Turning an educational field trip or playdate into an educational adventure is now easier thanks to Apologia Educational Ministries and their Exploring Creation Field Trip Journal.
This is a full color, spiral-bound book that is softcover and over 60 pages. You can view sample pages to get an idea of the content inside. The front and back covers are thick and glossy. The inner pages are heavy and durable, particularly great for taking on the go (or out in the field). The book currently retails for $22 and can be used by students, or even adults, of any age to document their experiences.
As my daughter used it and I flipped through it, I found that we liked it because it provided a pretty place to write notes and draw pictures about places we had gone. My daughter has made several entries in this journal. When we went to the Perot Museum, so made a couple of entries.
She also made entries after we went to San Antonio last month. She even made an entry after we went to the gym, because she wanted to remember some of the fun things she did in the childcare area.
It is structured enough that you could use it as a place to assign specific entries. It is also open-ended enough that the person using it could just flip through the pages and choose what to record and on which page or pages. Several of the pages have a place for you to attach maps or tickets or other mementos, which makes it a great scrapbook as well.
In the past, I have given the kids a plain spiral notebook and told them to journal about their experiences with words or pictures. The problem with that is that it was too open-ended, a bit boring, and there were lines all over every page.
When I gave this book to my daughter instead, she was immediately inspired. Each page is colorful and fun. It gives ideas on some things to include without being too restrictive or strict. There are tips for preparing for field trips and tons of field trip ideas to spark inspiration for fun ways to use the journal.
The journal can easily be used for big and small field trips. There are more elaborate entries that include planning and gathering things like maps or ticket stubs from the more traditional field trip places, but field trip can be open to interpretation!
What about a visit to your own back yard? If it is looked at through fresh eyes, even a visit a few feet outside can qualify as a field trip. It seems very Charlotte Mason to go in the backyard and write and draw about the nature in the backyard, but what a cool way to do it thanks to Apologia! There are even special pages related to the different seasons. It would be a fun activity to notice changes and differences in a spot from one season to the next.
We are enjoying the Exploring Creation Field Trip Journal. My daughter enjoys drawing in it and writing only a little bit. The option is all hers, because there are no real rules or directions given by the book. Instead, there are suggestions and ideas, so it’s been up to her to decide what to put on the various pages. This has caused her to get creative, and it’s been interesting to see what she has chosen to log.
In addition to the book itself, be sure to check out the special online-only resources provided by Apologia. I love that they provide even more content! When you buy yours, check out page 6 for instructions on how to access the online material. There are dozens of links available, linked by subject or topic, to help get the most of of the journal.
In fact, using the online resources alone, your child could even take some virtual field trips to museums. Many of the links offer extensive information about various types of field trip, such as going to the post office, fire station, zoos, museums, or camping. There are even links to more information about Art Journaling, which is exactly what my daughter was doing in her journal.
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