Ideas for Going Out in the Montessori Classroom: Age Appropriate Locations

I've been writing about the benefits of "going out" in the Montessori curriculum, but if you're a first time teacher you may be looking for some ideas on where to go. The best field trips are activity based or outdoor activities where children have the hands-on opportunity to learn about and explore nature and their community.

Here are a few suggestions on where you can take your Montessori classroom for amazing educational experiences:

Ideas for “Going Out” in the Montessori Classroom: Age Appropriate Locations

Preschool/Kindergarten:

• Aquarium
• Bakery
• Children's Museum
• Dentist Office
• Fire Station
• Parks
• A Farm, Orchard, or Pumpkin Patch
• Library
• Pet Store
• Police Station
• Post Office
• Aquatic Center
• Zoo

Elementary:

• Aquarium
• Farm, Orchard, Pumpkin patch
• Greenhouse
• Gymnasium
• Historic Homesite or Village
• Home Depot Workshop
• National or State Park, Beach, Lake, River
• Museum – Art, Natural History (take your sketch books!)
• Newspaper
• News Station
• Pet Store
• Paint Your Own Pottery/Ceramics
• Youth Orchestra Performance
• Youth Theatre/ Radio Station
• Electric Plant
• Environmental Center
• Wastewater Treatment Plant
• Recycling Center
• Walking tour of your City Landmarks
• Wetlands/Forests/Volcanic park
• Aquatic Center
• Veterinarian's Office
• Zoo
• Activities such as biking, swimming, horseback riding, golfing, skating. With careful planning, your children will not only enjoy themselves but have fun learning as well.

Remember to incorporate time for taking field notes. Among natural scientists, there is a tradition of taking a small notebook and pen or pencil into the field for quick and easy drawing or note-taking when something interesting is observed. Teachers taking students outside to observe plants, animals, and their surroundings, can introduce students to making and using a field notebook for a field trip. For example to record the number of flowers that are blooming at a particular time of year or to draw the leaf of an unusual tree. Having a field notebook represents another way of encouraging the students to observe plants and animals in their natural surroundings.

Read more on our Going Out Series:

• Montessori Preschool Education: Going Out for Ages 3 - 6 years
• Montessori Education: The Importance of Going Out From a Child's View
• Going Out as Part of Montessori Education - Learning Independence

As much as possible, NAMC’s web blog reflects the Montessori curriculum as provided in its teacher training programs. We realize and respect that Montessori schools are unique and may vary their schedules and offerings in accordance with the needs of their individual communities. We hope that our readers will find our articles useful and inspiring as a contribution to the global Montessori community.
© North American Montessori Center - originally posted in its entirety at Montessori Teacher Training on Thursday, April 3, 2008.