1. Find research and follow ADEC policy on school trips
The policy guideline of Abu Dhabi Educational Council (ADEC) for public schools allocates specific responsibilities among the staffs of a school to ensure safety in a school trip. Assigned teachers or the school staffs will make necessary arrangements for the field trip, assess possible risk, take precautionary health and safety measures of the children, and communicate with the parents, school Principal, and perform the official formalities. Principals and school authorities should administer all the formalities and policy guidelines of ADEC and they will make the arrangement for buses, check minimum required ratio of adult and child, check safety measures, risk assessment, and communicate with parents of the children.
2. Arrange day/date/times. Liaise with mentor/teachers
I chose Al-Ain Women’s College to take my class students for an educational trip because of the exhibition, “Abu Dhabi Reads” was scheduled during our trip, and in my school we had “Abu Dhabi Reads” theme to encourage the habit of reading among our children.
As per guidelines of ADEC policy observed my official formalities as assigned and communicated with the school Authority, mentor, and teachers in this respect.
3. Write letter to inform school administration & parents
Dear Parents
I like to inform that our educational school trip to the Al-Ain Women College, on Abu Dhabi Reads theme will encourage and develop the habit of reading in our children as you will agree with me that educational trips are an extension of learning.
So, I request for your written consent to allow your child for the trip.
With best regards
( Signature)
Letter to the school administration:
In connection with the educational trip of our school to the Al- Ain Women`s College, I like to state that all arrangements and assessments as per the guideline of ADEC are complete and I strongly believe that the trip will develop the habit of reading in our children.
Therefore, I request for your kind approval for an educational trip.
Thanking you.
(Signature)
4. Arrange transport and co-workers
The school policy doesn’t allow me to talk to the school bus drivers, because the PE teacher should do this by herself and because I’m a student teacher so they can’t put all the responsibilities on me. But because I’m the one who arranged the trip they allowed me to call the bus to collect us from the college at 11:30 am.
5. Arrange food/drink for children
Arrangement for food packets and fruit juices were ordered from reputed retailer keeping the health and hygiene of the children in mind.
6. Design, create appropriate learning activities.
Selection of Al-Ain Women`s College for our educational trip had an advantage that we got everything there in connection with interactive learning, though I carried few story books for children.
7. Prepare children for trip
Counted the children -collected the agreement paper- distributed the juice and sandwich for each child and ensured that they kept the breakfast in their lunch box and helped them to wear their nametags.
8. Write a short reflective analysis of the process.
Lined up from the bus to the library
Started at 9:00
First in the library (15 min in the Ipod section/ 15 minutes: story section/ 15 minutes computers section)
Ipod section: children were free to choose and play different games.
Story section: I read a story for them (the very hungry caterpillar) then I choose a story from a book and told each child to read it.
Computer section: I booked the computer section and opened colorful websites and allowed them to choose a game they wanted to play.
9:45 to 9:55
I took children to the washroom online for necessary requirement of the toilet or to wash their hands before breakfast.
9:55- 10:10
It was a break for the breakfast (all of the children had their breakfast in their lunch box).
10:10 - 10:25
First all of the children were playing together after that we all played with a parachute and sang various songs while playing.
10:25 to 10:30
Counted the children- lined-up- got ready to go to the Hop to attend a lesson.
10:30- 11:15
First I gave children 5 minutes to explore the Hop / they were much excited
I taught children a lesson on numerals and about patterns and shapes.
In the end, we cleaned up the Hop and lined up to leave/ in the bus we talked about the trip and asked the children why they liked the college.
What happened in the beginning.
Problems you faced:
Some children forget their agreement paper and according to the policy they had to wait in the school; finally I talked with their parents to ensure their consent and collected the papers.
However, I think that I didn't face a problem during the trip because I knew the place very well.
Future improvement for the any trip:
While coming back the smiling faces of the children answered everything. The trip was a total success, though, I think there is always a scope to improve and perform better.
Reference:
ADEC Public Schools (P-12) policy manual (2013-14) (page 160), Retrieved from:
http://www.adec.ac.ae/en/MediaCenter/Publications/P-12%20Policy%202013-14-Eng/files/assets/basic-html/page160.html
