Farm Days Field Study Analyzed

Learning to Learn Start-of-School Program

Last year our grade-level team participated in Farm Days. The experience was successful in many ways including the following:

• Hands-on exploration of the local habitat.
• Learning with experts.
• Interdisciplinary, standards-based study in the field.
• Collaboration with local environmental organization. 
• Beautiful, energized school days on a farm. 
• Invitation to and participation with a follow-up River Days grant.
• Great lead time communication with family members and staff--dates and permission slips were created for early year family response.
• Positive, grade-wide post communication about the events with images, video, and newsletter descriptions. 
• Inclusion of multiple parent volunteers, student teachers, and teaching assistants. 

Now that I think ahead to more on-site learning, I'm also cognizant of the following areas that we can plan better in order to grow our field studies with greater effect. 

• Greater attention to learning-in-the-field behaviors, and practice with those behaviors for shorter periods of time on our school grounds.
• Greater attention to brain-based, learning-to-learn mindsets and behaviors. 
• Less lecture, and more interactive events. This requires substantial lead time learning design.
• A day for the teacher team to plan with the staff at the local organization.
• Greater allegiance to all pre- and post- activities including related close reading, vocabulary work, journal writing, and reflection.
• Greater attention to standards-based, interdisciplinary planning and design--we did a lot, but we could do even more. The goal is to embed the standards seamlessly. 
• Write grant proposals during the summer to support related materials, training, and consultation. 

Learning in the field models the kind of learning students will do in the future as they explore and choose career paths. Planning engaging, interactive, standards-based field studies with depth is a first step with regard to this positive work.

Farm Days Posts
Farm Days Plans
Developing Learning Relationships with Local Organizations
River Days
Learning in the Field
Every Child Should Climb a Mountain
Growing Field Experiences
Field Study: Learning Potential