides is invaluable to children’s educational growth. This guide makes a trip to a farm accessible and fun. The guide includes group management and safety considerations, trip tips for farmers and teachers, field trip lesson plans focused on a variety of produce, grains, meat, dairy, seeds, and alternative energy, as well as necessary forms for farm field trip success.

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Field Trips

Book a field trip at blackberry farm.

Blackberry Farm is a living history museum where pioneer life is re-created through educational demonstrations and hands-on fun. Our educational experiences complement classroom curriculum for grades Pre-K and up. Topics and hands-on activities align with Illinois State Standards. Below are the different field trips to review when deciding which field trip would best for your group.

• Self-Guided Field Trips (May - Sept.)
• Guided Field Trips (Sept. - Oct.)
• How to Book Your Field Trip

Self-Guided Field Trips (May – September)

Self-Guided field trips are offered May-September. Self Guided field trips allow students to explore educational exhibits and demonstrations in addition to all of Blackberry Farm’s rides and activities. For more information about Blackberry Farm’s historical sites and attractions please visit our Plan Your Visit page.

May : Monday-Friday, 9:30am-2pm June-August : Monday-Friday, 9:30am-3:30pm September : Friday, 9:30am-3:30pm

Illinois State Standard: 15.C.1a, 15.C.1b, 18.B.1a, 16.A.1c, 16.A.1b, 16.A.2c, 16.B.2d, 16.C.2c, 16.E.2a

Field Trip reservations cannot be scheduled on Free Museum Days (2024 Dates: June 5, 19; July 3, 17, 31, August 14)

Guided Field Trips (September & October)

Guided field trips are offered September & October. Field trips are 2 hours in length and have a minimum of 25 students and a maximum of 100 students. Please Note: Blackberry Farm is closed to the public during guided field trips. Only the sites involved with the field trip will be open during the visit.

September : Monday – Thursday, 9:30 or 10 a.m. October : Monday-Friday, 9:30 or 10 a.m.

Apple Hayride (Pre-K to Grade 2):

Take a tractor-driven hayride to the farm’s own apple orchard, learn about the legend of Johnny Appleseed, see and use an antique apple press and sample some tasty apple treats.

Illinois State Standards: 15.C.1a, 15.C.1b, 18.A.1, 17.C.1a, 17.C.1b, 16.A.1A, 16.A.1b, 16.A.1c, 16.B.1

Pioneer Exploration (Grades 1 to 2):

Step into the life of a child from the 1800s. Students will receive a lesson in our One-room Schoolhouse, try their hand at daily chores at the Pioneer Cabin, visit with the weaver for a hands-on experience working with wool and learn about animals at the Discovery Barn.

Illinois State Standards: 15.C.1a, 15.C.1b, 18.A.1, 18.B.1a,18.C.1, 17.C.1a, 17.C.1b, 17.D.2b, 16A.1a, 16.A.1b, 16.A.1c, 16.B.2d, 16.C.2c, 16.D.2B, 16.E.2a

Destination 1800s (Grades 3 to 5):

Through hands-on and interactive activities, students will step back in time to learn why pioneers chose to move to Illinois and how they survived. Explore the Pioneer Cabin, Blacksmith Shop, Print Shop and Weaver’s Cabin.

Illinois State Standards: 15.C.1a, 15.C.1b, 18.A.2, 18.B.1a, 18.C.1, 18.C.2, 15.C.1a, 17.C.1b, 17.C.2c, 17.D.2b, 16.A.1a, 16.A.1b, 16.A.1c, 16.A.2c, 16.B.2d, 16.C.2c, 16.D.2b, 16.E.2a

One-Room Schoolhouse (Grades 2 to 5):

The One-room Schoolhouse program offers an immersive experience in the life of children of the 1800s. Activities will be led in the most authentic way possible and simulate actual lessons and activities form the days of the One-room Schoolhouse. Maximum number: 30 Students.

Illinois State Standards: 16A.1a, 16.A.1b, 16.A.1c, 16.B.2d

Please follow the link below for the required request form you will need to fill out in order to book your field trip.

Self-Guided Field Trip Form

Guided Field Trip Form

• Download the appropriate form for your field trip type, fill out all fields, and email it to [email protected] .
• A Blackberry Farm staff member will respond to your request within 48 hours. Blackberry Farm takes all inquiries on a first-come, first-served basis, and your submission will be responded to in the order in which it was received.
• Once your field trip has been officially booked a confirmation email will be sent including all of your field trip details.

Still unsure which field trip would best fit your group needs? Have additional questions for our staff? We’re here to help. Fill out the form below and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

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Install this application on your home screen for quick and easy access when you’re on the go.

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Field Trip Ideas for Elementary School Students

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Elementary field trips teach kids about science, business, animals and more. Teach children important fundamentals outside of the classroom while staying safe on your field trip and having fun when you visit one of these locations. Plan your next outing with one of these field trip ideas for elementary school students.

Recycling Center

A guided tour through a recycling center shows kids how recyclable materials are sorted but also teaches them about recycling, reusing and waste reduction. They can take this knowledge with them to build a recycling center at home. Contact the recycling center to set up a group tour in advance.

Planetarium

The planetarium is an excellent way to introduce elementary students to the solar system. Students will love the shows and exhibits that will teach them about space and astronomy. Call the planetarium's admission office to schedule a tour.

You may visit the aquarium all the time. But have you ever been behind the closed doors of the aquarium? Many of the larger aquariums have more aquatic life on the premises than they can possibly display and they would be happy to take the kids on a private tour to show you how the aquarium works. Call the aquarium director's office to set up a tour.

See how candy is made, cars, guitars, soda and more. There are factories all over the country that offer tours. Some are even free. Contact the factory directly to schedule a tour.

Taking a group of kids to see zoo animals is always fun. But you can also schedule a tour to see how the zoo's staff works behind the scenes. Educational docents can give your tour group a one-on-one experience with all sorts of animals. Call the zoo's front office to get more information.

Fire Station

Kids will love touring a working fire station. Firefighters can show students the fire engine, turn on the sirens and educate the children on fire safety to keep your family safe. One of the most valuable lessons kids will learn is how a firefighter will look in full uniform, complete with mask, if he or she ever enter a burning house. Seeing firefighters fully dressed teaches kids that they don't have to be scared. Call any local fire station and ask to speak to the station commander to set up a tour.

Police Station

Tour the police station to learn crime prevention tips, how a police department functions, police equipment that's used and how patrol cars work. Contact the station's crime prevention officer.

A farm is a great idea for a field trip because there are so many types of farms to visit. One week you can visit a dairy farm and visit with cows. The next week you can visit a crop farm to see how cotton, fruits, grains or vegetables are grown. Contact the farmers themselves to ask if your group can come out for a tour or call your state's agricultural department to find out more about the types of farms in your city.

Farmer's Market

After you visit the various types of farms, take the lesson to a farmer's market. Kids can see how fruits and vegetables grow at the farm and then turn around to see how farmers try to sell their crops at the farmer's market. You may even run into some farmers you met on a previous tour. Contact the farmer's market for a guided tour or simply take your group during farmer's market hours to mingle with the customers and farmers.

Any kind of museum presents an opportunity for kids to learn and have fun. Take the kids to art, children's, natural history, technology and science museums, to name a few. The museum director can schedule your group for a behind-the-scenes tour.

Sporting Events

Take the kids out to a ball game for a field trip. Baseball can be a great field trip at the end of the school year to celebrate great academic efforts from the kids. Football is a good first field trip when the kids are getting restless as the school year seems to drag on right before the holiday break.

Veterinary Hospital

Veterinarians are usually happy to show off their hospitals. Kids can see the operating rooms, equipment used, recovering patients and learn all about the field of veterinary medicine. Contact any veterinary hospital to set up a tour.

What goes into producing a newscast? Take the kids to a TV station to find out. Children can get a firsthand look at the sets, meet the TV personalities and see the many types of equipment used to get a newscast on the air. Many stations will even put the kids on the news just for dropping by. Call the program director to set up a tour.

Radio Station

It's easy to think a radio station and TV station would be too similar to tour. But you'll notice a lot of differences when you visit both. You may even get to watch as the radio personalities play music or host a local call-in show. Contact the radio station's program director and tell him you're interested in a tour.

The inner workings of the newspaper industry are something every child should see. Meet the reporters who write the stories, learn about the history of newspapers, see how newspapers are laid out and watch the newspaper roll off the printing presses. Call the city editor to let him know you're interested in a private tour.

Fish Hatchery

Kids can learn all about the life cycle of fish, fish anatomy, water quality and more at a fish hatchery. Most hatcheries require advance reservations because of their popularity with educational tour groups.

Hospital administrators have worked hard to arrange tours that introduce kids to the hospital environment without giving them a scary experience. This helps prepare them for what to expect should they ever need to visit a relative or become a patient themselves.

It's also an educational experience because children can see how the doctors and nurses work together and use high-tech medical equipment to treat their patients. Contact the hospital's main number to request a tour. If your local hospital doesn't allow in-person tours, type "hospital tours for kids" in your favorite search engine to take the children on a virtual field trip from home.

The system that keeps the library up and running is worthy of a field trip visit for kids. Kids not only develop a deeper appreciation for books, but they also get to learn about the catalog system, how a book is entered into the system so it can start getting checked out and how the staff operates the library. Contact the head librarian at your local library branch to schedule a tour.

Pumpkin Patch

Visiting a pumpkin patch is the perfect way to celebrate fall. Most pumpkin patches also have fun activities planned for the kids, including horseback rides, inflatables, corn mazes, hayrides and more. If you would like a private tour or you're taking a large group, contact the pumpkin patch directly. Otherwise, just show up during regular business hours.

Movie Theater

Kids love the movies so take them behind the scenes to see how a movie theater operates. They can visit the projection room, see how the concession stand operates and they may even get to sample a movie and popcorn. Call the movie theater manager to arrange a tour.

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PENNSYLVANIA Field Trips

To help plan SEPTEMBER curriculum focused classroom activities, field trips and school assembly programs, these September themed celebrations might be a helpful focus. MONTHLY : Classical Music Month. Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15). Library Card Sign-Up Month. National Courtesy Month. DAILY : Sept. 6: National Read a Book. Sept. 7: International Day of Clean Air. Sept. 12: National Day of Encouragement. Sept. 15: Greenpeace Day. Sept. 16: National Collect Rocks Day. Sept. 17: Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. Sept. 18: National Respect Day. Sept. 22: Autumnal Equinox Day. Sept. 24 :  National Punctuation Day. CLICK on the ACTIVITY FILTER below for activity type of field trips to learn about. For those unable to travel to these locations, have the fun come to you. Check out the Outreach Field Trips & School Assembly Programs  section.    

• Financial Support
• Proms & Project Graduations
• Children's Museums & Indoor Fun
• Petting Zoos/Barnyard Fun
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• American Revolution
• Archaeology/Paleontology
• Business & Economics
• Government, Civics & Presidents
• Historic Places
• Historical Boat Excursions
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• History Behind-the-Scenes Tours
• History Museums, Exhibits & Sites
• Living History
• Multicultural & Heritage
• People & Notable Figures
• Sports History
• Transportation: Boats, Planes, Trains, & Trollies
• Team Building
• History, Heritage & Civics Outreach Field Trips
• Adventure Parks, Climbing, Ninja & Ropes Course, Ziplines
• Bowling & Bocce
• Educational Attraction
• Go Karts, Whiryball
• Indoor Amusement & Recreation Centers
• Laser Tag/Laser Maze
• Outdoor Amusement & Recreation Centers
• Spectator Sports
• Sports/Games/Fitness & Water Wars
• Group-Friendly Restaurants
• Aquariums, Marine Life, Hatcheries
• Birds, Butterflies, Bees
• Botanical Gardens & Arboreta
• Caves, Canyons, Mines & Gorges
• Environmental Studies, Outdoor Education, Conservation, Sustainability
• Farms, Mazes, Pick-Your-Own
• Mineral & Gemstone Panning
• Planetariums & Astronomy
• Science Behind-the-Scenes Tours
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• STEM/STEAM Enrichment
• Zoos, Wildlife, Safari Tours, Reptiles, Animal Shows, Vertebrates
• Art Museums, Design, Exhibits, Architecture, Photography & Films
• Arts & Crafts
• Theater, Dance, Music, Movies, Shows
• Group Tour Operators
• Transportation & Charter Bus Services
• Early Childhood
• Elementary School
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Acrisure Stadium

Tour Acrisure Stadium for the ultimate football experience! Customized tours for youth groups explore behind-the-scenes areas of Acrisure Stadium—a destination for excellence and world-class performances—both on the stage and on the field!

Awbury Arboretum

Awbury Arboretum combines nature and history through preservation of its historic landscape. Groups will have opportunities to explore environmental education, see animals, and more.

Carnegie Science Center

Carnegie Science Center connects people and science through interactive exhibits, fostering curiosity, ideal for enriching field trips with hands-on learning experiences.

Crystal Cave

Visit Crystal Cave—Pennsylvania’s greatest natural wonder! Discovered by William Merkel and John Gehret in 1871, the cave features flowstone, stalactites, stalagmites, aragonite crystals, and more.

Dave and Buster’s Philadelphia

Groups will have a blast at Dave & Buster’s Philadelphia! Start out with a delicious meal in the group-friendly restaurant and then move on to some games—billiards, shuffleboard, air hockey, and more—in Dave’s Arcade.

Gettysburg Ghost Tours

Gettysburg Ghost Tours has been providing fun and informative ghost tours that are family friendly, less walking and more talking along one of the most haunted areas of Gettysburg.

Go ‘N Bananas Family Fun Center

Go ‘N Bananas Family Fun Center is Lancaster’s premier indoor, climate-controlled Family amusement center! Perfect for Summer Camps, Sports Teams, Team Bonding, Day Care Groups, Clubs, Girl and Boy Scout Groups.

Great Wolf Lodge – Pocono Mountains

There is no place better than Great Wolf Lodge – Pocono Mountains, the Northeast’s largest indoor waterpark resort for fun, educational school, scout, and homeschool trips.

Hershey’s Chocolate World

Unwrap your chocolate adventure at Hershey’s Chocolate World in Hershey, PA or Times Square, NY. Sweet & educational experiences will make your trip for your youth group and family – one to remember!

Lahey Family Fun Park

Lahey Family Fun Park offers a complete range of fun for any group. Super Go-Cart Track with fifteen single and 5 double cars, 9 state-of-the-art batting cages, 36 holes of the finest Mini-Golf on 2.5 acres, Bumper Boats on a natural pond and an indoor Arcade.

Laserdome is a Family Fun Center located in Lancaster County, PA. With non-stop all ages fun, we’re the perfect place for your next celebration!

Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum

At the Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum, with over 13,000 square feet of exhibits, visitors will learn about different aspects of Lehigh Valley history such as war, music, industry, early settlers, Native Americans, and other topics.

FieldTripdirectory.com offers enriching experiences for Pennsylvania school groups, scout groups, homeschool groups, camp groups and families at Pennsylvania Museums.

Pennsylvania Museums offer field trips that offer hands-on exhibits, guided tours and guided activities for early childhood through high school grades. Pennsylvania Art Museums , Science Museums , History Museums , Multicultural Museums and Children’s Museums offers educational experiences that support classroom curriculum and scout badge achievement. Beside museums, you can search for other learning experiences at Botanical Gardens, Planetariums, Living History Programs, STEM & STEAM, Planetariums, Farms, Zoos and Aquariums, Theaters and Concerts, Service Learning and more.

Can’t go on a field trip to a museum, your students, scouts, and families can still experience these fun enriching experience by scheduling a  Museum Virtual Field Trip  anywhere and at anytime.

Want the fun to come to you- book a  School Assembly Programs, Outreach Field Trips or Residency  at your school, homeschool association or scout council. They support and enhance a school’s curriculum, offers opportunities for scout badge achievement and enriches a camp program. There are mobile museum exhibits, traveling planetariums and classroom and grade level workshops and residencies.

To help fund field trips, virtual programs and school assembly programs visit our section on  Grants  and  Fundraising Programs .

FieldTripDirectory.com (formerly ClassTrips.com and CampDirectorsResources.com) offers field trip ideas for class trips, scout group trips, camp group field trips, and homeschool group field trips in Pennsylvania—early childhood through college. Search for class trips in Pennsylvania by by group type, cost, activity/curriculum type, grade level, distance, and venue name or keyword. Day class trips are divided by curriculum and subject area:

• ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Find Pennsylvania art museums, theater, dance, and music concert field trips.
• EARLY CHILDHOOD Find Pennsylvania class trips to children’s museums, petting zoos, and kids’ shows.
• HISTORY/SOCIAL STUDIES View Pennsylvania history museums, government & civics, historic sites, living history museums, and multicultural field trip ideas.
• LIFE SKILLS Find Pennsylvania team building field trips, health & safety exhibits, and character education experiences.
• SCIENCE & NATURE Find Pennsylvania aquariums, botanical gardens, environmental studies & nature centers, farms & mazes, planetariums, science museums, STEAM & STEM field trips, dinosaur exhibits, and zoos.
• RECREATION Find Pennsylvania field trip ideas for adventure parks, ropes courses, ziplines, boat excursions, amusement parks, waterparks, kayaking, rafting, tubing, laser tag paintball, roller skating rinks, ice-skating rinks, mini-golf attractions, indoor amusement & recreation centers, and outdoor amusement & recreation centers.

Overnight field trips include trips to NYC, trips to Boston, trips to Philadelphia, trips to Washington, DC, trips to Chicago, trips to Atlanta, trips to Austin, and other historic cities throughout the US. Retreats are available for environmental education, team building, and recreation. We created field trip lesson plans to help teachers, scout leaders, camp counselors, and homeschool parents provide an enriching experience for their groups. We know funds for class trips are limited, so we’ve included grants for field trips that cover admission, transportation, and more. It’s important that students and youth explore new environments, learn about other cultures, and develop an understanding of inclusivity as part of the educational process. People learn in different ways—through hearing, seeing, touching, talking, or doing. Class trips can provide a multi-dimensional learning experience. FieldTripDirectory.com can help you find the right trip for your group. A world of experiences is just a click away at FieldTripDirectory.com.