Create Your Own Virtual Field Trips With These Free Travel Resources If you’re looking for a way to take your students somewhere outside their quarantined homes, or teach about something outside the average curriculum, look no further than these virtual field trips. There’s an escape for any subject you can think of! NEA Member Benefits compiled the virtual lesson plans below-take a look and happy virtual travels.
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Arts
The largest art museum in the U.S.—The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City—is home to paintings and sculptures from many notable European artists, as well as an extensive collection of American and modern art. The Met’s lesson plans help educators integrate learning about works of art, and fun, interactive programs are great for kids of all ages and their parents and caregivers. The Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C., is home to one of the largest and most inclusive collections of American art in the world. Stroll through its online gallery collections. While you’ll have to wait to run up the famed Philadelphia Museum of Art stairs like Rocky did, you can explore the museum’s collection online. You can also access many teacher resources and lesson plans.
History
The nonprofit Civil War Trust has free battle app visitor guides available to tour some of the most notable sites, such as Gettysburg, where Abraham Lincoln gave his memorable Gettysburg Address, as well as Antietam, Appomattox and Richmond. The National Park Service offers a host of Civil War teacher resources. The museum offers a variety of engaging resources and activities. The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) displays almost 7,000 instruments from more than 200 countries. Sample the world of music remotely with MIM’s Educator Resources. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville holds the world’s largest repository of country music artifacts. The organization’s Digital Resource Portal for teachers includes curriculum materials with supports such as PowerPoints, worksheets, videos, biographies, teaching tips and more.
Maine Educator • COVID-19 Special Edition
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Natural Wonders and Wildlife
In Kentucky’s Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, a full moon, a clear night and the mists of a waterfall combine to create a “rainbow” in the night. Teach your kids how to make a rainbow with a fun physics lesson. The South Dakota peak of Mount Rushmore incorporates the faces of our four most influential presidential leaders: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. The Mount Rushmore National Memorial offers a variety of lesson plans covering topics such as math, literacy and social studies. The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum teaches visitors about Kennedy’s life, legacy and leadership. The library has extensive curricular resources, as well as materials on civic education and the Civil Rights era.
