Every time I make my way back to the museum after visiting a classroom with a Field Trips to Go program I am always in a great mood. I've usually just spent the morning or afternoon with a group of young students excited about science. And that excites me, because I love science too!

Most recently, I spent a rainy afternoon with a 2nd grade class excited to participate in the circuits project I brought. The students had just completed a unit on electricity and magnetism and I was there to offer a fun project to solidify what they had learned. After offering a few tips and rules, I issued the first challenge and the students got right to work. Using the supplies provided and the knowledge gained in class, each group made a light bulb light up, a motor spin, and an alarm buzz all by making sure their circuit was closed.

Then came the second challenge, a challenge that really got them thinking and working together as teams. Each team was asked to design a 'buzz trap' for a drawer, cabinet door or box right in their own classroom. The students were definitely excited to booby-trap their classroom and the activity illustrated the beauty of teamwork. I heard a lot of discussion, "what if we try this…" and "maybe this type of switch will work better…". There were also many faces with quizzical looks, as if to say, "how is this going to work?" The best part of the afternoon was hearing them exclaim "we did it!" each time they reached their goal and were able to show me and their teacher what they had accomplished.

Each Field Trips to Go program KidsQuest offers has been designed to reinforce what is being taught in the classroom. Sometimes, however, teachers will reserve a program to reward the hard work of their students. Either way Field Trips to Go are intended to be fun and, at the same time, strengthen what the students already know.

For a list of possible topics and to learn how to bring a Field Trips to Go to a classroom you know click here.

Quotes from teachers: