field trip - Virginia is for Farmers

FIELD TRIP
Either individually or with buddies from class with similar unit topics, create a field trip planning guide for
a trip related to your unit. In the past, students have visited TV stations, museums, a food bank, a
recycling center, a theater performance, a street with several political murals, etc. This guide should be
available on your website. It is best if the information is its own page on your site, but you can upload a
document as an attachment, too.
PROCEDURE & REQUIREMENTS
1. Stribling Orchard – Markham, VA http://www.striblingorchard.com/index.html
2. Document your field trip planning with a one-page handout that includes the
following info (this will be shared online):
Who did you contact? tours@striblingorchard.com
What was the timeline for preparation? none
Were there costs involved? $8 per student
To what content areas does it connect? Virginia studies - regions (Social
Studies), life processes (science)
What does that site offer students and teachers? A chance to experience life
on the farm. The tour guides give a talk about growing apples through the
seasons. Visitors are allowed to explore the orchard and pick their own
apples.
Other important logistical & education information you discover. The farm
doesn’t only grow apples. They make honey and jams, grow peaches, and
keep animals. The farm is very busy during peak time and there are lots of
schools who take trips. The farm is only open Friday-Sunday.
3. Go on and document the field trip using photo and/or video.
4. Evaluate your field trip experience.
What was positive about your field experience? The talk was very
informative. We really got a good picture of life on the farm. Picking our
own apples was a fun experience and the surrounding mountains were
beautiful. Students from our Northern Virginia area who may not have
been outside of our sprawling metropolis, would be able to see life in a
different region of the state.
What would you have changed? There are many other farms who offer
similar experiences. If I were to do a field trip like this, I might take a trip to
Claude Moore Farm which also gives a picture of colonial Virginia life which
would offer a richer field trip experience.
What suggestions do you have for future planners? I think this trip would
work best for younger grades. Older students might get a little bored but
would still enjoy picking their own apples.
What did you learn about field trips you hope to plan in the future? I have
actually planned field trips for preschoolers before and the big things I have
learned about field trip planning are: always have as close to a 1:1 adult to
child ratio as you possibly can, triple check that you have all the necessary
information and supplies, and no matter where you plan a trip to, the
students love life outside of the classroom.
5. Include this information on your final website.