School trips form a very important part of a robust education.
While these trips are a great way to give young people the chance to have fun and enjoy themselves, they also offer a host of benefits that will help them learn essential skills, as will be invaluable to them in every stage of their life.
Here are just some of the ways in which school travel plays an essential role in education.
Communication Skills
A trip away from school gives young people the opportunity to interact with people outside of their friends and family.
This is especially important for younger children, who will learn how to communicate effectively with others and can then use these skills to better prepare themselves for the next stages of their education, and eventually their employment.
As well as communication skills, school trips can teach a young person certain skills that they wouldn’t learn during a standard school day, whether it’s map-reading and teamwork skills during an orienteering trip, or imagining themselves in a different era when visiting a historical site.
Preparation for Exams
One of the biggest advantages of school trips is in the practical memories that students will experience.
These memories can often be much easier to recall during an exam than standard revision notes and textbook passages.
School trips also give students first-hand experience of the subject, which can result in much more considered and well-thought-out answers in exams.
Students can also learn practical problem-solving skills during trips, which can help them through numerous situations throughout their life.
Increased Motivation
Learning about a topic within the confines of a classroom is a good start, but a school trip can engage young people in ways not possible in a classroom.
A change in location and first-hand experience of a particular topic is a great way to increase a person’s motivation.
They will bring this enthusiasm back with them to the classroom, and it could ignite a life-long passion for the subject that might not have been possible if they had been taught solely in a classroom.
Improved Bonds with Classmates and Teachers
Taking time away from the classroom and sharing unique experiences with each other can lead to deeper bonds between students and between students and their teachers.
This, in turn, will often lead to improved behaviour and more engagement when back in the classroom.
The bonds that students make during these trips can lead to life-long friendships, and can instil a sense of camaraderie that can greatly improve the classroom experience.
A Wider Perspective
A school trip gives young people the chance to experience different places and cultures, and with each school trip, their perspective of the world will grow.
Whether it’s a trip to another country or one closer to home to learn how a particular profession works, school trips offer young people first-hand experience of a variety of different subjects that will give them greater knowledge of how the world works.
Improved Wellbeing
Many people think of wellbeing as only important for adults, but it is a vital part of a young person’s upbringing as well.
A trip to a new location gives young people the chance to relax, enjoy themselves and spend quality time outdoors, creating life-long memories with their friends.
A good school trip can significantly boost a young person’s self-esteem and confidence, and can make a big difference to their mental health and wellbeing.
Types of School Trip
Schools can organise school trips to a variety of locations, each serving a different purpose.
Whether it’s an educational trip or a chance to relax and unwind at the end of a school term, school trips can fulfil a number of purposes.
Common types of school trips include:
- Historical sites
- Museums
- Zoos
- Science centres
- City tours (both national and international)
- Theatre and cinema
- Outdoor activities
- Theme parks and attractions
Organising a School Trip
There’s a lot to consider when planning a school trip, from the budget to the itinerary, in addition to accommodation and travel.
Thankfully, no matter the purpose of the trip, there are many different companies that can help teachers when it comes to organising a school trip.
For example, The Learning Adventure offer bespoke educational trips all over the world, and can help teachers plan every aspect of a trip.
Conclusion
School trips play an essential role in education.
By giving young people the chance to view a subject through a different lens, teaching them essential skills in communication and problem-solving, and creating cherished life-long memories, a school trip can take a young person’s education to the next level.
Check this out next: Simple Lessons to Teach your Child on your next Camping Trip
Featured Photo by Anna Samoylova on Unsplash
