Education Program Field Trip checklist

One month to two weeks before visit

Review your goals for your visit. How do you want to link your visit to your curriculum and standards?

Visit the Museum ahead of time.

Utilize the free educators pass included in your confirmation packet.
Make notes about appropriate exhibits, good questions to ask, activity ideas.
Talk to museum staff about ideas and questions.
Visit Yours, Mine, and Hours Museum Store to look for books, postcards, posters, other educational items you can use to prepare your students.

Explore this Website for up-to-date information about programs, exhibitions, and other useful information.

Consider purchasing The Teacher’s Guide to the Museum to help you structure your trip.

Recruit chaperones. We require one chaperone for every 10 students. Chaperones must remain with their students at all times.

Orient chaperones by sharing your field trip goals.

Review your confirmation from the museum. Make sure all items are correct. Check to see that you've reserved a lunch space if you plan on eating at the museum.

One week before your visit

Check on bus reservation and schedule.

Assemble a packet to bring with you:

copy of the field trip contract
directions to the museum
list of all students and chaperones
group and bus assignments
student nametags
schedule of the day

Complete pre-visit classroom activities that integrate your classroom unit(s) with the museum visit.

Review schedule and plans for the museum trip with your students.

Review Museum Manners. Share behavior expectations and generate your own trip guidelines. Students must stay with their chaperones at all times.

Museum Manners: A few rules to assure a safe and fun trip for everyone (including teachers and chaperones!)

Respect others in your group and other museum visitors.
Do not run.
Speak quietly.
No food or drink in museum exhibits.
Stay in a group with the adult leader.
Take turns speaking by putting up hands.
“Museum hands” stay behind backs, or at sides. Chaperones will say when something can be touched.

On Arrival

Arrive at least 10 minutes before your visit.

The adult with the payment should go directly to the admissions counter. Everyone else should follow the museum greeter's directions. The museum greeter will meet you and direct you to lunch and coat storage, as well as restrooms. They will also review museum rules with your group.