Well, the day for our field trip was finally here. We rounded up all 54 third graders and drove about 3 minutes down the road to the county's largest cotton farm. You'd be surprised how long 3 mins on bus with 54 third graders can seem when they are all excited about going on a field trip. I was very excited as well because this was my first field trip as a teacher and I was finally going to see a cotton gin...and possibly figure out what one is.
I quickly found out that going on field trips as a teacher is not nearly as fun as it was going as a kid. First of all we are in charge so we have to constantly count heads so that one doesn't wander off and get left behind. You may think that is impossible but last school year a school from another county took Kindergarteners to the beach and left a chaperon and three babies there! Ridiculous!
Anyway, when you aren't counting you are herding them from one station to the next and, in this county, keeping the dog that has wondered from the place next door from stealing treats from the kids hands. Of course, then I found out that the dog was one of my student's who lived next door so there was no way he was leaving.
On the other hand, the field trip was really cool for the kids because we got to try all sorts of food products produce here in North Carolina. We had the most amazing cookies I had even had fresh from the oven when we went to the wheat farmer's station. The soybean people served us soy smoothies, brownies, soymeat and cheese tacos, and edamame (sp?). The cotton people gave us popcorn popped in cottonseed oil and it rocked too! The kids learned about the agriculture of the area and we all got to enjoy the snacks so that was nice. The picture is of the lady there to talk about nutrition showing the kids how much 17 tsp of sugar is because that is how much is in a 20 oz. Coke. Yipes!
At the end we drove to the actually building that housed the giant Cotton Gin and got to see the cotton being processed. We drove home and the kids bounded out of the bus wanting to know when recess was and the teachers staggered in the school wishing third grade still had nap time. All and all it was a neat experience though for all of us.
What a cool experience for a teacher. Part of you still has that kid in you and you want to learn too, but the other part is watching over your flock , so no one is left.
It sounds like a very intersting field trip, and I do remember attneding a field trip with my Son when he was very young, and it was a huge headache, not much sightseeing done.
@sarasdadandmom Yes, having to be in charge is not as fun as getting to play with the stuff! @kerristephens Yes! That is what I said and when she had the kids scoop it out on the plate and it covered it, we were all shocked by the amount that is in there. Must be why it is so good! @digitalrn Yes, I think I am going to have to go back to all these places we go on my own to be able to actually see anything.
I went on plenty of field trips with my kids when they were in school. I remember a particular field trip where I got stuck with the whiney little girl who "COULDN'T WALK ONE MORE STEP" and was forever saying "I'M HUNGRY!" Oh, and the bus ride - ONE HOUR! :) All followed by a picnic on the tables wet from rain. So see, your's was a GREAT field trip. :) Really though, it sounds like a great day for the kids. SO good for them and I've been told it even encourages their reading.
@nana Oh, I would refuse to take my 3rd graders on an hour bus ride! That sounds dreadful. Good for you for helping out, we only had one parent that came so I was glad we had small classes.
@nana I just went on a field trip as a chaperone with my daughter's 3rd grade class to a play an hour away! It was fun, but I was ready to get off the bus and nurse the migraine that was starting. The kids were really well behaved though, so I'd do it again in a heartbeat!
Sara - I know what you mean by having to constantly count heads and not getting as much out of what you were there for and we had 3 adults per class of about 20(teacher & 2 chaperones).
posted December 7th, 2011
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On another note, there's 17 tsp of sugar in a coke??? Oh my!! I'm really gonna have to watch how much coke I drink!
@kerristephens Yes! That is what I said and when she had the kids scoop it out on the plate and it covered it, we were all shocked by the amount that is in there. Must be why it is so good!
@digitalrn Yes, I think I am going to have to go back to all these places we go on my own to be able to actually see anything.
Sara - I know what you mean by having to constantly count heads and not getting as much out of what you were there for and we had 3 adults per class of about 20(teacher & 2 chaperones).