Online field trips are a great way to explore and learn, all without leaving your seat! When I do my lesson on online field trips, I show the kids my Tizmos site with all the links. (Online Field Trips) I give them a brief synopsis of all the online field trips that I have on the site and then I spend fifteen minutes showcasing two sites. After that, I let the kids go for it and explore!
1. San Diego Zoo. This is my all time favorite field trip. They have live animal cams in some of the animal habitats, informative and fun videos highlighting different animals, information on different zoo jobs, activities and games. The kids would spend WEEKS on this site if I let them! It's well done, easy to navigate and incredibly interactive.
2. Smithsonian. This site is a virtual tour of the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum. I show the kids how to move the camera, go from room to room and how to use the map. As a class, we visit the Hope Diamond and look at the dinosaurs. The students go from there.
3. The U.S. Mint. This isn't as interactive or as fun as the zoo, but it still has some great information and some good games that are educational. The students really love making their own coins or looking back at the evolution of our money.
4. The American Museum of Natural History - Ology. This site has a great "ology" section where students can explore different areas of science. The students can click on an area of study on the left of the screen. It will take them to a new page with lots of activities, games and quirky information.
5. University of Colorado Science Experiments. This site has TONS of science experiments and simulations for students to explore. It's a fun, interactive site.
I have a lot more sites on my Tizmos site and you are welcome to use those links in your classroom. These are my top five favorites. I always do the online field trips as the second to last class of the year. By this time, students are ready for a break and this is a fun way to give them this break but to keep them learning.
Enjoy!
