Fun Virtual Field Trips in the Social Studies Classroom

Posted on by Michele Luck

Wouldn’t it be great to take our students to destinations around the world to teach them Geography? Or how about back in time to learn history? Fun virtual field trips for students can give a taste of that in your Social Studies classroom.

Fun virtual field trips in the Social Studies classroom can make your lessons more engaging and content-filled! Try these suggestions!

Setting Up Fun Virtual Field Trips in Your Classroom

Engagement is key in using any resource in the classroom. Using virtual field trips is no different. First off, do not make it the do-all in your lesson, but simply make it one aspect of the learning. Use fun virtual field trips in these suggested ways to encourage engagement while still setting high expectations for learning:

  • Set up as a center in a History or Geography lesson. Like any other lesson, field trips should only be one part. Set them up as one center in lessons that also include analyzing primary sources, mapping, creating timelines, and practicing other Social Studies skills.
  • Use as a class opener to garner student engagement and draw interest in your coming lesson. Let the field trip be your lesson bellringer that spurs discussion or gets students curious and wanting to learn more.
  • Add in a virtual field trip as part of an immersive lesson. Set up a Walking Tour or Archeology Dig in your classroom and let a virtual tour on the topic be one stop along the way. Students will get to see more what the lesson would look like in real life.

Finding Fun Virtual Field Trips for Your Social Studies Lessons

Finding the right virtual field trip can be a challenge. Some do not have the depth or engagement that you may need for your students or your classroom expectations. While you can always search online for options, or utilize library and museum links, this list may be a great help in getting started.

  1. Dollar Street – This has to be one of my absolute favorite sites right now. It shows your students how others around the world live through pictures covering various categories in everyday life. Let your students roam to learn about different cultures or assign comparison activities to help them see the differences in economic advantages worldwide.
  2. Immigration Stories from Ellis Island – Scholastic has this incredible resource that will let your students navigate their way through Ellis Island. With vivid images and incredible statistical and personal data, this is a must use for your Immigration unit.
  3. Google Treks – I LOVE to travel and these Google Map Treks are the next best thing. Ok, they are not the in person experience, but they do really help you see places that are so incredible. They will help your students see the Geography of the world in a whole new and exciting way.
  4. Google Arts & Culture Collection – Visual learning is such an important part of learning history. These collections will help you add in lessons on art and culture that will not only engage students, but will open their eyes to the past in whole new ways.
  5. YouVisit is a great tool for seeing the hear and now. And for seeing opportunities in our world that students may not otherwise see. Take them to visit an incredible city or a college campus. Or maybe visit a site where history unfolded. These cams will help them really take a look at our world.

And More of My Favorites!

  1. Virtually Anywhere – If you are teaching Government or Civics, the US Capital Tour will help your students see our government at work. Students can visit the Rotunda, examine the Statutory Hall, or browse the Library of Congress.
  2. White House History – This is a grand tour of our nation’s mansion. Students can tour the rooms and access information on the history of the house and the presidents that lived there in our nation’s history.
  3. National Park Foundation – I am a NP junky and this site is so incredible. It takes you inside historic sites across our country and also to amazing sites so unique to our lands. It is a must for every History and Geography classroom.
  4. The WWII Manhattan Project Tour – I was trying to stay away from specific topics, but this is another one that really hits the mark. If you are teaching U.S. History, you will want to take your students on this virtual field trip through our building of the atomic bomb. It will lead you to so many lesson opportunities that are vital for students’ understanding of our modern world.
  5. National Geographic 360 Tours – These tours are National Geographic at its best. You can visit different locations around the world and see exactly how beautiful the people and land is as you travel from location to location.
Fun virtual field trips in the Social Studies classroom can make your lessons more engaging and content-filled! Try these suggestions!

More Suggestions for Social Studies Classrooms

There are so many options available now, many coming to us as a result of the Covid scramble to online learning. Take a look at the options suggested by the History Channel or by Bookshark for specific topics and locations you are likely covering in your classes. Education World also did a great job at compiling museum tours that would be great for World History classrooms. And don’t think of these as online learning, but as enhancements for in class learning that you can do with any lesson.

I hope these suggestions will help you keep your students engaged and learning this year. I know it’s been a tough transition as the world has tried to return back to “normal,” but maybe getting out of the classroom for a jaunt around the world or back in time will help bring a bit of excitement to your lessons.

Happy Teaching!