Field trips aren’t always possible. That’s where virtual field trips come into play.
A Case for Virtual Field Trips
You’re teaching, or planning, and the idea suddenly comes to mind, “Ooo, this would make a great field trip for my science class.” You quickly dismiss that idea for a multitude of reasons:
- timing with content
- all of the planning
- collecting money from students or convincing admin for funds to pull it off
- charter or school buses
- collaborating with your team
- working with the cafeteria on bagged lunches (for longer day trips)
- how well does it align with your state standards?
- Is it engaging and relevant enough?
- etc, etc
Lots of planning and work. However, a virtual science field trip strips away all of those headaches. Well, almost…you have to have computers and an internet connection. But, hey, that’s the norm nowadays.
With that in mind and scanning the internet for Virtual Field Trips for science teachers, I came up with a few. Yes, there are more and this is by no means an exhaustive list. But, you will find something of use for your classes.
I ran across many that looked great. But, when the dollar sign appeared, I scanned the cost and chose not to include it.
The ones included do not require a subscription. And, if they do, you can still look around for free. As is typical, the paid versions include premium features.
Forests
https://www.upmforestlife.com/
Climate to Biomes to Energy
National Aquarium
virtual tour of the aquarium
https://aqua.org/explore/virtual-tour
learn about animals
This one contains links to many of the animals at the aquarium. Included are a host of facts and information for each animal.
https://aqua.org/explore/exhibits
NASA
Journey to Mars
There were no videos. But, there is a lot of good information.
https://www.nasa.gov/content/nasas-journey-to-mars
HD videos
This link connects to HD videos that cover lunar phases, OSIRIS-REx, the Sun, the moon, and others.
https://www.nasa.gov/content/ultra-high-definition-video-gallery
more videos
Some of these were duplicates of the HD videos. However, there is a wide range of other topics.
https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html
More to explore
Here is the link for the home page of the website should you choose to explore on your own.
https://www.nasa.gov/
Discovery Education
I was reluctant to add this as their service requires a subscription. However, I believe this link connects to VFT (virtual field trips) that don’t cost. They do have stipulations in that (1) field trips change and have specific dates. As such, you will need to check the site. (2) you need to sign up to access them.
Explore the solar system
https://www.solarsystemscope.com/
Stellarium
This site will allow students to view constellations in your area.
https://stellarium-web.org/
National Parks
This site had many national parks for students to explore. Plus, there were so many videos to choose from that related to other disciplines.
https://artsandculture.google.com/project/national-park-service
Wrap Up
In conclusion, the world of virtual field trips for science teachers is vast. The list I’ve created is by no means exhaustive. So, I hope you discover something valuable for your classes. I made a conscious effort to include only free resources. I understand the importance of accessible educational tools.
From the captivating virtual tour of the National Aquarium, complete with detailed information on various aquatic creatures, to NASA’s information-rich exploration of Mars and beyond, there’s a wealth of knowledge waiting for you.
The links to HD videos from NASA cover a broad range of topics, offering an engaging way to delve into space exploration.
Discovery Education is subscription-based. However, they do offer seems to have free virtual field trips. To take advantage of that, watch specific dates and sign-up requirements.
Explore the wonders of the solar system with Solar System Scope. Stargaze using Stellarium lets you view constellations in your area.
Lastly, let your students see the beauty of our national parks through Google’s Arts and Culture platform.
Happy exploring, and may your virtual field trips bring a world of inspiration to your science classrooms!
