Exploring the
World Through
Virtual Field Trips
A Guide for Parents,
Teachers, and Students
Many aspects of our lives have changed over the last few years. As the Covid-19 pandemic restricted travel and exploration, many teachers, parents, and kids found themselves stuck at home.
Whether you find yourself going stir-crazy with remote working and learning or are not yet ready to venture into busy spaces, we’ve got the perfect solution.
While the pandemic caused a lot of disruption and heartache, it also encouraged businesses to repurpose themselves. Many tourist attractions closed. But many others launched virtual field trips. While they may not be as exciting as hopping on a plane, they are far more accessible to parents, teachers, and kids alike.
Our guide to virtual field trips covers a variety of places to take your kids (virtually), from museums to outer space.
There are virtual field trips for teachers, families, and anyone eager to get out of the house while not leaving the comfort and convenience of your sofa. You could find yourself on the other side of the planet or a thousand years into the past with just a click.
What is
Virtual Field Trip?
Virtual field trips are explorations of a place or learning experience on the internet.
Using pre-recorded videos or live streams, thematic web pages, and a structured online learning experience, virtual fields allow students to go anywhere from their classroom.
While dynamic virtual field trips have existed since 2007, they have grown exponentially in the last few years. Previously, most educational centers hosted online resources.
Now, everyone from your local farm to the M&M factory share virtual field trips.
Businesses and charities put a lot of effort into creating educational, engaging, and exciting virtual trips that stimulate kids and students just as much as the real thing.
Why Should You
Consider Virtual Field Trips?
Anyone can sign up for a virtual field trip from anywhere. They’re not just made for students, but for everyone.
If you’re a parent, what better way to entertain and educate your kids on a rainy day?
Heading out in the car is time-consuming, costly, and limited to local attractions. With the world of virtual field trips at your fingertips, you can entertain your child day in and day out.
If you’re a teacher, virtual field trips are an exciting way to spice up life in the classroom. Kids respond well to interactive, engaging activities.
Not only do you have to negotiate Covid-19 restrictions, but authentic field trips are usually costly and require a detailed risk assessment. Virtual field trips offer a similar level of engagement without the headache.
What Are the
Benefits of Virtual Field Trips?
Cost
There are some free virtual trips available. However, even paid trips are more affordable than taking a real trip to an aquarium or landmark and are cheaper than space.
Moreover, you don’t have to worry about transport costs and parking fees.
Accessible
Aside from the cost, taking your kids to space isn’t feasible. Of course, you can take them on a virtual field trip to a space museum. Plus, check out historical sites and landmarks from around the world. Go to the Great Wall of China in the morning, go to Ancient Egypt for lunch, and finish the day at Mount Rushmore.
Safe
Covid-19 is not the only worry. Visiting your favorite museums and landmarks through a screen is a far safer way to travel and explore.
Educational
These companies have done their best to create exciting and educational journeys for kids and students..
How Do
Virtual Field Trips Work for Students in School?
Each virtual experience works a bit differently depending on your chosen field trip.
1
Ask your students what they’re interested in. They might throw out some unusual ideas, but try to keep them somewhat related to your curriculum.
2
Research virtual field trips that complement your lesson plans. Check out our recommendations below.
Look for additional teaching resources. Some virtual field trips offer these—however, you might need to broaden your search or create your own.
Try out the virtual field trip ahead of time to understand how it works and don’t face any glitches on the day.
The best way to incorporate virtual field trips into your teaching is an introductory activity or a reward at the end of a module.
What Do Virtual
Field Trips Include
As mentioned, each trip is different. Here are the sorts of things you can expect from your trip:
Virtual Field Trip
Ideas for Kids
So, what are your virtual field trip options? Below, we’ve listed some of the most popular virtual trip ideas, but your opportunities are by no means limited to these. Look up places you have always wanted to visit or search for trips specific to your lesson plan.
In addition, if you’re strapped to a budget, search for free or low-cost virtual opportunities.
Virtual Museums
Museums are some of the most educational places on the planet.
The best museums incorporate engaging resources with exciting artifacts, offering a personalized experience for each visitor. Just because you’re stuck at home or in the classroom, it doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of everything museums have to offer.
Moreover, with virtual field trips, you can visit renowned museums worldwide; you don’t limit yourself to your local history center.
Many of these virtual tours are as good as the real thing, with 360-degree views, zero crowds, and the luxury to take as long as you want.
The #MetKids program offers an exciting virtual experience free of charge. Children can “walk” through the museum using the interactive map to discover hidden treasures throughout the Met.
Also, check out the ‘time machine’ feature that takes you to a random part of the museum. Finally, they have a range of short videos and child-friendly Q&As introducing you to every aspect of museum life.
Google Arts and Culture allows you to take a virtual tour of the Guggenheim Museum. Over six floors in New York City, the museum is the home of an incredible art collection. Take a look at the other museums you can explore with Google Arts and Culture.
The Smithsonian offers all its exhibitions through a 360-degree virtual tour. ‘Walk’ through the peacefully empty halls of the museum, read explanations, and enjoy natural history up close. The museum map helpfully ticks exhibits you’ve already visited, so you don’t get lost!
The famous French art museum has five different 360-degree virtual tours to enjoy. Plus, auditorium events (in French), podcasts (in French), a Mona Lisa virtual reality experience, and a ‘Louvre Kids’ section with stories, tales, and a gallery.
The Frida Kahlo Museum in Mexico has a 360-degree virtual tour that allows you to explore every corner of the artist’s home and her artwork.
The museum has a selection of videos aimed at children, telling stories and the history of fifty different pieces of art. They also have kids’ podcasts and educational videos, and courses for older students, such as ‘Teaching Critical Thinking through Art.’
Virtual Zoos
Whether you’re studying biology, geography, art, or literature, zoos are highly educational and fun places to explore.
Many zoos around the US have set up live camera feeds of animal enclosures so the world can tune in at any point. Whatever your favorite animal is, there is a lot to learn from watching animals’ daily lives.
Check out our top virtual zoo field trips.
The zoo offers live cams throughout the day to see what all their various animals are up to, including elephants, rhinos, and polar bears.
They also provide a range of videos discussing their animals and zoo life.
Atlanta Zoo’s Panda Cam shares the day-to-day life of their panda enclosure, plus sharing research and weekly updates.
With live cams for all their enclosures, virtual meet and greets with the penguins, and online learning resources, the Bronx Zoo is an excellent day out (while at home).
They also have a range of organized virtual field trips, from $125.
With various live cams, you can watch elephants, and leaf-cutter ants from 7 am to 7 pm central time.
You can also watch zookeepers feed their giraffes and other animals on the feeding platform cam.
The Reid Park Zoo also has a range of daily live animal cams, plus you can watch the grizzly bears along with all the usual zoo animals.
They also offer educational resources for each animal.
The National Zoo’s live cams show cheetah cubs, lions, giant pandas, etc.
The website also provides various educational activities, classes, and webinars to enjoy from your home or classroom.
Known for its 24/7 polar bear live streams, the Wapusk National Park in Canada also streams its rescue kitten center, underwater manatees, and coral reefs. It’s an excellent way to learn about the wonders of the natural world.
Virtual Aquariums
Zoos aren’t the only way to explore the world’s wildlife. Many aquariums also have live streams and educational virtual field trips to learn about the underwater worlds in a new way.
‘Walk’ around the halls of the National Aquarium on a self-guided virtual tour, exploring a variety of aquatic animals and their habitats.
Like many zoos, the National Aquarium runs many live cams of underwater life, such as the Pacific Coral Reef or an invasion of jellyfish.
This aquarium has a range of live cams, from their tanks to open sea underwater cams.
They also run free online courses to learn about the ocean with hands-on interactive activities from the classroom or your home.
The Seattle Aquarium has a half-hour virtual tour led by an underwater diver and an out-of-water tour guide.
They also share a range of live cams, news, updates, and online learning tools. They also run distance learning classes for various age groups to tune into from your classroom.
Each week, the Maritime Aquarium has hour-long live stream virtual programs sharing educational insights about marine life.
Students and families alike are welcome to register for their virtual events. They also run distance learning programs, costing $105 and providing engaging lessons for students.
The Ocean Voyager Livestream shows sharks, manta rays, beluga whales, piranhas, sea lions, penguins, and over a thousand different fish. They also run virtual field trips for all ages and live virtual outreach programs that fit directly into your curriculum.
Shedd showcases beautiful and remarkable fish with their underwater live cam. The Shedd Aquarium offers a virtual reality penguin expedition, where online visitors can explore penguin habitats and learn how to care for penguins.
In addition, they offer free activities, videos, stories, and educational resources to promote online learning.
SeaWorld provides an at-home program packed with fun for families and students. It includes coloring books, crafts, videos, games, and live cams of various exhibits.
Each week, their educational resources focus on a new marine creature, sharing activities ideal for students.
Virtual Farms
If you’ve got younger kids or are teaching kindergarten, virtual trips to the farm promises a fun day. But fun on the farm isn’t just for the youngsters.
Online farm field trips give students of all ages a firsthand look at modern-day farms, including everything from how they operate and the process of getting food to the delivery store.
American Egg Board
The American Egg Board and Discovery Education partnered to bring you the Virtual Egg Farm Field Trips.
Designed with students in mind, this virtual field trip takes you to farms across the country to share the day-to-day life of egg farms.
BrightFarms virtual field trip provides an interactive tour to teach kids, students, and parents about indoor farming and getting the food from the farm to the store. There is also a short quiz to test your student’s learning.
With 18 different 360-degree virtual tours to choose from, there is plenty to see and learn.
Farms include a mushroom farm, milk and cheese, pig farm, grain farm, and a milk farm. There is even a behind-the-scenes apple orchard. The 360 Classroom Experience includes knowledge tests for each tour and activities to complete.
Virtual Space
Unfortunately, authentic trips to space don’t sound like for the average school kid in the near future.
However, you can ignite a love of space with virtual trips to explore nearby planets or experience life aboard the International Space Station.
The US has some of the world’s most excellent space museums, perfect for a virtual field trip.
Who doesn’t want to go to Mars? Kids, adults, and teachers alike will feel wonder as they explore Mars in NASA’s Curiosity Rover. As you roam the surface of Mars, make sure you read or listen to the educational information around you. You can also learn everything about the Curiosity Rover itself.
You can see more than the surface of Mars.
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter filmed NASA’s virtual moon tour in 2011 and provided an incredible visual and virtual experience. NASA also has many other valuable resources about the Earth’s Moon to share with the classroom.
NASA’s final virtual experience is a day trip to the International Space Station. Discover what day-to-day life is like for those living in the International Space Station with a virtual tour.
They upload weekly videos with updates about the Space Station. Your students can ask the astronauts questions!
Alongside virtual tours of the Space Station and other planets, take your kids on a virtual day trip to the Johnson Space Center. With behind-the-scenes videos, a virtual tour, teaching resources, and tips to secure yourself a career in the space industry, it’s ideal for students of all ages.
The Stellarium Web shows a 360-degree view of space, allowing you to explore the stars, discover planets, and watch a solar eclipse. Using your location, Stellarium will show you the constellations directly above you. Click on a star, planet, or natural wonder to discover more about space.
Kids will find out what happens to slime in space with a virtual field trip brought to you by the International Space Station and Nickelodeon.
Watch astronauts test how slime behaves without the Earth’s gravity and download the additional teaching resources and activities to share with the class.
Virtual Historical
Sites and Landmarks
There are few better ways to bring history to life than with virtual tours of the past. Take your students or kids to some of the most famous landmarks and historical sites worldwide.
Walk through iconic buildings and places of significance without the hassle and expense of jumping on a plane.
Buckingham Palace
Starting in the Throne Room, walk the halls of the UK’s most impressive palace. Explore the history and present-day lives of some of the most iconic rooms in the world, including the White Drawing Room, the Blue Drawing Room, and the Grand Staircase. Click on each magnificent artifact to learn its history.
Ellis Island
See the Statue of Liberty through the eyes of the immigrants arriving at Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954.
With photos, videos, a virtual tour, and stories from those who ventured across the Atlantic, the Ellis Island virtual field trip is suitable for students learning American history. You can also learn about recent American immigrants, following their teaching resources and guided discussions.
Mount Rushmore
Mount Rushmore is one of America’s most iconic landmarks. Meet the four American presidents carved into Mount Rushmore from several viewpoints. One of the 360-degree views even places you directly underneath Teddy Roosevelt’s chin. The Mount Rushmore National Memorial also has several studying resources for teachers.
Mount Vernon
Another American landmark, explore Mount Vernon through this 360-degree virtual experience. As you enter George Washington’s grand home, click on each of the information panels to learn the history of the US first president.
Plimoth Plantation
Discover what life was like for the Pilgrims on the Mayflower and indigenous people through virtual tours and online educational resources.
Students can even tour the Mayflower or take the journey from 1620s England to Cape Cod. You can also read letters from the Pilgrims on the Mayflower.
The White House
If exploring George Washington’s home and Buckingham Palace isn’t enough, take a virtual trip to the White House, narrated by former President Barack Obama.
The White House also offers presentation slides to teach students the history of the building as you take your tour through its magnificent halls.
Ancient Egypt
Explore Ancient Egypt in 3D with a virtual tour of reconstructed temples from over 2000 years ago.
Hear stories of the pharaohs and the practice of mummification, even have a go at writing in hieroglyphs!
The Great Wall of China
Tour one of the world’s wonders with this virtual tour of all 3000 miles of the Great Wall of China, meandering through Northern China.
You can even sign your classroom or family up for a live tour with a real guide taking you up and down the steps of one of the most impressive structures.
Virtual Parks and
Nature
Parks, natural wonders, and outdoor spaces might be relatively safe spaces, but not all of us have spectacular volcanoes and caves in our back gardens.
Check out our list of the most impressive sites on your virtual field trip.
Hang Son Doong
Han Son Doong in Vietnam is the world’s largest cave. Locals only discovered this natural wonder in 2009.
Take your classroom on a 360-degree virtual tour of the cave and surrounding jungle. It’s a truly immersive experience, with jungle sounds in your ears, following the story of an adventurer discovering the cave.
Volcano Hazards
There are currently 161 potentially hazardous volcanoes in the US. Click on each active volcano and learn about the science behind the world’s greatest natural disasters.
Nature Lab
This program runs ten virtual field trips for children and students of all ages. Choose from ‘Climate Heroes: The Power of Trees’ and the ‘Students Rebuild 2022 World Needs Challenge’.
Each week, Nature Lab provides teaching resources and an interactive activity to complete in the classroom.
Yellowstone National Park
America’s oldest national park is a bucket-list destination for many of us.
Tour Yellowstone’s main attractions with this virtual field trip from behind a screen. Discover the Mammoth Hot Springs and the Mud Volcano, and check out the live cams of Old Faithful.
The Great Lakes
America is home to so many natural wonders and beautiful sites. Choose from three different virtual field trips to learn about the Great Lakes, their coastal wetlands, algae, and the lake sturgeon.
Other Virtual Field
Trip Ideas
Whether you haven’t yet found something on our list or wish to entertain your classroom with something a bit different, check out our other virtual field trip ideas.
Discovery Education
Choose from several different virtual events to take your kids on an amazing journey without leaving the classroom. From understanding the life of a refugee to taking a virtual field trip with the NBA, there is something for everyone. Each virtual field trip has classroom activities, teaching resources, and videos.
360 Cities
Not yet had enough of virtually touring the world with 360-degree cameras? 360 cities offer the world’s largest collection of 360-degree images and videos to take you to every corner of the world.
Recycling Simplified
Want to teach your students more about the recycling process?
These virtual field trips are an excellent way to learn about the importance of recycling.
Take your class inside a recycling center and modern landfill operations with these pre-prepared lessons.
Birthplaces of Music
An interactive field trip, the Birthplaces of music takes you through the history of music, including classical, jazz, rock’ n’ roll, and country. It explores each of the birthplaces—Vienna, New Orleans, Cleveland, and Bristol—and how they shaped music history.
Turn Back the Clock
An interactive, virtual tour of the past century of nuclear science, Turn Back the Clock takes you through the discovery of atomic energy to the twenty-first century and the significance of the Doomsday Clock.
Tips to Create an
Exciting Virtual Field Trip
It might not seem as exciting sitting down in front of a screen to tour a zoo 100 miles away. However, there are many ways to invigorate your virtual field trip and bring the adventure to life.
Create a fun environment! Whether at home or in the classroom, decorate your surroundings in theme with your virtual field trip. Set up thematic activities and try to make the day a little more special than your average school day.
Dress like you’re going! Tell everyone to wear their best adventure gear to set off on a virtual tour of the Han Son Doong cave. Alternatively, get your students to dress up as their favorite animal for a trip to the zoo.
Take the virtual bus! The journey to your destination is a chance to allow the excitement to build. Give your kids ten minutes to discuss the day ahead, just as they would if you were really heading out on an adventure.
Turning
Virtual Field Trips Into Reality
Even though the world is opening back up, virtual field trips are not decreasing in popularity.
Whether you want to avoid catching Covid-19, can’t afford the plane fare to the Great Wall of China, or feel like treating your classroom with a trip to the International Space Station, virtual field trips are an excellent way to educate and entertain.
Frequently Asked
Questions
How Do You Do a Virtual Field Trip?
Make use of the range of virtual field trips and teaching resources online. Some of the world’s greatest attractions have opened their virtual doors for free and supply classroom activities to take advantage of. Decorate your home or classroom to get everyone in the spirit and take your students or family on a virtual adventure.
What Is the Best Virtual Field Trip?
The best virtual field trips are those that complement your curriculum and lesson plan but introducea new way of learning. For example, if you’re learning history, why not take your classroom on a tour of Mount Vernon?
How to Use a Virtual Field Trip in Your Own Classroom?
Most virtual field trips include videos, interactive maps, and online activities. Take your classroom on a virtual tour and encourage your students to get involved in each of the activities. Many virtual field trips include discussion topics or teaching resources to aid the student’s learning.
How Do Virtual Field Trips Help Students?
Virtual field trips allow a more inclusive and interactive learning experience for many. Some students are unable to attend authentic field trips if they have disabilities or cannot afford the trip. Virtual field trips let everyone experience the same adventure.
How Do Field Trips Improve Thinking Skills?
Field trips to museums, natural wonders, and historical landmarks increase students’ critical thinking, tolerance, and empathy skills. Even if your virtual field trip doesn’t directly link to your lesson plan, it’s an excellent way to let students unwind at the end of a week while still encouraging learning.